fulham 1-1

Independent:

Dempsey piles more pressure on Di Matteo

Fulham 1 Chelsea 1: Blues slip means race for fourth place hots up

Sam Wallace

Last night it was Clint Dempsey who scored the goal, eight minutes from time, that denied Chelsea two precious points and left them in sixth place with five matches of the season left. This was a chance to make up three points on Tottenham, but instead they go into the final furlong two points behind their old London rivals and Newcastle United, too.
Not since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003 have Chelsea been out of the Champions League places at this stage of the season. And lest it be forgotten, it was the 2003 final between Milan and Juventus that inspired Abramovich to buy a football club. The modern Chelsea are not supposed to be, in the eyes of their owner, a Europa League team.
Roberto Di Matteo bemoaned his team's inability to finish off Fulham with a goal in the second half to add to Frank Lampard's penalty just before the break. But increasingly it is their tendency to concede goals late in games that is proving their undoing. Wigan equalised late on Saturday and Chelsea still rescued the win but when Dempsey headed in Fulham's goal on 82 minutes last night there was to be no comeback.
The run-in for Chelsea includes games against Arsenal and Newcastle, both teams who could potentially finish above them this season. Starting on Sunday they play Spurs, in the FA Cup semi-final; Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg three days later and then Arsenal on the following Saturday. If things go badly, the whole season could be up in smoke by the end of it.
The chances are that Branislav Ivanovic will learn today that he faces a three-match ban imposed retrospectively by the Football Association for punching Sean Maloney on Saturday, adding to Di Matteo's problems. The Chelsea manager refused to discuss the Ivanovic issue last night although even he had to admit that the defending was a concern.
"In the second half we couldn't quite get the second goal, maybe didn't pose enough threat to kill the game off," Di Matteo said. "It's been a bit of a pattern, but we put a big effort in to win this game. The biggest disappointment is that we conceded an equaliser late on. It's been a pattern this season, conceding late goals. If you manage to get a second goal, it gives the opposition less hope. It's always shaky at 1-0.
"You couldn't have written off Newcastle. Arsenal have a little gap [to those behind them], for sure. But it's important for us, the fourth spot. I think it's going to go down to the last game. Again, you saw some unexpected results [yesterday]. It's football, a very competitive league. There are no easy games."
It was a dubious penalty award that helped Chelsea on their way in the first place. Salomon Kalou ran into the box down the inside left channel and went down when Danny Murphy lunged in with two feet. It later transpired that Mark Clattenburg, the referee, gave the penalty for what he regarded as a foul by Stephen Kelly as the three converged.
There was only the most minimal contact between Kalou and Kelly, which, as Fulham manager Martin Jol said, only made the penalty more "confusing". "We thought it was Murphy [the penalty was given against] but he touched the ball," Jol said. "With Kelly, I don't think he did it ... it was an accidental collision. I'm not sure if it's an English phrase, but he [Kalou] 'tripped himself'.
"The referee said it was Kelly and that made it a bit more confusing for us. I thought it might have been the tackle from Murphy, but you can see from the telly that the tackle was not on purpose."
The only bad news of the day for Fulham was confirmation that Bryan Ruiz has fractured a metatarsal and is out for the rest of the season. They are 11th on 42 points and only behind Sunderland on goal difference. Dempsey has 16 goals for the season now and along with Moussa Dembélé in central midfield was Fulham's outstanding performer.
In the rain and wind it was not a classic but there were moments of excellence from Kerim Frei, the young Swiss winger. Even after Fulham scored the equaliser they had attempts on goal from John Arne Riise and substitute Orlando Sa which might have won them the game.
Frei ran down the inside left channel on 26 minutes, cut in past John Terry and hit a low shot to Petr Cech's right which the goalkeeper palmed around the post. In that period Chelsea looked like they might struggle if Fulham could maintain the pressure but the home side lost their way somewhat and their opposition found a foothold in the game.
Chelsea's penalty came in the 44th minute of the match and was keenly contested by the Fulham players. It was the 150th Premier League goal of Lampard's career, stroked to Mark Schwarzer's right side. The goalkeeper guessed correctly but it was past him and in the net before he could get close. Lampard gets short shrift from the Fulham fans whenever he visits Craven Cottage which probably explained his exuberant celebrations in front of them.
There was considerable controversy over the award of the penalty to Chelsea, but they were aggrieved not to get another six minutes after half-time when Brede Hangeland appeared to push Lampard over when Bertrand's cross from the left came in.
Juan Mata had been left on the bench by Di Matteo who opted for Raul Meireles in that more creative role behind Fernando Torres. With 20 minutes left, Mata was brought into the game as Chelsea searched for the goal that would finish Fulham off, but it was the home side who made all the running.
Torres was assigned to mark Aaron Hughes at corners which very nearly resulted in a goal for Hughes with nine minutes left. Cech made another good save. From the corner Dempsey lost Terry, who was then blocked by the substitute Dickson Etuhu as he attempted to get back to his man. Dempsey's header brushed off Cahill's back and inside Cech's post. Fulham had scored the goal they deserved.

