Player ratings: Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

George Rossiter has the ratings from the SW6 derby.

Fulham fell to a third local derby defeat to nil of the season after losing by a singular goal at Stamford Bridge in what was a poor game of football in all honesty. Chelsea started the game the strongest and Fulham did well to see off 45 minutes of pressure, before conceding a penalty deep into added time, which was put home by Cole Palmer. Despite pushing for an equaliser late on, it never came.

Bernd Leno

Had no real big saves to make in the first half despite Chelsea’s dominance in possession. Just like in the game at Anfield on Wednesday, his composure in our six yard box was impressive, catching everything that came his way. Annoyingly Palmer’s penalty sent the German the complete wrong way. Made a really strong save in the final minutes of the game to deny a powerful Madueke strike reaching the bottom corner. 6.5/10.

Kenny Tete

Started really poorly and seemed to constantly lose the ball and any duels in the opening 15 minutes, leading to Sterling getting into some dangerous positions and Tete committing a number of fouls. Certainly grew into the game though, and made a couple of vital blocks and interceptions in our own box from Sterling early in the half. 6/10.

Tosin

A much improved performance after a bit of a shocker at Anfield in the week. The most clearances of any Fulham player by a mile, proving effective in both boxes. Defensively headed everything away, and in the closing stages proving a real nuisance to the Chelsea defence as we looked to create more from set pieces. Noticeably much more composed on the ball again today too. 7/10.

Issa Diop

Just looks like he’s going to be one of those really frustrating players to watch. It’s not the first time that a rash challenge has come in the midst of a really good performance. For the majority of the game, Diop was solid and remarkably composed in his defensive work…so to throw that away and swipe down Sterling at a really important moment in the game was infuriating. 6.5/10.

Antonee Robinson

Arguably created Fulham’s best chances in open play. First came a pinpoint low cross across Chelsea’s centre backs which fell to Wilson at the back post who forced a save. Then early in the second half, a deep cross found Jimenez who headed over. Lost the ball slightly too often in midfield in the second half, leaving Fulham vulnerable on the counter attack. 6.5/10.

Joao Palhinha

Had quite a quiet first half, which was obvious in the way Chelsea dominated possession and had too much space too often on the edge of our area. Another who grew into the game, inevitably ending with the most tackles of any Fulham player by the time he came off in the final ten minutes. Unfortunately never really impacted the game in possession either. 6/10.

Tom Cairney

Just not the captain’s day at all. Looked like he might be the man to wrestle us back some control in the first half but just never created anything, which is unlike Cairney. For the first time in a while, everything he did on the ball was so slow and lethargic and every final ball never found its man. Surprised he played the full 90 in the end. 5/10.

Andreas Pereira

For me, definitely our brightest spark on the day. Made the most impressive runs and looked the most creative of any of our attacking players in the first half by a mile. Pressed Chelsea’s backline with great intent non stop and created a brilliant chance for Raul Jimenez in the second half after taking on two Chelsea players and squeezing a pass past them into a dangerous area. 7.5/10 – Man of the match.

Harry Wilson

Had Fulham’s first real chance of the game on the half hour mark, with a Robinson cross falling onto his weaker right foot at the back post, the Welshman forcing a good near post save from Petrovic in the Chelsea net. Was Fulham’s most dangerous player towards the end of the first half, but faded as the game went on and struggled to create during the second half. 6.5/10.

Willian

Added a bit of quality on the ball when it was needed at times, but never quite created the best chances himself. His most dangerous moments for most of the game came when he found Robinson’s overlaps which resulted in the ball finding the Chelsea box. Tried to take the game by the scruff of the neck late on, with a number of dangerous set pieces, but by then it was too little, too late, sadly. 6.5/10.

Raul Jimenez

Honestly you could have been forgiven for thinking Fulham had ten men in the first half, Jimenez saw the ball that infrequently. Thankfully, he finally got a chance 55 minutes into the game but headed over the bar. Caused Thiago Silva in particular more issues in the second half with his quality on the ball. The less said about his effort from the halfway line, the better. 5.5/10.

Substitutes

Bobby De Cordova-Reid

Subbed on after 64 minutes for Harry Wilson

Made a number of really nice runs beyond Levi Colwill after coming on but we never seemed to have the quality on the ball to find them, which left the Jamaican cutting a frustrated figure. 6/10.

Timothy Castagne

Subbed on after 64 minutes for Kenny Tete

Looked really good defensively when he came on to be honest, Chelsea certainly caused less issues down that side when Castagne was on. Seems to be the right back most in form out of the two at the moment. 6.5/10.

Rodrigo Muniz and Sasa Lukic (subbed on after 83 minutes for Joao Palhinha and Andreas Pereira) came on too late to be fairly assessed.