Ballack helps Blues fight back

A first-half Danny Murphy penalty was cancelled out by Salomon Kalou's header and a Michael Ballack spot-kick after the break.

It was Roy Hodgson's first game in charge of Fulham, and he brought Moritz Volz back after a one-match suspension, while Diomansy Kamara came in for the suspended Hameur Bouazza.

After the players and crowd paid their respects to Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell with a minute's applause, Fulham started well, Kamara firing in a low shot at the near post which Hilario parried.

Then Chelsea's Joe Cole put a perfectly-weighted pass through to Salomon Kalou but his effort was comfortably saved by Fulham keeper Antti Niemi.

Shaun Wright-Phillips fizzed a cross-shot past Niemi's right-hand post, but at the other end Moritz Volz broke into the penalty area and was tripped by Joe Cole. Referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot and Danny Murphy sent Hilario the wrong way to get Hodgson's reign up and running with the first Premier League goal of 2008.



Although Chelsea were enjoying plenty of possession, Fulham were working prodigiously to impress the new manager.

Kalou went sprawling after pushing the ball past Niemi but the striker was offside so there was no question of a penalty.

After Tal Ben Haim fouled Clint Dempsey 30 yards out, Murphy curled the resulting free-kick over the bar. Then Hilario saved from Simon Davies before the break.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant made a half-time change, sending on Jon Obi Mikel for Steve Sidwell, and Chelsea were soon claiming a penalty when a Wright-Phillips cross struck Dejan Stefanovic's arm.

But the Blues were soon level, when Alex headed a Wright-Phillips corner back across goal for Kalou to nod home the equaliser.

Almost inevitably, they took the lead - and it was through another penalty. Michael Ballack had his shirt pulled by Dempsey as a Juliano Belletti free-kick floated into the area. Halsey again pointed to the spot and Ballack converted the spot-kick himself.

The German then fired in a 30-yard free-kick that flew narrowly wide, before Hodgson sent on Seol Ki-Hyeon for Volz, and Alexei Smertin (against his old team) for Steven Davis.


Moments later, Joe Cole shot narrowly wide as Chelsea asserted themselves and pressed home the initiative.

In Hodgson's last change, David Healy came on for Kamara with 15 minutes to go, but it was looking comfortable for Chelsea.

Healy quickly unleashed a volley from the edge of the area which flew over.



Fulham: Niemi, Volz (Ki-Hyeon 68), Bocanegra, Stefanovic, Konchesky, Davis (Smertin 70), Davies, Murphy, Omozusi, Dempsey, Kamara (Healy 77). Subs Not Used: Warner, Kuqi.

Booked: Stefanovic. Goals: Murphy 10 pen.

Chelsea: Hilario, Belletti, Alex, Ben-Haim, Bridge, Wright-Phillips (Pizarro 88), Sidwell (Obi 46), Essien, Ballack, Joe Cole (Ferreira 90), Kalou. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Sinclair.

Goals: Kalou 54, Ballack 62 pen.

Attendance: 25,357

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).