Pedro and Fernandez on target as Chelsea beat Fulham 2-0

LONDON :Joao Pedro scored from Enzo Fernandez's corner before the Argentinian converted a penalty to give Chelsea a 2-0 home win over Fulham in the West London derby on Saturday, securing their second Premier League victory in a row.

Unbeaten Chelsea moved up to seven points from three matches as Fulham, who held Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United to 1-1 draws in their first two league games, suffered their first loss in the campaign.

"We didn't start very well, but we scored and had half-time to organise the team," Pedro told TNT Sports. "When I scored, the team had more time to organise and then go to the half-time."

The hosts had an early setback when Liam Delap went down mid-run, clutching a hamstring, in the 13th minute and walked straight into the tunnel after the medics had taken a look.

With attacker Cole Palmer also absent due to a groin injury and centre back Levi Colwill ruled out for most of the season with a cruciate ligament tear, the Club World Cup winners have now had three key players suffer injuries this month.

Fulham midfielder Joshua King found the net with a run off a counter attack, but the 18-year-old's first goal in his senior career was ruled out after a VAR check due to the visitors' Rodrigo Muniz stepping on Trevoh Chalobah's foot in the lead-up.

Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez blocked a point-blank shot to deny Muniz around the half-hour mark and the hosts began to push for a breakthrough to shake off the mounting pressure.

PEDRO STRIKES AGAIN

Tosin Adarabioyo failed to head in a Fernandez corner kick in the 43rd minute, but Fernandez stepped up again to help break the deadlock eight minutes into first-half added time.

Brazil striker Pedro leapt up to guide Fernandez's flag-kick into the net