Remaining fixtures
Arsenal: Tomorrow Wolves (a); 16 April Wigan (h); 21 April Chelsea (h); 28April Stoke (a); 5 May Norwich (h); 13 May West Bromwich (a)
Tottenham: 21 April QPR (a); 29 April Blackburn (h); 2 May Bolton (a); 6 May Aston Villa (a); 13 May Fulham (h)
Newcastle: 21 April Stoke (h); 28 April Wigan (a); 2 May Chelsea (a); 6 May Manchester City (h); 13 May Everton (a)
Chelsea: 21 April Arsenal (a); 29April QPR (h); 2 May Newcastle (h); 5 May Liverpool (a); 13 May Blackburn (h)

Match facts
Fulham: SCHWARZER, KELLY, HUGHES, HANGELAND, RIISE, DUFF, DIARRA, MURPHY, DEMBELE, FREI, DEMPSEY,
Chelsea: CECH, BERTRAND, TERRY, CAHILL, IVANOVIC, MIKEL, LAMPARD, KALOU, MEIRELES, RAMIRES, TORRES
Scorers: Fulham: Dempsey 82. Chelsea: Lampard 45 pen

Substitutes: Fulham Murphy (Etuhu, 74), Sa (Diarra, 81), Kacaniklic (Frei, 88). Chelsea Mata ( Meireles, 70), Drogba (Ramires, 83).
Booked: Fulham Murphy. Chelsea Cahill, Mikel, Meireles. Man of the match Dembélé. Match rating 6/10.
Possession: Fulham 49% Chelsea 51%.
Attempts on target: Fulham 9 Chelsea 4.
Referee M Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Attendance 25,697.


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Guardian:

Fulham's Clint Dempsey dents Chelsea hopes of top-four finish
Dominic Fifield at Craven Cottage

