The game got off to a flying start and both sides were trying to get forward as much as possible. But it would be Chelsea who would break the deadlock after 17 minutes when Mario Melchiot surged forward before placing the ball superbly in to the far corner from just outside the box. The lead was short lived though and Fulham were given a highly disputable penalty after Gallas supposedly tripped fellow countryman Louis Saha. Even Chelsea fans ran on to the pitch to remonstrate and it took Gianfranco Zola to calm down one disgruntled fan. After all of the fuss, Saha confidently slotted home his penalty, sending Cudicini the wrong way. Chelsea would then score another cracker. This time Eidur Gudjohnsen put the finishing pieces to a marvelous move after being sent clear by Graeme Le Saux. The cool finish by Gudjohnsen indicated the kind of form that he is in. Fulham had two great chances to level before halftime through Saha but it didn't look like it would be Fulham's night.
That is until the 73rd minute. Steve Marlet found himself with time and space just inside the area and he picked out Saha with an inch perfect cross. Despite Gallas' best efforts Saha powered the ball home with his head. The Blues fans were beginning to get disgruntled after seeing their side twice squander the lead but the introduction of Jesper Gronkjaer and Mikael Forssell would bring Chelsea victory. With just under ten minutes remaining Jesper Gronkjaer flicked the ball into the Fulham area and Forssell chested the ball down before firing the ball into the far corner. Fulham claim that Forssell used his arms to bring the ball under control but both the referee and linesman were unsighted as it was a packed penalty area.
So Chelsea get their bid for a European place back on track in style but they were nearly given a scare by their West London rival...