Chelsea remained undefeated at home for a 67th game, but Avram Grant's side failed to produce anything like the expansive form demanded by owner Roman Abramovich.
Andriy Shevchenko had the first chance of the post-Mourinho era after two minutes at Stamford Bridge, but blasted a left-footer high and wide of Kasey Keller's goal.
It took just ten minutes before the first chants of "Jose Mourinho" rang out from the crowd as Chelsea laboured to get close to Fulham's penalty area.
Three minutes later and Fulham missed a gilt-edged chance as Clint Dempsey headed Steven Davis' cross just inches wide of Petr Cech's left upright.
Shevchenko got closer to goal on 20 minutes but his daisy-cutter went weakly straight to Keller.
Fulham had a call for a penalty on 22 minutes when right-back Juliano Belletti appeared to handle an awkward clearance.
Shevchenko wasted a good chance when he side-footed just wide on 33 minutes after good set-up play by Salomon Kalou on the left. Thne Didier Drogba was inches away after a fine cross-goal drive by Joe Cole.
John Terry failed to reappear for the second half, with Alex replacing the skipper, who had suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone.
But the Blues could have instantly scored when Joe Cole's right byline cross was tapped on by Kalou, but Keller squirmed the ball away from goal and it rebounded clear off the right post.
Steve Sidwell had a speculative shot two minutes later but it flew well wide.
Grant decided to end Shevchenko's torrid time by, replacing him with Claudio Pizarro on 53 minutes, much to the delight of the Fulham fans who shouted "what a waste of money".
Drogba produced a rare piece of magic on 48 minutes, chesting down a high ball, turning and then unleashing a fierce right-footer which was well parried by Keller.
Kalou missed another sitter, this time from six yards out, heading wide a Claude Makelele deep free-kick on 68 minutes.
Joe Cole toe-poked wide seconds later from eight yards as Chelsea turned the screw on their neighbours
Chelsea's talisman Drogba, already yellow-carded for dissent was shown the red for a neck-high challenge on Chris Baird on 75 minutes to compound the Blues' frustrations.
Ashley Cole was sacrificed on 78 minutes for sub Florent Malouda as Chelsea sought an attacking option after their reduction to ten men.
Hameur Bouazza had a wonderful chance with ten minutes remaining as Fulham counter-attacked quickly, but the ex-Watford man shot wide.
With five minute left Alex was dispossessed by Paul Konchesky who raced through towards goal and was unlucky not to score as Cech spread himself on the ground and the goalbound shot hit his leg.
With seconds remaining Diomansy Kamara should have hit the winner for the visitors, but shot across goal instead of finding the target.