Source: PA
Essien goal enough for Blues
Michael Essien's first-half header was enough to give 10-man Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Fulham and keep them top of the table.
Florent Malouda's pinpoint cross into the six-yard box was met firmly by the Ghanaian midfielder, who planted the ball into the bottom corner.
However, Essien was shown a red card in the final moment of injury-time for a two-footed lunge on Clint Dempsey.
Salomon Kalou wasted three gilt-edged chances to increase Chelsea's lead and the leaders had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank late on when he tipped Zoltan Gera's 25-yard shot over the bar.
