Joao Pedro scored from an Enzo Fernandez corner, and the Argentinian added a penalty to give Chelsea a 2-0 home win over Fulham in the West London derby on Saturday, their second Premier League success in a row.
Unbeaten Chelsea increased their lead to seven points after three games, but Fulham lost for the first time this season after drawing 1-1 with Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United.
“We didn’t start very well, but we scored and at half-time to organise the team,” Pedro told TNT Sports.
“When I scored, the team had more time to organise and then go to the half-time.”
The hosts had an early setback when Liam Delap went down mid-run, clutching a hamstring, in the 13th minute and walked straight into the tunnel after the medics had taken a look.
With attacker Cole Palmer also absent due to a groin injury and centre back Levi Colwill ruled out for most of the season with a cruciate ligament tear, the Club World Cup winners have now had three key players suffer injuries this month.