Chelsea had been wheezing in pursuit of the top four for some time, recent victories squeezed rather unconvincingly from tight contests, yet now they have stalled. For a while last night Roberto Di Matteo's side had flirted with fourth place, ensconced in the bottleneck of clubs beneath Arsenal in the table.By the end, with their lead cancelled out at the last, they had been cast adrift. They had not been as low as sixth at this stage of a season during Roman Abramovich's ownership but that is their reality now.The interim first-team coach clung to the positives afterwards. His side, after all, were technically a point closer to Tottenham Hotspur than they had been at the start of the day."We were always playing catch-up, so the situation was difficult from the beginning," said Di Matteo. But the spin could not mask this from feeling like a missed opportunity and, even among a squad as experienced as this, psychological damage was inflicted by a failure to close out the gap altogether. Fulham merited a draw but Chelsea departed feeling wasteful.FA Cup and Champions League semi-final commitments will inevitably take their toll but the five-game Premier League run-in includes trips to Arsenal and Liverpool, the latter a side who will inevitably rally for the Londoners' visit. It could be considered a blessing that sixth place might not even end up yielding a Europa League place, if Everton go on to claim the FA Cup, but the damage to Chelsea's reputation in missing out on Europe altogether would be considerable, both financially and in terms of future recruitment. It was not the time for energy to be sapped from their approach. Yet this was, for long periods, another flat performance from a squad labouring to compete on three fronts.Fulham might have edged ahead in the first half but the visitors plucked a penalty right at the end of the period and a lead upon which to cling, suggesting their good fortune in the weekend victory over Wigan had been prolonged.Not long ago Di Matteo's side would have seized upon such a scenario to stamp their authority on the contest, perhaps plundering a second before suffocating the opposition. But the current crop struggle to retain leads in the latter stages.Dempsey, peeling away from John Terry at John Arne Riise's late corner – with Dickson Etuhu cleverly blocking off the visitors' captain – nodded powerfully down with the ball flicking up from Gary Cahill's backside to find the corner of the net. The American will claim a 22nd reward of a prolific season but Chelsea had endured the 20th goal conceded this season in the last 10 minutes of contests, an indication that mental fatigue has long since set in. Di Matteo described it as "a bit of a pattern". Killer instinct has been blunted.Fulham deserved to be level. Theirs had been the slicker approach through the first half, Moussa Dembélé purring whenever in possession and Kerim Frei an irritation for Branislav Ivanovic down the flank. Dempsey might have converted after one cleverly crafted interchange with the Belgian, while Frei forced Petr Cech to turn away a skimmed attempt from distance.Frustration was welling that they had not eased themselves ahead when Danny Murphy dived in with studs raised on Salomon Kalou and Stephen Kelly, almost unnoticed at the forward's back, made faint contact with the Ivorian's left foot.Mark Clattenburg was well positioned and awarded the penalty instantly, though not for Murphy's studs-up challenge but instead for Kelly's vague misdemeanour. All were confused and Fulham deeply aggrieved.Frank Lampard thrashed in the penalty to register his 150th Premier League goal and the visitors' grind appeared ready to bring more reward. In truth the visitors might have claimed two more spot-kicks – Lampard appeared to be pushed by Brede Hangeland while Kelly's swollen wrist was evidence that Ryan Bertrand's shot had been handled – but mustered little else other than from distance.They will continue to assess the fitness of Ashley Cole, absent here with ankle trouble, and the restored Terry, who is still hampered by two broken ribs, in the build-up to Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, though they return to training deflated.Fulham's late revival had seen Aaron Hughes thwarted at the near post by Cech but Dempsey would not be denied. With players of the American's calibre in this form, the loss of Bryan Ruiz with a broken foot until next season will not be felt too keenly.And as for Chelsea's pursuit of the top four? "Spurs will finish in the top four because they've got all the quality…," offered Martin Jol, the former Tottenham manager, with a wink. Few up the Fulham Road will be chuckling.

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Telegraph:
Fulham 1 Chelsea 1
By Henry Winter, at Craven Cottage

