Michael Essien's first-half header was enough to give 10-man Chelsea victory over west London rivals Fulham and keep them top of the Premier League table.
|
| Chelsea's Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien (right) fights for the ball with Fulham's Irish midfielder Damien Duff during their English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge in London. Pic/AFP |
Michael Essien's first-half header was enough to give 10-man Chelsea victory over west London rivals Fulham and keep them top of the Premier League table.
Florent Malouda's pinpoint cross into the six-yard box was met firmly by the Ghanaian midfielder, who planted the ball into the bottom corner.
However, Essien was shown a red card in the final moment of injury-time for a two-footed lunge on Clint Dempsey.
Salomon Kalou wasted three gilt-edged chances to increase Chelsea's lead and the leaders had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank late on when he tipped Dempsey's 25-yard shot over the bar.
Chelsea were quickly on top in the opening exchanges as Fulham struggled to get the ball off their hosts. The Blues earned a succession of corners but failed to take advantage.
