Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: Five things we learned as Pedro leads Blues to west London derby victory
Eden Hazard is undoubtedly the main man at Chelsea, yet the most influential player in a slightly lacklustre west London derby was a different player in a blue shirt.
Pedro has often played second-fiddle in his career, from Barcelona to Chelsea, but the Spaniard underlined his importance with the opening goal and involvement in the second from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
His cool head ensured Fulham’s ponderous play was punished early on and his use of the ball in tight spaces and appreciation of team-mates was impeccable.
Olivier Giroud, who was given the starting striker place, may only have scored once in 464 Premier League minutes and his replacement, the perennially-sulking Alvaro Morata, may have skied a rebound, but Chelsea can rely on Pedro for end product.
Alonso struggles
Chelsea fans have become so accustomed to Marcos Alonso playing well – providing an outlet and offering a potent attacking threat – that it felt strange.
The Chelsea left-back struggled from the off – receiving a lot of ball, but frequently wasting it with over-hit crosses, heavy touches and indeterminate play.
Alonso has three Premier League assists already this season, but you wouldn’t have known it at Stamford Bridge. He was substituted in the 78th minute for Davide Zappacosta, with Cesar Azpilicueta swapping sides.
With Emerson Palmieri back fit and on the radar following an impressive showing in the thrashing of 10-man PAOK on Thursday, the ever-present Spaniard may have some competition.
Ranieri’s task
Claudio Ranieri enjoyed a promising start to his life as Fulham manager, winning 3-2 at home to Southampton last week, but his second game against his former club was a very different experience.
The Italian was frequently seen hopping around his technical area in frustration as his players needlessly gave the ball away under no pressure.
Calum Chambers, now settled in midfield, tested Kepa Arrizabalaga twice with a header and side-footed shot, but that was as close as Fulham came to a goal.
Ranieri showed he wasn’t afraid to make changes, bringing on Floyd Ayite and Aboubakar Kamara at half-time for Ryan Sessegnon and Stefan Johansen, but the away side never got going.
Kante’s role
Much of the talk pre-match was dominated by the role of N’Golo Kante in Chelsea’s midfield, with Maurizio Sarri using him as a box-to-box player, rather than a simple ball-winner.
After the 3-1 defeat by Tottenham last week many questioned the Frenchman’s suitability in attack, but Sarri stuck by his man, employing the same 4-3-3 system.
The tactic bore fruit after just four minutes as Denis Odoi’s suicidal pass into Jean Michel Seri was read, pinched and moved onto Pedro, who cut inside Maxime Le Marchand and buried the opener.
Kante’s engine means he has the capacity for the role and the fact he now has two assists for Chelsea this season – more than he managed in his first two seasons with the club – suggests it is working.
Cairney’s class
Tom Cairney’s season has been frustrated by injury but the Fulham captain was their stand-out player in winning promotion from the Championship and he showed flashes here of his ability.
The 27-year-old played in a No10 role behind Aleksandar Mitrovic, and although Fulham struggled to build play consistently, Cairney’s fast feet, strength on the ball and intelligence shone.
If Fulham are to drag themselves off the foot of the Premier League they will need Cairney to be productive.