Enzo Fernandez could not get off to a winning start at Chelsea
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Chelsea’s big-money signings were unable to have an immediate impact as the Blues were held to a 0-0 draw by Fulham at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk started for Chelsea, two of those to have been brought in during the January transfer window, but it was a familiar story of attacking woes for Graham Potter’s side.
Kai Havertz was denied by the woodwork just before the break but that was as close as the hosts came, with Bernd Leno rarely threatened. Fulham were well worth the point they picked up, one that lifts them into sixth in the Premier League, even if they were given a huge scare as David Datro Fofana had a shot cleared off the line late on.
Fernandez was handed a Chelsea debut, just 48 hours after completing his move, while Mudryk made his first start after impressing off the bench against Liverpool.
It was a relatively disjointed display from the Blues for much of the first-half, Fernandez showing plenty of promise as he dropped deep to pick up the ball but options ahead of him were limited.
The two best chances of the half fell to Havertz, the first of which he sent over the bar on the stretch before his lobbed effort on the stroke of half-time sailed over Bernd Leno and bounced back off the post.
Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke were among those brought on by Potter, the strength in depth clear to see, but the fluidity still did not come for the Blues in forward areas.
Aleksandar Mitrovic tried his luck from 50 yards out, and gave Kepa Arrizabalaga huge problems as the Chelsea goalkeeper scrambled back onto his line to clear, while Willian threatened on his Stamford Bridge return.
Fofana very nearly came on and scored his first goal for the club, as he got on the end of Gallagher’s ball over the top. The striker went round Bernd Leno, chopped inside past Issa Diop but found Tim Ream waiting to clear the shot off the line.
Chelsea could well find themselves 11th in the table by the end of the weekend - they have scored just 22 goals in 21 Premier League matches.
