In a closely contested Premier League match, Chelsea secured a 1-0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions. Cole Palmer's late first-half penalty was the decisive moment, marking his ninth goal of the season and equaling the club record for the most strikes in a Premier League campaign by a player aged 21 or younger.
The win lifted Chelsea to eighth in the table, surpassing Manchester United on goal difference. Fulham's struggles at Stamford Bridge continued, as they are now winless in 19 league trips dating back to 1979, losing 12 of those visits.
Chelsea dominated possession early on, with Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja testing the Fulham goal. The breakthrough came in first-half stoppage time when Raheem Sterling was fouled in the box by Issa Diop, and Cole Palmer calmly converted the penalty.
The second half saw Chelsea struggling to add to their lead, and Fulham had sporadic threats at the other end. Raul Jimenez had a chance in the 53rd minute, but his header went off target. Andreas Pereira's attempt was well saved by Chelsea's goalkeeper Petrovic in the 72nd minute.
Chelsea nearly sealed the win with eight minutes left, but Gallagher's effort hit the post. Fulham made a late push, and a scramble in Chelsea's box led to a blocked shot by Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
Fulham, now winless in their last 10 away league matches, sits in 13th place with 24 points, eight points above the relegation zone. Chelsea's victory solidifies their position in the top half of the table.
(With Agency Inputs)
