Mykhailo Mudryk off the mark as Chelsea ease to 2-0 win over Fulham

Nine months after he made his £88 million move from Shakhtar Donetsk, Mykhailo Mudryk finally scored his first Chelsea goal, setting his side on course for a victory that Mauricio Pochettino will hope proves to be a turning point in his team’s season.

Pochettino’s side arrived at Craven Cottage after the club’s worst top-flight start since 1978 and having failed to score in their previous three league games. That unwanted drought was ended in the 18th minute when Mudryk produced an accomplished finish, followed less than a minute later by Armado Broja’s first goal since he suffered a knee injury last November.

This was by no means a complete performance by Pochettino’s side but having started the game in 15th position with just one league win - against Luton - to their name, there were positive signs for the manager, as well as a huge sense of relief that for once, they demonstrated a cutting edge.

Chelsea’s problems in front of goal have provided one of the main themes of the club’s campaign and undermined Pochettino’s efforts to reverse last season’s decline. Nicolas Jackson provided a welcome boost when he scored the only goal in last week’s much needed EFL Cup victory over Brighton but the forward’s fifth yellow card of the season meant Pochettino was forced to make changes as he attempted to end his side’s Premier League drought.

In came Broja, flanked by Cole Palmer, included in a league starting eleven for the first time since his move from Manchester City at the end of the last transfer window, and Mudryk. The initial signs weren’t promising though, with Broja demonstrating a distinct lack of composure when he rounded keeper Bernd Leno only to shoot over before a belated offside flag spared the forward’s blushes.

Fortunately for the visitors, Fulham were in generous mood and when Mudryk was presented with an 18th minute opportunity, he made no mistake. Moises Caicedo switched the play to Levi Colwill, the Chelsea left-back, who found space to press forward and clipped in an excellent cross towards Mudryk, left unmarked by home centre-back Issa Diop. The Ukraine international took the ball with his chest and swept home through Leno’s legs first time.

Worse was to come for Fulham when Tim Ream, Diop’s central defensive partner, gifted the ball to Palmer as he attempted to play out from deep. Palmer advanced before slotting a through ball towards Broja and Ream compounded his initial error by directing his attempted clearance against the Chelsea forward and the ball deflected past Leno.

Marco Silva and his Fulham players were left stunned and for a period, any composure they may have have had during the opening stages evaporated.

Chelsea were vibrant and a weight had clearly been lifted off Mudryk’s shoulders. The winger looked more direct and dangerous as he worked his way to the byline before pulling back a low cross that keeper Bernd Leno did well to gather.

Enzo Fernandez should have done much better with a shooting opportunity that he directed over and Fulham were fortunate none of Broja’s teammates anticipated the forward's low cross across the face off goal after the forward had worked his way to the byline.

Pochettino’s side were in control and Fulham creaking although the home side might have handed themselves a timely lift had Raul Jimenez managed to direct a header on target shortly before the break.

Mudryk’s hopes of adding to his goal were ended when he was forced off at half-time while Fulham were notably improved as they attempted to work their way back into the game. Full-backs Antonee Robinson and Timothy Castagne were more prominent in the Chelsea half but the home side lacked a focal point to their attacking moves.

Chelsea, though, looked by far the more assured of the two sides. Conor Gallagher, Caicedo, and Fernandez provided impetus from midfield and had substitute Ian Maatsen managed to find the target and not the post with a first time shot, the contest would have been over just after the hour.

Had Fulham substitute Sasa Lukic made more of a good 78th minute chance, Chelsea would have been forced to endure a more nervy end to the game. As it is, they will travel to Burnley on Saturday with the belief they can develop some momentum after a troubled start to the season.

Fulham (4-3-3): Leno 6; Castagne 6, Diop 5, Ream 4, Robinson 6; Reed 5 (Cairney 65, 6), Palhinha 6, Pereira 5 (Lukic 75, 6); Wilson 5 (Iwobi 53, 6), Jimenez 5 (Vinícius 53, 6), Willian 6.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Sanchez 7; Cucurella 6, Disasi 6, Silva 7, Colwill 7; Gallagher 8, Caicedo 7 (Madueke 90, 6), Fernandez 7 (Matos 90, 6) ; Palmer 7 (Ugochukwu 78, 6), Broja 7 (Sterling 64, 6), Mudryk 7 (Maatsen 46, 6).

Referee: Tim Robinson 6.