Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham v Chelsea LIVE
There will be no love lost during this Valentine's Day clash between west London rivals Fulham and Chelsea. The Blues and their ?50million striker Fernando Torres will be hoping to break back into the Champions League places with a victory at Craven Cottage. The defeat to Liverpool in their last outing led to boss Carlo Ancelotti writing off their hopes of retaining the title. And Mark Hughes' side have won the last five at home. Dan Ripley is watching the action. [LNB] Fulham 0-0 Chelsea (8pm)Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Duff, Sidwell, Murphy (Gera 83), Dempsey, Johnson (Davies 74), Dembele (Gudjohnsen 83).Subs: Stockdale, Kelly, Pantsil, Greening.[LNB]Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Anelka (Kalou 66), Torres (Drogba 71), Malouda.Subs: Turnbull, Mikel, Ferreira, McEachran, Sala.[LNB]Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral) [LNB]22.00: Either way that point does neither of these sides any favours.[LNB]Chelsea stay fifth, two points behind Spurs in that final Champions League place.[LNB]While Fulham stay 12th and only four points above the bottom three..[LNB]A penny for Dempsey's thoughts right now, after he blew that golden chance to give Fulham victory, how pivotal will that be for both clubs come the end of the season?[LNB]Check back tomorrow for the Champions League coverage of Tottenham and AC Milan but also visit us earlier in the day where at 5pm Manchester City play Aris in their Europa League last 32 clash.[LNB]Thank you for following and good night.[LNB]21.57: More happened in that time added on than the whole match. Told you it will all boil over eventually![LNB]Cech goes off with the biggest smile on his face and so he should - he is the hero after all.[LNB]Full-time: Fulham 0-0 Chelsea[LNB]90+5min: Some late Fulham pressure as they counter but a final ball in the box is just a yard too far for Dempsey who still looks shocked he missed the penalty.[LNB]90+4min: Incredible! Dempsey is going nowhere inside the box as the only Fulham player in attack, but the otherwise impressive Luiz sticks a trailing leg out and brings down the American.[LNB]But Dempsey's kick is saved by Cech before his bicycle kick attempt on the rebound is nothing like Wayne Rooney's with it going over the bar. Unbelievable scenes![LNB]90+3min: PENALTY (FULHAM)[LNB]90+2min: A booking for Gera after he prevents a free-kick from being taken.[LNB]90+1min: Three minutes added on.[LNB]90min: What a chance to win it! Gera clips a lovely ball to the near post but Davies who steams in from outside the box just guides the header over the bar.[LNB]87min: Drogba fires over from a difficult angle but the Fulham fans don't need no encouragement as they start the chant 'Are you Torres in disguise?'[LNB]85min: Goodness me he is lucky to get away with that. Gudjohnsen goes in studs up and two footed on Kalou but although he gets the ball, it's a dangerous attempt at a challenge and he perhaps should be booked.[LNB]83min: Double change from Fulham. Zoltan Gera is on for Murphy while Gudjohnsen replaces Moussa Dembele.[LNB]82min: Chance for Fulham, Dempsey latches on to a ball over the top but with his options running out he fires from a tight angle at Cech, who produces a reasonable save to parry to safety.[LNB]81min: It just wants a touch! Drogba manages to run down the byline unchallenged but his zipping ball across the six yard box does not have a blue shirt anywhere near it.[LNB]80min: Ramires makes his first mistake of the evening by giving it away to Davies in midfield.[LNB]Pace is everything in this game though and the Welshman lacks it as Chelsea get back in numbers to easily deal with his eventual cross.[LNB] Impressive: David Luiz (right) shone at the back for the champions[LNB]79min: Yes it's cleared, but Lampard gets the ball back on the right and his cross to the near post is headed just wide across goal by Essien. Slightly heavier touch and that is in and he probably should score.[LNB]78min: Yawn. Another Chelsea corner, what's going to happen to this one?[LNB]75min: A rare spell of pressure from Fulham but they face similar problems to their opposition in attack in the fact that they just cannot get a shot on goal. Davies looks lively already though.