Wesley Fofana heads Chelsea winner against Leeds United to ease pressure on Graham Potter

Chelsea’s long goalless run at Stamford Bridge was ended by a second-half header from Wesley Fofana that earned them a 1-0 win over Leeds and brought badly needed respite for Graham Potter.

The defender nodded in Ben Chilwell’s corner eight minutes after half-time to bring a deserved first victory in six Premier League games and help lift a mood that had grown increasingly hostile towards Potter.

The hosts dominated in the first half, going close through Kai Havertz and Joao Felix, who hit the crossbar. It was a different Chelsea to the one so meek in defeats to Tottenham and here against Southampton.

Leeds rallied after falling behind, but anything less than three points would have been crushing for Potter, whose team’s seven-week wait for a home win ended here.

“It is [a massive win]. Delighted for the players and supporters,” said Potter. We've had to suffer. It's been a challenging period. I thought we played well in the first half and attacked well.

“We were a team who had something to lose so it was great character from the players, they cared and showed togetherness in the team. It gives us something to build on.

“People care. Players want to win and supporters want us to do well. 1-0 in the Premier League, anything can happen, when you consider the run we're on, it's not surprising [there were nerves]. The players fought for the win and it allows us to keep moving forward.”

Chelsea were aiming to avoid falling into the Premier League’s bottom half, and the threat of such fresh ignominy seemed to drive the team in the direction of new energy and invention.

The first-half chances came at a quick-fire rate. First Chilwell, collecting the ball on the left touchline, swept a cross into the heart of Leeds’ penalty