Chelsea 2 Fulham 1

The Premier League game between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Monday Dec 28 2009.

Chelsea overcame a real scare at the hands of Fulham but eventually stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points with a vital victory.

Didier Drogba equalised midway through the second half after Zoltan Gera gave Fulham the early lead, and an own goal from Chris Smalling - on his League debut - settled the game in Chelsea's favour.

With Jose Mourinho watching from the stands, Carlo Ancelotti made six changes to the Chelsea side which drew with Birmingham on Boxing Day, with Ricardo Carvalho, Yuri Zhirkov and Paulo Ferreira coming into the back four.

But Chelsea's defence was breached after just four minutes. Paul Konchesky found space on the left and his cross deceived Terry and the England skipper watched in horror as Bobby Zamora, stationed six yards out, found Gera. The Hungarian was stood at point blank range but still had work to do as he controlled the ball, turned and planted his shot beyond Petr Cech.

Terry required lengthy treatment after taking a kick in the face from team-mate Zhirkov that left him with a painful-looking bruise beneath the right eye.

Cech had to palm a shot by Clint Dempsey over the crossbar after the American had been expertly set up by Zamora, whose physical presence was causing Chelsea problems.

Chelsea enjoyed a lucky escape seconds after the interval when poorly-judged backpass by Carvalho was intercepted by Zamora, whose shot cannoned off the leg of the advancing Petr Cech.

Chelsea replaced John Obi Mikel with Daniel Sturridge and Fulham brought on Andy Johnson for Gera as the match entered the final 20 minutes.

But it was another replacement - Branislav Ivanovic - who set up Drogba's headed equaliser with a right-wing cross. Relieved and inspired, Chelsea took the lead two minutes later when confusion in the Fulham defence led to a heartbreaking moment for Smalling.