[LNB]74min: First sub from Mark Hughes' side as Simon Davies is on for Johnson.[LNB]73min: And there is another he can watch go wide as Ramires drags a shot across goal and well past the post.[LNB]72min: Another Chelsea corner, and although Ivanovic takes it, it's still cleared by the home side who still can't get out of their own half.[LNB]It's a strange game though as Schwarzer hasn't had a save to make.[LNB]Going down: Frank Lampard (front) beats Steve Sidwell in a challenge for a loose ball[LNB]71min: Torres' search for his first Chelsea goal will continue another day as he is replaced by Drogba.[LNB]70min: Corner for Chelsea, but Luiz heads over from Malouda's cross. Chelsea turning up the wick though.[LNB]69min: And now Drogba is getting ready to come on, I'm sure he doesn't need to read the script.[LNB]68min: And now a penalty shout. Cole clips the ball in the box and Brede Hangeland pushes Malouda over shortly after the Frenchman mis-controls it.[LNB]It's a clumsy challenge and he is lucky to get away with that.[LNB]67min: Dominant spell from the visitors this and it comes to an end when Malouda's right foot drive from 20 yards just flashes across goal and past the post.[LNB]66min: Kalou is on and it's Nicolas Anelka who makes way.[LNB]65min: That really is typical of this game. Chelsea win a corner but Malouda's cross is easily cleared by the home side.[LNB]62min: Carlo Ancelotti has had enough and is considering bringing on a striker...[LNB]...not Drogba though, it's Salomon Kalou getting ready to come on.[LNB]60min: Heart in mouth moment. Salcido plays a lovely low pass into the box for Dempsey but the American appears to be clattered by Luiz with a sliding tackle.[LNB]Replays show he clearly got the ball though and it is in fact a brilliant challenge, good call from Mike Dean to give the corner instead and Luiz really has had a good game.[LNB]58min: Sidwell is off the pitch for a few moments after a nosebleed forces him to checked by the physio, he has to change shirts too but is back on the field quick enough.[LNB]Out in the cold: Didier Drogba was confined to the Chelsea bench by Carlo Ancelotti[LNB]56min: The champions more on the front foot this half, but hardly looking dangerous. Says a lot when Danny Murphy has been Chelsea's most creative player though his errors.[LNB]54min: That's better from Ramires, he is more 35 yards out but he at least gets some reasonable power behind his drive which is on target. Easy pickings for Schwarzer though.[LNB]53min: That looked desperate. Luiz playing in pretty much every position tonight gets the ball moving in midfield and after he lays the ball off to Malouda 30 yards out, the Frenchman drags a weak shot wide.[LNB]51min: More wasteful finishing from Torres.In truth his movement is excellent to get behind the back line to latch on to a pass, but after cutting back on to his right foot inside the box, curls an effort high, wide and not very hansom.[LNB]49min: Murphy is at it again, giving it away outside his own penalty area. Torres is through before he wins a free-kick after being fouled which Fulham manage to clear.[LNB]48min: Chelsea asking all the questions early on, Ramires does well to leave Salcido flat-footed on the right before his cross is headed over by Torres. Not one of his easier chances to be fair.[LNB]46min: Apologies from me, as Ivanovic was booked in the 38th minute for a shirt pull. Can't even use the excuse there was too much action going on.[LNB]Second-half: No changes despite Drogba having a keen warm up in the break.[LNB]Fulham get us underway again.[LNB]20.58: What must Drogba have thought of that missed Torres chance. I would have backed the Ivorian every day of the week to score that.[LNB]20.55: A few couples out at the Cottage on Valentine's night. Some look like they are enjoying this but there are a few ladies who clearly seem to be thinking 'Why on earth has he brought me here this evening?'[LNB]Not that I blame them after that first half.[LNB]20.50: Closest we have come? Ivanovic's lucky cross that was so bad it turned in to a reasonable shot.[LNB]Love is maybe in the air but it's not going to be for football.