(Video): Chelsea ahead despite poor first half after towering header from new target man | OneFootball

Chelsea lead against Fulham!

The Blues have been very poor in the first half against Fulham, but go in ahead at half time after another towering header from Joao Pedro.

The striker scored from a set piece last week, and did so again today, holding off Calvin Bassey to get a head on Enzo Fernandez’s excellent inswinger which left the keeper stranded.

The Brazilian hadn’t had much luck in open play in the first 45, but he’s such a threat from corners and wide free kicks. His physicality, as well as his timing of the jump is superb. With our set pieces deliveries and routines looking good this season, he could end up with 10 goals purely from these sort of situations this season.

Fulham were furious, with the annoyance about a disallowed goal compounded by the fact this opener came after the minimum of 8 added minutes at the end of the first half.

You can see the goal in the clips embedded here:

[Footage from TNT Sport]

[Footage from Canal Plus]

Chelsea must improve despite taking lead in after first half

Despite that being a great goal, Chelsea are going to have to do a lot better in the second half. The Blues were rocked by the early injury to Liam Delap and then the disallowed goal. They were barely able to get into the game after that, surviving some dangerous attacks from the Whites and failing to put anything together themselves.

Fernandez was woeful – but really made up for it with that assist. Moises Caicedo was called into action repeatedly and was up to the challenge as ever – but now has a yellow card to his name.

We would expect to see a change in the Blues midfield soon in the second half, with Andrey Santos likely to be added.