Player ratings: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Written by George Rossiter on 4th February 2023
George Rossiter rates the performances from the derby.
Fulham picked up their first point at Stamford Bridge in a decade, after a brilliant team performance in the SW6 derby ensured Marco Silva’s men took four points from a possible six against those lot this season. The whites were great value for a point, which moves us into 6th in the table, if only briefly before Saturday’s games are played out in the Premier League. Chelsea can keep their billions spent on individuals, we have a team to be proud of.
Bernd Leno
The German looked on a mission, imposing himself on the game, both by aggressively coming to meet crosses but also frequently coming off his goal-line during Chelsea attacks. While it worked mostly, it almost cost us late on as Fofana went past him and was only denied on the line by Ream. A last-gasp save from a looping Sterling effort earned a well-deserved clean sheet. 7.5/10.
Kenny Tete
One of the great modern individual performances in a Fulham shirt. Tete won the most duels (10), made the most crosses (7) and won the most fouls (4) of anyone on the pitch. He faced the trio of Mudryk, Madueke and Sterling down his wing throughout the game, and was rarely, if ever, beaten by over £150m worth of wing talent. Tete made a number of outstanding last-minute challenges to prevent Chelsea from having big chances and I lost count of the number of times he beat his man to a defensive header at the back post, this was a really special display. 9.5/10. – Man of the match.
Issa Diop
A really impressive display of forward-foot defending from the Frenchman who was aggressive in everything he did. His game was almost characterised by a couple of bombing runs forward after intercepting the ball high up in his own half. Whether on the ball or off it, he contributes greatly to Fulham starting attacks from the back. 8.5/10.
Tim Ream
Ream had another near faultless performance at the Bridge and continues to show why he is the mainstay in this Fulham defence. Silva constantly relies on the American, and that faith is repaid in bucket loads every week. Ream’s touch on a dangerous cross that pushed Havertz into missing an almost open goal, plus his goal-line block from a late Fofana effort, were both wonderful pieces of defending. 9/10.
Antonee Robinson
Robinson is the perfect fit for this Silva side. His aggressive approach to defending hasn’t come up short against any Premier League side this season and the speed he possesses down the left flank makes him dangerous against any right-back this division has to offer. He was brilliant at pushing Ziyech wide onto his weaker foot, and then at matching Madueke for pace in the second half. 8.5/10.
Joao Palhinha
How many times are you allowed to point out the satisfaction you get from a Joao Palhinha slide tackle before it gets weird? It’s just silly how good he is at winning the ball back for this Fulham side. Even on a yellow card he just seems to get every challenge spot on. After a run of games where he maybe hadn’t hit his levels from before the World Cup, this was a complete return to form. 8.5/10.
Harrison Reed
It speaks volumes to the work Harrison Reed does that I genuinely did not know Mason Mount was playing in this game until he was subbed off for Fofana in the 75th minute. Reed kept one of Chelsea’s supposedly most dangerous players quiet all game and was phenomenal all night at being the first man to every second ball in the midfield areas, his energy week in week out is outstanding. 8/10.
Andreas Pereira
Pereira may not quite be in the discussion for best player of the season just yet, but he might just be the most important. In recent games where he has come off in games, it’s so evident what a big miss his pressing and creativity is in our forward areas. Having him on the pitch for the full 90 last night was imperative, and he was unlucky not to score, with a dipping effort from range saved well by Kepa in the first half. 8/10.
Bobby De-Cordova Reid
Bobby was consistently getting in behind Cucurella down Chelsea’s left-hand side, causing the Spanish left-back all sorts of problems. You can tell how much the Jamaican’s technical ability has come on leaps and bounds this season with some of the skill he pulls out now on a weekly basis. The confidence from the manager and in himself has bought out a really good Premier League player in De-Cordova Reid this season. 8/10.
Willian
I’m starting a petition. Willian recently stated in an interview that he wanted to play at the top level until the age of 38. If this is the case, hand the man a new three-year contract immediately. The way the Brazilian gets out of tight areas on the touchline and finds space all over the pitch mesmerises Fulham fans on a weekly basis. What a piece of business it was to get him to Fulham. 8.5/10.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
The strikers are never likely to grab many headlines in a stalemate, and Mitrovic really didn’t have much to go off in the form of chances at Stamford Bridge. As per usual, the Serb’s link-up play was nothing to be sniffed at, and he certainly wasn’t bullied by the likes of Silva and Badiashile. His control of a ball falling from the heavens, for his profile of player, is genuinely phenomenal. 7/10.
Substitutes
Manor Solomon (75’ for Willian)
His skill on the touchline to beat Havertz in a tight area was sublime, and even in another small cameo, Solomon showed sparks of the talent he possesses. 6.5/10.
Harry Wilson (75’ for Bobby De-Cordova Reid)
Again, as the Sky Sports commentators pointed out, Wilson really struggled to impact the game. He needs to find form and fast. 6/10.
Tom Cairney, Carlos Vinicius and Layvin Kurzawa all subbed on in stoppage time, too late to reasonably rate them.