[LNB]Half-time: Fulham 0-0 Chelsea[LNB] Gone begging: Fernando Torres (right) reacts after his missed chance at the end of the first half[LNB]45+2min: That is NOT what you pay ?50million for. Bolan...sorry Luiz sends a delightful long ball over the top and although Torres wins the chase and even controls it well with his chest, his second touch bounces off his foot and away from the Spaniard. You hardly see that down at Hackney Marshes anymore let alone the Premier League.[LNB]45+1min: One minute added on.[LNB]45min: That's about as close as Torres has come. He evades a sliding challenge from Chris Baird but once again finds a wall in Hughes who prevents the Spaniard from getting a clean shot on goal.[LNB]43min: That's late from Sidwell, Michael Essien beats him to a loose ball but the Fulham midfielder's foot is quite high and catches his counterpart on the upper leg, in to the book he goes.[LNB]40min: It's not been Murphy's greatest night. His slip of concentration allows Torres to have a sniff on goal but before he can pull the trigger, Aaron Hughes gets a superb sliding challenge in to take the ball away from goal.[LNB]39min: I'm nearly banging my head on the desk. Fulham win a free-kick on the corner of the penalty box but Murphy's cross is straight at Cech. See a patter emerging here?[LNB]36min: Seems strange we are still waiting for our first real effort on goal.[LNB]I'm glad I don't make highlights packages for a living, I would struggle to make one of this game more than a minute long.[LNB] At full stretch: Chelsea's Michael Essien (centre) reaches out to challenge Clint Dempsey[LNB]33min: That IS the closest we have come and fittingly it's a total fluke.[LNB]Branislav Ivanovic gets a cross all wrong but it's heading for the top corner until Schwarzer pedals back to turn it over the bar with one hand.[LNB]32min: That's slightly better. Florent Malouda under pressure 25 yards out also tries his luck and just clears the bar with a powerful left foot strike. We are getting closer but still, Mark Schwarzer I think had it covered.[LNB]31min: Deary me, Carlos Salcido gets a rush of blood to the head and from 30 yards out shoots miles over. Makes Lampard's effort look respectable.[LNB]29min: What a waste from Lampard, Terry sends in a cross from the right and although the ball is on the up as it comes to him unmarked in the box, he scuffs it over the bar. You expect more.[LNB]26min: Frustrating, Fulham win another corner but although it's on the other side it's the same result, with Cech easily taking Duff's cross.[LNB]24min: Tidy effort from Duff and it had Cech in a flap. The Irishman cuts inside from the right and on his left foot hits a well struck effort from 25 yards that the keeper parried away quite clumsily.[LNB]23min: Fulham win a corner on the left, but Danny Murphy's inswinging corner is gobbled up by Petr Cech who comfortably claims inside his six yard box.[LNB]20min: Snails pace stuff still and that suits Fulham down to the ground, still no chances yet and it feels like the games has got stuck at the sparring stage you normally see in the first couple of minutes of a match.[LNB]17min: Top defending from Fulham. After some good work from Torres, Cole receives a pass from him before laying back to Lampard for a shot that is blocked.[LNB]On the follow up Ramires hits the rebound but that too is blocked and Chelsea win a corner. Fulham though easily clear their lines.[LNB] Past and present Blues: Fulham's Damien Duff challenges a 50/50 ball with Chelsea's Ashley Cole[LNB]16min: I admit this hasn't quite got going yet but the potential is there. This has been more intriguing than boring.[LNB]Quite simply Chelsea will have to go for it at some point while Fulham are more than useful on the counter attack. Watch this space.[LNB]13min: Hmmm slight waste from Johnson there. Just like six minutes ago, he leads a break with Duff on the right but he elects to shoot through two Chelsea defenders and can only get a deflection that takes the sting out the effort. Very even game overall.[LNB]10min: Little bit of pressure from the champions. It's not quick but they work it in midfield until Frank Lampard scents a half-chance which he drags well wide.