Clint Dempsey headed his 16th Premier League goal of the season to earn Fulham a thoroughly deserved point against Chelsea.
Chelsea had needed to win by two goals to climb above Tottenham, who had lost to Norwich City, so taking the team from Stamford Bridge into the top four for the first time since Feb 11.
They had looked on course when Frank Lampard converted a penalty at the end of the first half; it initially appeared to have been awarded by Mark Clattenburg for Danny Murphy’s challenge on Salomon Kalou, although Murphy claimed that the referee told him it was for a foul by Stephen Kelly.
When Lampard stroked in his 150th Premier League goal, a remarkable record for a midfielder, Chelsea threatened to go on and overtake Spurs but Fulham, their players and fans, refused to go quietly, and Dempsey brought them just reward.
It was another frustrating night for Fernando Torres, who ended on the right wing, although there was the bonus of an assured display from Ryan Bertrand at left-back.
Until Kalou was fouled, gifting Lampard his penalty chance on the cusp of half-time, Fulham had been in the ascendancy, their quicksilver movement troubling John Terry and Gary Cahill. Fulham had been set up well by Martin Jol.
The memory of Torres’ early chance, a shot deflected to safety off Brede Hangeland, soon faded as the hosts took control for 44 minutes.
Murphy anchored the 4-5-1 system, allowing Mahamadou Diarra and particularly Mousa Dembele to push on. Dempsey was the target man lent nimble support by Damien Duff and the left-sided Kerim Frei, who kept running at Branislav Ivanovic.
Clattenburg tried to make allowance for the slippery conditions, letting one foul by Raul Meireles go, although when the referee finally reached for the book it was for a non-existent challenge by Meireles on John Arne Riise. Riise and Frei were beginning to make ground down the left.
Dempsey also started to threaten through the middle, engineering a quick-fire attack with Dembele but the American could not connect fully with his subsequent shot.
Then came Frei, turning Ivanovic and Terry inside out, before shooting low and hard, prompting Petr Cech into a sprawling save.
Still Fulham attacked. Riise drilled in a ball cleared by Terry.
Chelsea broke out, raiding towards the Hammersmith End. Bertrand, deputising ably for the injured Ashley Cole, fired in a shot that caught Kelly on the hand, forcing the Fulham right-back to wiggle his fingers to check they were all there. It was hardly the most discreet way to conceal a possible penalty claim, although Bertrand hit the shot so hard there was little Kelly could do.
Then it was back down the Putney End, Murphy switching play superbly to Riise. Then Frei tried his luck, his shot cannoning away off Cahill. These were uncomfortable moments for Chelsea’s defence but they still turned around ahead, following a naive piece of defending by the experienced Murphy as thoughts turned to half-time.
When Kalou zigzagged into the box, Murphy left the floor in targeting the ball. Yet, according to Murphy, Clattenburg subsequently told him that the offence had been made by Kelly, sending Kalou falling to earth. Lampard stayed composed, sending the penalty low past Mark Schwarzer.
As Chelsea celebrated their fortuitous lead, soon heading down the tunnel, Murphy engaged Clattenburg in a discussion about the award of the penalty. Even when the combatants reappeared for the second period, Murphy continued to debate the decision with the referee.
Bolstered by the goal, Chelsea re-emerged with an improved tempo. Meireles and Ramires attempted to add a second. But Fulham responded to their fans’ exhortations, attacking the Hammersmith End with gusto. Murphy swirled in a corner that Cech seized from the glistening night air, throwing it out quickly to Torres. The Spaniard charged 50 yards through the middle but never looked fully convincing, even glancing left to see if he could offload the ball. Dembele dispossessed Torres effortlessly.
Torres needed better support, so Roberto Di Matteo removed Meireles and sent on Juan Mata, who looked to create opportunities from a central position.
As the Chelsea fans enquired exactly who Barcelona were, Fulham were forcing Di Matteo’s men to focus fully on this task in hand, not next week’s ultimate footballing test against Messi, Xavi and company.
With Murphy cautioned, Jol sent on Dickson Etuhu into midfield. Still Fulham built promisingly. Duff lifted in some dangerous crosses. Still Chelsea cleared their lines, not altogether elegantly. Bertrand and Ivanovic made some important, if hurried interceptions.
Fulham fans were enjoying the enterprise of their team, if ruing the absence of a finishing touch. They certainly enjoyed the sight of Terry’s powerful clearance almost snapping Torres into half.
Fulham had the reward their effort deserved. Duff’s first corner had drawn a fantastic save by Cech from Aaron Hughes. Duff’s follow-up corner caused even more chaos. Dempsey met it well, angling his header across Cech and in for his 16th Premier League goal of the season.
The Hammersmith End loved it, bouncing up and down as their Chelsea counterparts fell silent.


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Mail:

Fulham 1 Chelsea 1: Fulham stick their oar in as Dempsey dents Blues' Champions League ambitions
By MATT BARLOW

