13/11/2004  Fulham 1 Chelsea 4
 
Chelsea restored their two-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership with another dominant performance inspired by Arjen Robben, who scored one goal, made another and caused Fulham countless problems throughout the match. Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a half-time lead with a fine free-kick, but their advantage should have been greater and it appeared as though such profligacy would be punished when Papa Bouba Diop equalised with one of the goals of the season early in the second half.

But Robben restored his team's advantage almost immediately with a classy strike, and William Gallas and substitute Tiago added further goals to seal a convincing and fully-merited triumph.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho chose a Chelsea side almost unrecognisable from the team which defeated Newcastle in the Carling Cup in midweek, making seven changes.

But Fulham chief Chris Coleman took the opposite approach by boldly selecting the same team which progressed to the last eight of the Carling Cup at Nottingham Forest.

Fulham looked sharp early on, and almost took the lead inside a minute. Carvalho's tackle on Steed Malbranque fell to captain Andy Cole, who sent a fierce, dipping effort just over the bar from 30 yards.

Two minutes later Tomas Radzinski fired high and wide when well-placed after Carvalho had miscued a clearance, but after that Chelsea began to assert their authority.

Mark Crossley made a fine save to prevent Lampard scoring with a close-range header following a defensive mix-up, and shortly afterwards Terry surged forward 50 yards, evading two tackles, but shot just over with only Crossley to beat.

Crossley saved well again with his feet from Robben in the 13th minute after the Dutch winger tore past Zat Knight, and then the former Forest goalkeeper had luck on his side two minutes later when he totally misjudged Robben's swerving effort but was relieved to see the ball bounce away off his shoulder.

Alexei Smertin shot wide after William Gallas and Robben had combined down the left, and after 19 minutes Eidur Gudjohnsen somehow shot wide after Robben had again escaped to set the Icelandic striker up eight yards out.

The home side were struggling to win possession, but after 22 minutes Cole sent Luis Boa Morte clear on the left and Claude Makelele was booked for a crude tackle from behind on the Portuguese player.

Chelsea took the lead their superiority merited through a fantastic free-kick from Lampard.

Frenchman Malbranque fouled his compatriot Makelele after losing the ball to him and, after Gudjohnsen had touched the ball to Duff, Lampard blasted a superb shot into the right corner from almost 30 yards.

Fulham simply could not get a foothold in the match and, after Papa Bouba Diop had made a great last-ditch clearance following Terry's header across goal, the home side were lucky not to concede a penalty.

Robben fed Lampard on the edge of the box after 36 minutes, and the England midfielder's shot hit Zesh Rehman's raised arm, but referee Uriah Rennie waved play on.

Lampard was again unfortunate in first-half stoppage time. Although he appeared to be tripped in the area by Moritz Volz, the former West Ham player was booked by Rennie for diving.

Chelsea keeper Peter Cech almost gifted Fulham an equaliser at the start of the second half when his mishit his clearance went straight to Malbranque, but the rock-solid Terry was on hand to head the shot clear from close to his own goal-line.

In the 53rd minute, Lampard and Gudjohnsen combined superbly to send Robben in on goal, but Crossley was able to smother when the former PSV Eindhoven player chose to shoot rather than square the ball to the unmarked Lampard.

And Chelsea were made to pay when Diop struck one of the goals of the season three minutes later.

Terry could only head Radzinski's right-wing cross to Diop 30 yards out, and the Senegalese midfielder hit an unstoppable volley into Cech's right-hand corner for a memorable first goal for Fulham.

But Chelsea regained the lead two minutes later as Robben atoned for his earlier error, showing wonderful footwork to elude Knight, Rehman and Mark Pembridge before firing home with his left foot from 15 yards for his fourth goal in as many matches.

Lampard could have made the game safe in the 59th minute when Robben set him up on the edge of the area, but his left-foot strike was too weak and too close to Crossley.

Terry was lucky five minutes later when Pembridge's throw skimmed off his head invitingly for Cole, but the former Manchester United player could not direct his header on target and the ball went over the bar.

Chelsea established a two-goal lead in the 72nd minute. Diop miskicked completely when attempting to clear Lampard's free-kick on the edge of his own six-yard box, and William Gallas was on hand to head in from three yards at the far post.

Cech had been given little to do in the visitors' goal for most of the match, but he had to be alert to tip over Malbranque's powerful 30-yard drive with 15 minutes remaining.

And Chelsea sealed their win with a delightful fourth goal 10 minutes from time.

Tiago, who had come on for Alexei Smertin 18 minutes earlier, fed Robben down the left, and the Dutchman's marvellous back-heel gave Tiago time and space to arrow a 16-yard shot into the right corner of the net.