London:
Chelsea won for only the second time in eight matches to extend their Premier League lead to five points after coming from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 in a dramatic west London derby.
Fulham needed just four minutes to go ahead at Stamford Bridge through Zoltan Gera on Monday before Carlo Ancelotti's side scored twice in two minutes late on though Didier Drogba and a Chris Smalling own-goal to rescue all three points.
But second-placed champions Manchester United will cut Chelsea's lead back to two points if they win at home to Wigan on Wednesday.
Fulham, who've already beaten Manchester United and Liverpool this season, stunned their hosts when the Blues failed to clear a Paul Konchesky cross and Hungarian midfielder Gera hooked an acrobatic shot past Petr Cech.
It wasn't until the 73rd minute that striker Drogba, in his last Chelsea match before he departs on African Nations Cup duty with the Ivory Coast, equalised with a powerful header - the forward's 19th goal in all competitions this term.
And just two minutes later Chelsea were in front after Daniel Sturridge's cross-shot was saved by Fulham's Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer only for the rebound to go in off luckless 20-year-old defender Smalling, who had impressed on his first Premier League start.
"It was a great performance by my players," Chelsea manager Ancelotti told Sky Sports.
Fulham needed just four minutes to go ahead at Stamford Bridge through Zoltan Gera on Monday before Carlo Ancelotti's side scored twice in two minutes late on though Didier Drogba and a Chris Smalling own-goal to rescue all three points.
But second-placed champions Manchester United will cut Chelsea's lead back to two points if they win at home to Wigan on Wednesday.
Fulham, who've already beaten Manchester United and Liverpool this season, stunned their hosts when the Blues failed to clear a Paul Konchesky cross and Hungarian midfielder Gera hooked an acrobatic shot past Petr Cech.
It wasn't until the 73rd minute that striker Drogba, in his last Chelsea match before he departs on African Nations Cup duty with the Ivory Coast, equalised with a powerful header - the forward's 19th goal in all competitions this term.
And just two minutes later Chelsea were in front after Daniel Sturridge's cross-shot was saved by Fulham's Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer only for the rebound to go in off luckless 20-year-old defender Smalling, who had impressed on his first Premier League start.
"It was a great performance by my players," Chelsea manager Ancelotti told Sky Sports.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