Two days after the Boat Race and there were more protests and signs of exhaustion on the banks of the Thames as Fulham fought back to sabotage Chelsea’s bid to go back into the top four.
Clint Dempsey struck eight minutes from time at Craven Cottage with a goal celebrated in Tottenham and Tyneside, too.
It was the American’s 22nd goal of his most prolific season and wiped out a disputed penalty scored by Frank Lampard in the closing seconds of the first half.
The spot-kick was seemingly awarded for a reckless challenge by Danny Murphy on Salomon Kalou, although television replays and touchline reports soon suggested otherwise.
It was, in fact, given for a slight touch on Kalou from behind by Stephen Kelly, which caused the Ivorian to fall a split second after Murphy’s challenge. Confusion reigned.
Fulham manager Martin Jol suggested the Chelsea striker might have tripped himself up. Regardless, Lampard made no mistake, slamming the spot-kick into his favourite corner of the net from 12 yards to give Chelsea the lead.
The home side deserved their point, not because the penalty was a bemusing affair but because they played with terrific adventure, especially in the last 30 minutes when they generated an unstoppable momentum.
Petr Cech made a superb save to turn a header from Aaron Hughes wide but, from the following corner, Dempsey escaped John Terry and finished with a header which clipped Gary Cahill on the back of the arm on its way over the line.
Chelsea clung on to their point but the two they dropped could prove costly in their bid to finish in the top four as they slipped to sixth yesterday, with a gruelling schedule ahead which includes two semi-finals.
Roberto Di Matteo has tried to rotate his squad in an effort to keep legs and minds fresh for the challenges ahead but last night his team started to look a little weary. There was another late goal conceded, which is becoming a bad habit.
‘We couldn’t quite get the second goal,’ said Chelsea’s interim manager. ‘Maybe we didn’t pose enough threat to kill the game off. We put a big effort in to win but the biggest disappointment is that we conceded an equaliser late on. It’s been a pattern this season, conceding late goals.
‘If you manage to get a second goal, it gives the opposition less hope. It’s always shaky at 1-0.’
Chelsea were without the injured Ashley Cole, and Di Matteo gave David Luiz the chance to rest an ankle problem but Terry was back despite two broken ribs.
When the visitors grabbed a 45th-minute lead, it seemed like another big call from the officials would help them to victory.
On Saturday, they benefited from two goals which proved to be offside as they squeezed past Wigan, and here they got the bizarre penalty, which Lampard converted for his 150th goal in the Barclays Premier League.
Murphy was still debating the issue when the teams came out for the restart. The Fulham captain had snapped in on instinct with studs showing but seemed to make no contact with Kalou, who hit the turf.
Only afterwards, with the help of several super-slow-motion replays could it be unravelled, but all that mattered was that Clattenburg had given it and Chelsea had a lead they barely deserved.
The visitors had been allowed to dominate early possession by Fulham, but Jol’s side chose their moments well to spring forward, passing the ball quickly and fluently.
Dempsey and Kerim Frei both tested Cech before Lampard’s goal. Lampard went close with a well-struck effort from 25 yards after the break, then appealed for another penalty when he was manhandled by Brede Hangeland as the pair contested a low cross by Fernando Torres.
He might have had a case but, this time, Clattenburg did not flinch and Fulham started to control the game as Chelsea flagged.
John Arne Riise swerved a shot across goal, Ryan Bertrand made a vital interception and Cech denied Hughes before Dempsey struck.
The draw eases Fulham on to the same points as Liverpool, who play tonight.
Murphy said: ‘We have tough games coming up away at Everton and Liverpool but we’ll keep going and working hard.
‘We’ve shown when we’ve had injuries that we have strength in depth. Kerim Frei has not played much but Ivanovic is one of the best right backs in the Premier League and he made him look average.’
Jol confirmed he will be without Bryan Ruiz for the rest of the season after scans revealed the Costa Rican broke his foot at Bolton on Saturday.

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Mirror:
Fulham 1-1 Chelsea: Clint makes Spurs' day
By MirrorFootball

Clint Dempsey's late goal earned Fulham a deserved point from tonight's west London derby against Chelsea.
The United States international rose highest to nod home Damien Duff's corner in the 82nd minute when defeat seemed to be on the cards.
Fulham dominated first-half proceedings at Craven Cottage but went in at the break behind after Frank Lampard's controversial 45th-minute penalty.
The midfielder's 150th Premier League goal looked to have given interim manager Roberto Di Matteo his ninth win at the helm before Dempsey 22nd goal of the season in all competitions changed the game's complexion.
John Terry returned from cracked ribs to captain Chelsea in tonight's west London derby at Fulham.
Frank Lampard was also passed fit after a thigh injury with Juan Mata given a rare night off and Fernando Torres recalled in one of six changes, but Ashley Cole missed out again with an ankle knock which reports suggest may be more serious than first thought.
Danny Murphy and Kerim Frei were the only changes to the Fulham line-up that beat Bolton 3-0 at the weekend, while Pavel Pogrebnyak missed for the second successive match due to an ankle injury.
The 79th clash between the SW6 sides started at a rapid pace, although both struggled to get a foothold on proceedings as the rain lashed down.
It took until the 11th minute for the night's first opportunity and when it came Torres' 20 yard effort was met by a superb Brede Hangeland block.
Mousa Dembele and Kerim Frei were looking tricky at the other end, although Fulham failed to eke out a clear-cut opportunity during a period of sustained possession.
John Obi Mikel blazed over when the Blues returned to the attack, before Damien Duff failed to meet Riise's cross with a firm volley against his former club.
Midway through the first half referee Mark Clattenburg handed out his first booking, with Raul Meireles' yellow card met by ironic cheers by the home faithful after what was his third trip of the evening.
The atmosphere by the Thames was electric as the play ebbed and flowed, although Fulham were dominating possession.
They came close midway through the first half when Dembele squared for Clint Dempsey, whose poke goalwards was saved by Petr Cech.
The Chelsea goalkeeper pulled off an even better save moments later after Frei danced past three defenders and hit a daisy cutter from 20 yards.
Ryan Bertrand saw appeals for a handball against Stephen Kelly waved away as half-time approached, although the right-back did mysteriously require treatment on a wrist injury shortly afterwards.
Gary Cahill was booked as tempers frayed, before Chelsea took the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Murphy was adjudged to have brought down Salomon Kalou with a lunging tackle and Lampard struck home from the spot.
Any sense of injustice over the penalty did not spur Fulham forward as it was the visitors that pressed.
Fresh from netting his 150th Premier League goal, Lampard came close to grabbing another within four minutes of the restart.
Ramires then tested Mark Schwarzer as the Blues attacked, before Meireles curled a shot over in the 54th minute.
Bertrand did brilliantly to block a Dempsey snapshot as Fulham looked for an equaliser, which John Arne Riise attempted with an audacious strike from an acute angle.
The left-back's effort would have been ruled out for offside should it have gone in and came either side of bookings for Mikel and Murphy.
The latter was replaced by Dickson Etuhu as manager Martin Jol looked to freshen things up with 16 minutes remaining.
Fulham looked rejuvenated but were struggling to turn their dominance into opportunities, forcing Dempsey to try his luck from range.
Mahamadou Diarra was replaced by striker Orlando Sa as the hosts looked to go more direct and the tactic soon reaped its reward.
Chelsea looked dishevelled defensively and only a world-class save from Cech prevented Aaron Hughes heading home a Duff corner from the right.
However, the Czech Republic international was beaten from the resulting corner as Dempsey's header snuck home via a slight deflection off Cahill.
The goal was no less than Fulham deserved and they pushed for a winner, with Riise and Sa getting away attempts.
Alex Kacaniklic came on for Frei with time running down but the winger's introduction could not force a later winner.