[LNB]9min: Voted England Player of the Year but Ashley Cole still gets booed wherever he goes. Can't help but smile at that really.[LNB]7min: Small break for Fulham through Andy Jonhson, who after laying the ball down the flank for Duff darts inside the box for the return ball which is turned behind for a corner, something which Chelsea clear fairly comfortably.[LNB]5min: Tough start, both sides keen to close down and both defences on top as we await our first chance.[LNB]2min: Not a great pitch on show tonight. Not quite the sand pit I remember at Stamford Bridge a few years back but the surface has seen better days.[LNB]Kick-off: Away we go.[LNB]19.58: As far as retaining the title goes, you feel Chelsea have to win this tonight. The stage is set.[LNB] You may be a Lord but I'm the special one: Jose Mourinho (left) talks to Sebastian Coe[LNB]19.55: Teams are out at the Cottage, I really do think this is going to be a cracker.[LNB]19.52: A few familiar faces for the Blues this evening. Former players Steve Sidwell and Damien Duff line up for the Cottagers while Eidur Gudjohnsen is on the bench.[LNB]The latter having spent most of his Stoke career as a sub must be getting sick of the splinters.[LNB]19.49: It being a west London derby, Fulham should not need too much incentive this evening but something else to boost them is a place in the top-half of the table is at stake tonight.[LNB]Even then though they would only sit six points above the relegation zone. I still think the so-called magic 40 points will not be enough this season to stay up.[LNB]19.46: Mind you they did thump Spurs 4-0 in the FA Cup a couple of weeks back.[LNB]Can't see that happening tonight though.[LNB]19.44: Our friends at OptaJoe have provided us with a stat underlining how poor Fulham have been in London derbies this season.[LNB]1 - Fulham have picked up just one point from six London derbies this season. Manor.[LNB]19.41: Speaking of new faces David Luiz gets a chance to to show the world what he can do.[LNB]Can't say I have seen much of him to be honest due to the lack of Portugese league highlights sent to my house.[LNB]In fact the only thing I have decided so far is he looks a little bit like Marc Bolan.[LNB]19.38: I know Drogba has been left out of the Chelsea side before, notably the London derby at Tottenham but this seems to be more of a pivotal moment in his Chelsea career.[LNB]Back then it was just Anelka he was realistically battling a starting place for, but with Torres now on the scene and the Ivorian not getting any younger, will he feel it's time to finally move on?[LNB]19.35: Didier Drogba is left out of the Chelsea side for tonight's west London derby at Fulham.[LNB]Ivory Coast striker Drogba starts on the bench as manager Carlo Ancelotti recallsFlorent Malouda and Ramires, with David Luiz making his full Barclays Premier League debut.[LNB]Fulham draft in Carlos Salcido for John Pantsil in their only change from last weekend's 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.[LNB]19.30: Good evening everyone, a few months ago there was talk of Chelsea winning the Premier League in record time.[LNB]Fast forward to now though and the pressure is on for them to beat Fulham and keep up with fourth placed side Spurs. How times change.[LNB]Tonight's lineups:Fulham v ChelseaFulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Duff, Sidwell, Murphy, Dempsey, Johnson, Dembele. Subs: Stockdale, Kelly, Pantsil, Gera, Gudjohnsen, Greening, Davies.Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Anelka, Torres, Malouda. Subs: Turnbull, Drogba, Mikel, Ferreira, Kalou, McEachran, Sala.Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)[LNB] Blue day: Torres suffered a torrid time on his Chelsea debut [LNB] Eriksen snubs Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to stay with Ajax next seasonDrop Drogba! Ancelotti's shock plan to make ?50m Torres Chelsea's main manAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinionAll the latest Fulham news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Fernando Torres, Mark Hughes, Carlo Ancelotti, Didier Drogba, John Pantsil, Damien Duff, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, Danny Murphy, Michael Essien, Brede Hangeland, Nicolas Anelka, Simon Davies, Wayne Rooney Places: Liverpool, London
