MAURIZIO SARRI’S Chelsea returned to winning ways yesterday as they saw off west London rivals Fuham with this comfortable victory at Stamford Bridge.
 
Goals from Pedro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in each half of this midday encounter ensured that Sarri’s men kept the chase on the title-chasing pair of Liverpool and Manchester City.
 
Chelsea came into the match following a heavy defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, a loss that ended their unbeaten start to the season.
 
“We were in control of the match,” said Sarri. “I think we were nervous. I am really happy with the level of application. We could have done better in the offensive phase, but we were tense.”
 
The opening goal, on four minutes, owed much to the perseverance of midfielder N’golo Kante. The Frenchman, deployed by the Chelsea boss in an unfamiliar position on the right side of a midfield trio, dispossessed Fulham’s Jean Michael Seri before racing away with the ball.
 
Kante played the ball into Pedro who cut inside his marker Alfie Mawson, before impressively firing the ball low under goalkeeper Sergio Rico.
 
Kante has come in for criticism from Sarri following the team’s disastrous loss to Tottenham in their last league match.  
 
The Chelsea boss praised the performance from his World Cup-winning midfielder, but said his game still could benefit from improvement.
 
“I think he played very well, he defended very well,” said Sarri. “He needs to improve a little more from the tactical point of view, but that is natural.
 
“Last season he played with two or three midfielders but in central, so he needs to improve [tactically]."
 
Fulham, managed by former Blues boss Claudio Ranieri in his second match since taking over, rarely threatened a composed Chelsea back-line in a low-key first half. 
 
The visitors looked marginally better after the break, but again were unable to break down Chelsea’s defensive unit.
 
Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard, who returned to the starting line-up following injury, was central to his side’s dominance over weaker opponents.
 
“I am satisfied with how we reacted,” said Ranieri, of his team’s performance. “We played much better than against Southampton. They must understand my philosophy. Now we have to think about the next match.
 
“We had good chances to draw but they scored the second. They have quality players, Hazard is amazing. I am satisfied by the performance, not the result.”
 
On 65 minutes, Calum Chambers tested Kepa Arrizabalaga with a curling shot which he palmed away. It was Fulham’s best chance of the second half.
 
On 73 minutes, substitute Alvaro Morata should have extended Chelsea’s lead. The Spanish striker’s confidence remains low after scoring just five goals in the league all season.
 
However, Chelsea substitute Loftus-Cheek sealed the victory on 82 minutes. The midfielder applied the finish to a good Chelsea move as they look ahead to a busy December.
 
Chelsea travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday before Saturday’s crucial match against Premier League leaders Manchester City.
 
Fulham, who have won just once in nine matches, face Leicester City, the club that Ranieri led to the Premier League title in 2016.
 
Meanwhile, Ranieri played down any reports linking him with Chelsea’s out-of-favour midfielder Danny Drinkwater, a player he managed during their days at Leicester.
 
Ranieri added: “At the moment, my mind is on my team and my players.”