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Sun:
Fulham 1 Chelsea 1
by Andrew Dillon

Chelsea will struggle to crack a chocolate Easter egg let alone the top four.
Dreadful defending and a late Clint Dempsey equaliser saw them blow a big chance to go level with Tottenham.
Instead, caretaker-boss Roberto Di Matteo’s luck ran out and his team is now stuck in sixth place with five games to go.
They have only themselves to blame.
The Blues were eight minutes from a hard-earned win which bore all the hallmarks of the old Chelsea.
But that team would never have surrendered like this.
Frank Lampard hit a controversial first-half penalty that looked like being decisive.
But what they failed to do was make the most of it having been armed with the knowledge of Spurs’ earlier defeat. Three points and a 1-0 win would have put a revived Chelsea into fifth place, behind Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final opponents by just one goal.
Now they must rely on Tottenham slipping up again with so few games left — and Chelsea have the much harder run-in.
A costly lapse in concentration at the back only puts more pressure on, with so many other key games looming.
Just three days after Sunday’s Wembley showdown with Spurs, comes Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final.
After this draw, winning the big one looks like being the only way they will be back in Europe again next season.
Chelsea were eventually lucky to get out of their neighbours’ house with a point, such was the pummelling they took in the final stages of a match which slowly got into gear after Lampard tucked away his spot-kick.
It had been all Fulham until then too, as Martin Jol’s eye-catching side tested Petr Cech.
An interchange between Moussa Dembele and Dempsey in the 26th minute eventually led to a shot from the in-form American.
But it was too slow and Chelsea’s keeper covered the danger comfortably.
Just 60 seconds later, Kerim Frei exploded into the area.
The young midfielder wriggled past John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill with a neat twist then let rip with a low shot, which was heading goalwards until Cech launched himself and tipped the ball round his near post.
With bodies firmly behind the ball and Fulham’s full-backs throwing themselves in the path of everything, Chelsea were reduced to a few lame, long-range efforts.
Fernando Torres had an effort deflected over the bar, Salomon Kalou shot straight at Mark Schwarzer from 25 yards and Lampard fired off a wayward shot on 31 minutes.
That almost cleared the Hammersmith End of the Cottage.
Then fate, or the referee stepped in, just as the officials played a big part in Saturday’s hugely fortunate 2-1 win over Wigan which kept the Di Matteo bandwagon rolling along.
On 45 minutes, ref Mark Clattenburg gave a penalty to Chelsea which left Fulham raging even as everyone trooped off at half-time.
Kalou darted into the box only to be met by Danny Murphy. The Fulham skipper got the ball but also showed studs to the Chelsea forward who tumbled over.
Lampard was more precise this time with his finishing, neatly placing a shot low and to the right of Schwarzer to claim his 150th Prem goal.
Murphy hounded Clattenburg at half-time — arguing the case that if he had shown studs, why had he not been booked.
It was a justifiable argument and later it was suggested the penalty was given for right-back Stephen Kelly’s foul on Kalou a split second earlier.
Whatever it was for, it was hard cheese on Fulham who had led the way in open play.
Chelsea appeared to have their minds on their forthcoming semi-finals — when the chase for fourth place should also be a priority. They emerged far more energetic in the second half. Lampard went close with a left-foot curler and had a shout for a second penalty when shoved by Brede Hangeland.
Fulham rose to the increased tempo, too. In particular, teenager Frei teased Chelsea, drawing a series of fouls.
The pressure mounted and, eventually, Fulham got their reward. Cech made a stunning save at a corner from Aaron Hughes’ header.
But 30 seconds later a second set-piece came in and Dempsey rose unchallenged to flick home his third goal in two games to knock the stuffing out of Chelsea.

