PLAYER RATINGS: Cole Palmer was the main man again for Chelsea in crucial victory over Fulham while Djordje Petrovic enjoyed a solid outing and a clean sheet… but careless Issa Diop endured an afternoon to forget

Chelsea ground out their third Premier League win in a row after beating Fulham.

Cole Palmer was influential for the Blues once again and slotted home the decisive penalty from 12 yards after Raheem Sterling was brought down by Issa Diop. 

The visitors piled on the pressure late on but were unable to find an equaliser. 

The result marked a step in the right direction for Mauricio Pochettino and his side in the wake of their shock Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat by Middlesbrough.

Here, Mail Sport‘s AADAM PATEL has rated both sets of players at Stamford Bridge…

The ice-cold forward swept home a penalty in the first half after a foul on Raheem Sterling

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1)

Djordje Petrovic (7)

Solid afternoon. Made a big stop to deny Harry Wilson in the first half and another crucial save to keep Raul Jimenez’s effort. Week by week, he is making a case to show why he should still be the number one option when Roberto Sanchez returns. One of a handful of good signings in the Todd Boehly era.

Djordje Petrovic continued to impress between the sticks and staked his claim to be the No 1

Malo Gusto (6)

Very fortunate to still be on the pitch after a nasty challenge on Willian in the first half but created plenty from the right flank and has a wicked delivery.

Axel Disasi (6)

Job done as Chelsea kept a much-needed clean sheet. Booked for kicking the ball away.

Thiago Silva (6)

Rock solid again though lucky not to get booked until the 79th minute for tripping up Raul Jimenez.

Levi Colwill (7)

Exceptional. 92 touches – more than anyone else on the pitch and adapted well in a deeper role when Ben Chilwell came on.

Levi Colwill was exceptional and took more touches than any other player on the pitch

Moises Caicedo (6)

Alongside Enzo Fernandez, did not do much wrong but for a midfield pairing that cost over £200M, surely you expect more.

Enzo Fernandez (6)

A reliable display and put in some threatening deliveries but you still wonder why Chelsea splashed £107M on the Argentinian. Guilty of taking too long on the ball, at times though unlucky to get booked for what looked like a fair tackle.

Cole Palmer (8)

The main man again. Influential in the move which led to Chelsea’s penalty with a Kevin de Bruyne-esque pass to put Raheem Sterling through. And then converted the penalty with ease. Now five out of out five from the spot for Chelsea, which can only be a positive for his England ambitions. Booked late on for kicking the ball away, which was the one blot on another impressive performance.

Conor Gallagher (6)

The subject of a passionate reaction from Mauricio Pochettino in the first half when he turned backward instead of playing the ball forwards. Decent display and very unlucky not to score a belter when his outside-of-the-foot strike hit the post.

Raheem Sterling (7)

An attacking threat as always and clever work to get the penalty. Has won more penalties than any other player in Premier League history. Unlucky not to get on the scoresheet too when his header hit the post.

Sterling was clever to tempt Issa Diop into the foul, allowing Palmer to step up and tuck home

Armando Broja (6)

Got the nod up front and put in a good shift. Should have done better with a free header in the first half from Enzo Fernandez’s cross that ended up just wide. But Chelsea did look much more threatening after Noni Madueke replaced Broja in the 66th minute.

SUBS

Noni Madueke (6)

Great energy when he came on and should be getting more game time after some strong displays in recent weeks.

Ben Chilwell (5)

Got the biggest cheer all afternoon when he came on after a long spell out with injury. Though did look very much out of position playing as a winger.

Ben Chilwell got the biggest cheer of the afternoon after coming on following a long spell out

FULHAM (4-2-3-1)

Bernd Leno (6)

Arguably dived too early for Palmer’s penalty but a solid display all around.

Kenny Tete (6)

Assured performance and battled well with Sterling before he was replaced in the 67th minute for Timothy Castagne.

Tosin Adarabioyo (6)

Certainly the stronger of the two Fulham centre-backs, on a day where his partner at the back had a torrid afternoon.

Issa Diop (4)

An afternoon to forget. Lost the ball far too often and careless for the penalty, that ultimately cost Fulham the game.

Diop endured a poor afternoon, having lost the ball cheaply and been careless for the penalty

Antonee Robinson (7)

Another impressive display and constantly involved, with more touches than any other Fulham player.

Joao Palhinha (6)

Put in a strong shift, as usual but lacked that creativity in the Chelsea half.

Tom Cairney (5)

Struggled in fairness and failed to ever get up to speed with the tempo of the game.

Tom Cairney struggled in midfield and failed to get up to speed with the tempo of the match

Harry Wilson (5)

Missed a huge chance in the first half when the score was goalless. Replaced in the 64th minute for Bobby Decordova-Reid.

Andreas Pereira (6)

Has had better afternoons and was replaced in the 82nd minute by Rodrigo Muniz.

Willian (7)

Still has the quality and showed it with those bursts of pace to take on players. Treated with huge respect all afternoon by the supporters of his former club and nearly levelled the game as his free kick late on went agonisingly over the bar.

Raul Jimenez (6)

Will be annoyed that he failed to convert his second half chance; the only real opening he got on an afternoon where Fulham should have tested Petrovic more.

Raul Jimenez was presented with just one good opening but failed to beat stopper Petrovic

SUBS

Timothy Castagne (5)

Impressive when he came on but struggled to match the intensity of Tete.

Bobby Decordova-Reid (6)

Offered a threat after he came on for Wilson. Arguably should have started.