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Chelsea logo
Premier League
Sep 21, 2013 at 5.30pm UK
 
Fulham logo

2-0

Oscar (51'), Obi Mikel (84')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Chelsea prevail in drab affair

Oscar and John Obi Mikel score second-half goals as Chelsea take all three points at home against Fulham in the Premier League.

Chelsea have moved to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

A goal from Oscar six minutes after the break put the home fans at ease before John Obi Mikel made sure of the points with his first ever league goal for the Blues.

The result sees Jose Mourinho's men, who were by no means at their best, draw level on points with Liverpool, but edge into first place by virtue of a better goal difference.

Chelsea's Ramires battles with Fulham midfielder Alex Kacaniklic for possession during their game on September 21, 2013© Getty Images

It was the Cottagers who had the best of the first-half chances, with former Chelsea duo Damien Duff combining with Steve Sidwell in the third minute, only for the latter to miss the target with a header.

Darren Bent twice sprung the offside trap before the 15-minute mark, forcing Petr Cech to make saves to keep his team level.

A few boos could be heard around the stadium as an uninspiring first-half ended goalless, but any sense of frustration was abated when David Stockdale fumbled a weak effort from Andre Schurrle, allowing Oscar to sweep home at the back post.

Chelsea's Oscar scores a tap in against Fulham on September 21, 2013© Getty Images

Martin Jol's side came close to equalising just three minutes later, but again Sidwell could not direct a header on target, this time from Patjim Kasami's free kick.

A long overdue goal from Mikel finally arrived in the 84th minute of his 259th appearance for the West Londoners.

The Nigerian international reacted quickest to John Terry's knockdown from a corner by slamming home an acrobatic volley, which put to bed any lingering fears of Fulham snatching a point.

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Chelsea's Ramires battles with Fulham midfielder Alex Kacaniklic for possession during their game on September 21, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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