Chelsea needed a fortunate own-goal by Fulham's Chris Smalling to beat the resilient Cottagers 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Monday. The Blues remain in charge of the Premier League table on 45 points, five above Manchester United, who face Wigan on Wednesday. It was Fulham who broke the deadlock as early as the fourth minute when Zoltan Gera volley in from close range to beat Petr Cech. Roy Hodgson's team, who beat Liverpool and United this season, showed great resilience to deny Chelsea, who got their equalizer in the 75th minute. Didier Drogba, playing his last game before joining Ivory Coast for CAN 2008, headed in Branislav Ivanovic's accurate cross with dexterity. Two minutes later, substitute Daniel Sturridge saw his tight-angled effort denied by the keeper, but the ball bounced off the unlucky Smalling into Fulham's net. Elsewhere, Tottenham moved to fourth after beating West Ham 2-0, with goals from Luka Modric and Jermain Defoe.
