Finally a win, finally some positivity, in what I’d describe as a solid performance that got a job done.
With Mudryk grabbing his first goal, and a superb midfield performance from Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo, we have something to cheer about.
Let’s see how the players fared…
Robert Sanchez – 7
A really well rounded shift from Sanchez tonight, with (apart from one very worrying moment) some really good distribution (11/15 long balls completed) and a crucial save from Fulham’s best chance of the game in the second half. Job done is what I’d say, and a second clean sheet in a row for our keeper.
Axel Disasi – 6
Disasi was steady this evening, nothing in particular that stood out, but that’s usually a good thing for defenders. I think it also goes under the radar that to his right tonight he had Cucurella, a left back playing in an unusual role, but they both kept Willian pretty quiet, so all in all a good night’s work.
Thiago Silva – 7
A little more back to normal tonight for Thiago Silva, and his experience showed in what was a somewhat testing second half. Seven clearances, two interceptions, and three tackles won – you can’t ask for too much more when you’re just needing a solid performance and result. Tidy.
Levi Colwill – 7
An assist, and a performance in which we saw Levi Colwill hardly lose a challenge – one of his best games yet, in a left-back position that we all know isn’t his natural best role. Couldn’t have asked for more than he gave.
Marc Cucurella – 7
What’s he been eating lately? Are we finally seeing the Cucurella we thought we signed last year? Considering tonight, and last week against Brighton, he played on the right hand side, a role that isn’t exactly familiar to him, he was superb again, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Six clearances, and even despite his relatively early yellow card, there was a sensible side to his game, nothing rash, no lapses in concentration. Fantastic.
Moises Caicedo – 7
Another great performance and more signs that he’s settling in more game by game. Hardly misplaced a pass, 70% of his ground duels won (7/10 according to Sofascore) and lets not forget how his pass out wide to Colwill led to our opening goal. Hopefully his issue at the end isn’t too serious and is only an impact knock, but overall really happy with how our number 25 performed.
Conor Gallagher – 7
Tonight’s player of the match, and he was quite literally everywhere, and didn’t stop until the 97th minute. Gallagher provided us with a performance worthy of captaincy tonight, set the standard and ensured that we came out of Craven Cottage with three points intact. He gets criticism, and I’m one of his biggest, but I can appreciate a great performance when I see one.
Enzo Fernandez – 7
A class above at times and back to his classy best. The midfield three had a lovely balance and some nice rotations within it, and the quality of Enzo allows that to happen. 50 passes completed, and over half of his ground duels won as well, job done, I say again.
Mykhailo Mudryk – 7
An absolutely superb 45 minutes from Mudryk tonight, topped off by finally getting his first Chelsea goal. He started the game in a confident way, largely helped by a string of starts in previous weeks, and the goal aided him even more. We’re starting to see more glimpses of his best, and I’m hoping that his Chelsea career is finally up and running, providing he wasn’t injured when substituted.
Armando Broja – 6
Another really solid performance from someone who I initially didn’t think was ready to start when the lineup was released. Five from seven ground duels won, and 75% of his dribbles completed (stats from Sofascore), with a deserved, albeit fortunate goal again to round it off. Providing there was no injury issue when he went off, with more minutes and gametime, he’ll continue to get better.
Cole Palmer – 7
Promising, composed, and outright sensible are three ways I’d describe Palmer’s performance tonight. There were a few moments where he slowed the pace of the game in the second half in order for us to have a moment to reshape and reset, and I think it was a really valuable aspect of his performance too. Definitely should be a permanent fixture in the side now, we’re gradually starting to see more of what he can give us.
Ian Maatsen – 5
Not to be overly critical, but Maatsen didn’t quite give us what we had in the first half with Mudryk out on the left. He was unfortunate not to score, but all in all a quiet night in my eyes.
Raheem Sterling – 5
Another quiet night, though I appreciate he came on at a time where the plan seemed to be to just see the result out. We’ll need more from him, if he starts this weekend (if Mudryk is injured).
Lesley Ugochukwu – N/A (steady, but no rating)
Noni Madueke – N/A
Alex Matos – N/A
Mauricio Pochettino – 7
I could understand the lineup/setup, and the result proved that he got it right. Well-timed changes and the right personnel to see the result out, and you can tell that this was the plan. Hopefully tonight’s result will relieve some pressure, because I do still trust that we’ll come good, with our underlying numbers suggesting we surely will at some point.
All in all though, a solid performance, a good result, and finally some positivity.
Find me on twitter – @Chelsh31