DREAM TEAM
STAR MAN - KERIM FREI (Fulham)
FULHAM: Schwarzer 6, Kelly 6, Hangeland 7, Hughes 7, JA Riise 7, Duff 6, Murphy 6 (Etuhu 5), Diarra 7 (Orlando Sa 6), Frei 8 (Kacaniklic 5), Dembele 6, Dempsey 7. Subs not used: Stockdale, Kasami, Senderos, Briggs. Booked: Murphy.
CHELSEA: Cech 7, Ivanovic 5, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Bertrand 5, Mikel 5, Meireles 5 (Mata 5), Kalou 6, Lampard 6, Ramires 5 (Drogba 5), Torres 5. Subs not used: Turnbull, Romeu, Malouda, Bosingwa, Sturridge. Booked: Meireles, Cahill, Mikel.
REF: M Clattenburg 5


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Express:

FULHAM 1 - CHELSEA 1: CLINT DEMPSEY SPOILS CHELSEA’S SHOW
By Matt Law

CHELSEA’S luck finally ran out with just eight minutes remaining at Craven Cottage as they missed an opportunity to climb back into the top four of the Premier League.
And if the Blues are to keep their seat at Europe’s top table and qualify for next season’s Champions League, they will have to do it the hard way.
Having got away with two offside goals against Wigan, it seemed they would profit from more good fortune in last night’s clash with west London neighbours Fulham.
But this time they were made to pay for conceding yet another goal in the final 15 minutes of a game.
Chelsea could count themselves lucky to beat Aston Villa, Benfica in the Champions League and Wigan after giving away late goals, but Fulham proved to be one step too far.
Yet again, Chelsea were far from brilliant and looked vulnerable for long periods against their hosts.
But they were awarded a disputed penalty, which looked set to hand Roberto Di Matteo’s men another three points and move them back into position to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Chelsea caretaker Roberto Di Matteo is doing his best to push the Blues over the line, but it still seems old age and a lack of creative inspiration will end up costing them
Unlike the Villa, Benfica and Wigan victories, however, Chelsea did not get out of jail this time as Clint Dempsey scored his 16th Premier League goal of the season to secure a deserved point for Fulham.
Dempsey’s header meant that, instead of joining Newcastle and Tottenham on 59 points, Chelsea are sixth with just five games left to play.
The Blues have never been outside the top four of the Premier League at this stage of the season under the reign of their Russian owner Roman Abramovich and now qualification is no longer in their hands.
Chelsea face a punishing schedule that includes FA Cup and Champions League semi-finals, and they still have to go to Arsenal and Liverpool in the league. It will now take some effort to get back into the top four.
Caretaker Di Matteo is doing his best to push the Blues over the line, but it still seems old age and a lack of creative inspiration will end up costing them.
They are also set to lose defender Branislav Ivanovic for three games for a punch on Wigan’s Shaun Maloney that had gone unnoticed. The FA are expected to take retrospective action and charge the defender with violent conduct.
Under Di Matteo, Chelsea have won eight of their 11 games but are still struggling to see teams off and that was the case again last night.
Despite early shots from Fernando Torres, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou, Chelsea had been on the back foot for much of the first period but were given a gift on the stroke of the half-time break.
Kalou looked to be heading nowhere as he dribbled his way into the penalty area. Danny Murphy inexplicably lunged in, but replays showed it was actually Stephen Kelly whose foot clipped the Chelsea man and sent him tumbling with the faintest of touches.
Referee Mark Clattenburg immediately pointed to the spot and, despite Fulham’s protests causing a short delay, Frank Lampard sent his kick past the diving Mark Schwarzer to become the first Premier League midfielder to hit 150 goals.
Murphy argued with Clattenburg over the decision as he walked off for half-time, presumably thinking he had been wrongly punished. Chelsea once again thanked their lucky stars.
After the restart, Lampard desperately appealed for another penalty, claiming Brede Hangeland had pushed him as he tried to convert Ryan Bertrand’s fizzing cross, before Raul Meireles wasted a good shooting chance.
Chelsea needed a second goal to ease their nerves at the back and with that in mind Di Matteo sent on Juan Mata to replace Meireles with 20 minutes remaining. But the bold move did not come off, as Chelsea could not quite hang on and this time the late goal denied them all three points.
Cech did brilliantly to stop a Dempsey header from Damien Duff’s corner. But the keeper was powerless to keep the ball out when the American rose to net from the second set-piece.
Fulham had got what they deserved and, crucially, so had Chelsea.
The only bad news for the Cottagers was the loss of winger Bryan Ruiz who broke a foot against Bolton on Saturday and will miss the remainder of the season.


