Chelsea dig deep to steal derby spoils

Chelsea 3 Fulham 2

After goals from William Gallas and Frank Lampard had helped Jose Mourinho’s side into a comfortable lead, it looked like another straightforward three points were on board.

However, a spirited Fulham side battled their way back onto level terms through a Brian McBride effort and a Heidar Helguson penalty.

The goal by McBride came as a surprise to everybody, as it marked the first goal against Chelsea in 718 minutes of football.

The equaliser came as even more of a shock, as Helguson’s well-taken penalty marked the only effort past the Blues in the second half of a league game since the start of the season.

For a moment it appeared as though Chelsea could be facing defeat, but Mourinho stepped forward with another piece of tactical brilliance to ensure his men came through.

The quality of his side has never been under question, but their resilience and character have rarely been tested.

The Portuguese manager reacted to Helguson’s strike by immediately introducing striker Didier Drogba for defender Robert Huth, transforming his side into a three-man defence.

It was a gamble by Mourinho, but it paid off.

A fantastic cross by England international Joe Cole found Hernan Crespo, who hit an unstoppable left foot volley past Tony Warner.

“I turned to three defenders and the team responded well, and after we got our goal the team went back to normal,” Mourinho explained.

Perhaps the biggest significance in their latest display was the growth of Joe Cole, who is Chelsea’s most consistent player at present.

He started the match in a central role, but at half-time was switch onto the wing as Mourinho opted to replace Shaun Wright-Phillips with Eidur Gudjohnsen.

It was no coincidence that Cole began to shine on the flank, and produced such a magnificent cross to allow Crespo to score the winning goal.

“I think Joe Cole’s best position is to play from the wings,” Mourinho added. “I was not very clever to have my best attacking player in this moment playing in midfield when I was losing his potential in attack.

“I changed because I know what Joe can give. When I came here nobody knew Joe Cole’s best position, not even him. We only know he is a great attacking player. He was not strong enough in midfield, he was not good enough on passing, and he was very selfish.

“At this moment I have no doubt he needs to play from the right or left.”

Last weekend Chelsea put Arsenal to the sword with relative ease, but Fulham’s eagerness to attack showed that even the best defence in the country can have it’s lapses.

John Terry and Robert Huth were given a bruising afternoon by McBride and Helguson, and their presence left Chelsea visibly shaken.

Even goalkeeper Petr Cech, usually so reliable, allowed a cross from Luis Boa Morte to slip between his legs for the opening goal.

Fulham’s persistence paid off as Zat Knight put him under pressure and McBride swept the ball home.

Cole fouled Fulham’s American striker after half-time to allow them back on level terms through Helguson, but then the Mourinho show came into play as his tactics paid dividends for Crespo’s wonderful goal.

“We didn’t get the result but it was a hell of a performance. I thought we deserved a point,” explained Fulham manager Chris Coleman.

But the underlying factor remains that Chelsea are ready for every challenge, and Jose Mourinho thrives on it.

CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Huth (Drogba 57), Terry, Gallas, Makelele, Robben, Lampard, Joe Cole, Wright-Phillips (Gudjohnsen 45),

Crespo (Geremi 76).

FULHAM: Crossley (Warner 71), Leacock, Knight, Goma, Rosenior, Christanval, Legwinski, Radzinski, Boa Morte, McBride, Helguson (John 69).

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).