Fulham are relegated from the Premier League as Burnley win, and stay up
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Fulham s manager Scott Parker trudges off at the end, with the team relegated today
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Of the three clubs to be relegated from the Premier League this season, it is Fulham who will go down with the most regrets. There is a proper team somewhere in this squad, a side of genuine potential that has occasionally surfaced against some of the leagueâs most formidable opponents.
Victories away to Liverpool, Everton and Leicester City showed what Fulham can do under Scott Parker and what they can be, as a unit, on their day. The problem is that it has not been their day often enough in the last two months, when the momentum they had built has been lost as surely as the winter chill has turned to spring breeze.
Chelsea vs Fulham player ratings as Fabio Carvalho makes Premier League debut
A bright start was quickly extinguished by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
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Alphonse Areola
Provided energy for the team whenever a defender was slow to get up around him, Pulled off a great save when Hakim Ziyech was through. 6.
Ola Aina
His strike nearly gave Fulham an equaliser on the verge of half time and produced some good crosses but looked a touch off his game in defence. One of the Whites livilier performers. 6.
Joachim Andersen
The central pairing were often take out of the game by some scything passes from Hakim Ziyech and Mason Mount, as Chelsea midfielders came directly at them. A decent display overall from the defender who tried to take the initiatve to claim the ball early. 6.
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham: Player ratings as Blues overcome west London rivals
Chelsea eased to victory | Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
A Kai Havertz brace gave Chelsea a comfortable 2-0 victory over west London rivals Fulham on Saturday evening.
The visitors started brightly but Thomas Tuchel s men were soon able to compose themselves and take the lead after ten minutes. Thiago Silva s long punt forward was plucked out of the sky by Mason Mount, who slotted it through for Havertz to squeeze past Alphonse Areola.
Kai Havertz slots past Alphonse Areola | Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
The German then got his brace to double his side s lead just four minutes into the second half. The 21-year old played a one-two with his compatriot Timo Werner, whose deliciously weighted through ball was neatly finished by Havertz.
As so often this season, Scott Parkerâs team were game and positive opponents, particularly during a first half that they shaded, only to emerge with nothing. Their achilles heel was once again a lack of cutting edge and it is difficult to see how they preserve their top flight status from here. With four games to play, they are nine points from safety.
Chelsea produced the moments of class, the ones that served to make the difference, starting with Mountâs glorious piece of control that prefaced his assist for Havertz early on. The Germanâs second featured a one-two with Timo Werner, another gliding run and another confident finish. And that was pretty much that.
Seye Omidiora 10:00 AM WAT 30/04/2021 Goal preview the nation’s stars expected to feature for their respective clubs around the world this weekend Getty Images Preview of Nigerians abroad
Ola Aina returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time since leaving when soon-to-be relegated Fulham travel to Chelsea on Saturday tea-time.
Will Nigeria’s in-form frontmen Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen, Simy and Terem Moffi continue their fine goalscoring form this weekend? Getty Ola Aina
Fulham’s quartet of Nigerians could all feature at Chelsea with the Cottagers seemingly set to be relegated unless results take a sharp turn in the final weeks.