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Star:

FULHAM 1 CHELSEA 1: CLINT DEMPSEY'S LAMPS SPOILER
By Adrian Kajumba

RED-HOT Clint Dempsey fired in his 22nd goal of the season to put the brakes on Chelsea’s hopes of a top-four finish.
The American hitman rose to head home a Damien Duff corner on 81 minutes which bounced in off Blues defender Gary Cahill’s back.
Frank Lampard had racked up yet another landmark as the Chelsea legend fired Roberto Di Matteo’s men in front with his 150th Premier League goal.
Lampard struck from the spot just before half-time, keeping his cool to score another potentially crucial goal for Chelsea.
And as Lampard continues to scores big goals for the Blues, it makes ex-boss Andre Villas-Boas’ decision to try and phase him out of the side earlier in the season an even stranger one.
Lampard’s spot-kick was also his 185th in all competitions in his incredible Chelsea career.
But the number that mattered most to Chelsea last night was four – the coveted spot in the Premier League table they were after.
As if they needed it, there was added incentive for Chelsea heading into this West London derby.
Tottenham’s shock home defeat to Norwich earlier in the day meant the Blues kicked off knowing they could end the day in fourth if they won by two goals or more.
Fernando Torres fired the first over after 10 minutes, via a deflection off Brede Hangeland.
John Obi Mikel tried his luck after Mahamadou Diarra’s misjudgement allowed Salomon Kalou to collect the ball in midfield and feed Torres out wide on the right.
But his effort from Torres’ cutback flew over Mark Schwarzer’s bar.
Kalou had an optimistic go from 30 yards but his tame curler was straight at Fulham’s number one.
But after all the Chelsea attempts it was Fulham who created the best chances. The first fell to Clint Dempsey after 25 minutes. He combined down the left with Moussa Dembele.
He slipped the ball back to Dempsey who is in such hot form that you expected the net to bulge.
But the American, who took his tally to 21 for the season with his double in the 3-0 win against Bolton, could only prod the ball tamely towards Petr Cech.
Cech was extended fully a minute later after a wonderful solo effort from left-winger Kerim Frei.
He nearly broke the deadlock when he twisted and turned past three Blues defenders before firing in a shot from the edge of the box which Cech just tipped wide.
Chelsea had a penalty appeal ignored when Ryan Bertrand, in for the injured Ashley Cole, had his thunderbolt blocked by Stephen Kelly.
Mark Clattenburg turned a deaf ear to the full-back’s instant appeals.
It didn’t matter though as just before the break the Blues did get a penalty.
Danny Murphy lunged in recklessly with his studs up as Kalou entered the Fulham area.
Kalou went down and Clattenburg had little option to point to the penalty spot giving Lampard the chance to slam his 15th of the season past Schwarzer and give Chelsea the leadAnd after being taunted non-stop by the Fulham fans throughout the Chelsea man milked the celebrations in front of the home supporters.