Mauricio Pochettino predicted Chelsea will benefit from having to “suffer” though the final minutes of their 1-0 win over Fulham at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer’s first-half penalty was the difference but Marco Silva’s side never looked beaten and threw everything at their hosts in search of a late leveller.
Chelsea were perhaps fortunate not to lose Malo Gusto to a red card after 38 minutes for catching Willian with his studs, a VAR check confirming the on-field decision of a booking.
Palmer scored his ninth goal since arriving from Manchester City in the summer when he slotted in from the spot on the stroke of half-time, a foul awarded against defender Issa Diop on Raheem Sterling after collecting Palmer’s sublime through-ball.
It was the kind of pass Chelsea have so often laboured to find this season, and that was the case for much of the first half here.
Indeed Fulham would have been more than good value for going in at the break level, and might even have taken the lead had Harry Wilson been more accurate with his far-post finish from Andreas Pereira’s cross, striking his effort too close to goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Chelsea’s best chance of the first 45 minutes prior to the goal fell to the head of Armando Broja who thumped wide from Enzo Fernandez’s cross. Sterling was a lingering threat down the left but on the whole was dealt with by Fulham right-back Kenny Tete.
“The first half wasn’t the first half that we sought or planned,” said Pochettino. “Something happened before the game, I don’t want to explain, that affected the team a little bit.
“In the second half we started really good, played really good football for 30 minutes, should score another goal and kill the game. But when it’s open and you don’t kill the game, we conceded a few set pieces, a wide free-kick and a corner, and they have good potential.
“We defended well, it was good for us to suffer a little bit at the end. This type of game will help us grow and build our confidence in the way we’re working.
“It was good to see this young team defend the last 15 minutes the way we defended. We were fighting, we were doing everything to try and keep the result.”
Pochettino defended the decision not to dismiss Gusto in the first half.
It would have been the defender’s second red of the season after he was sent off against Aston Villa in September.
“Yellow card because it was a yellow card,” said the manager. “Remember against Aston Villa it was a red card, I didn’t complain about that. Today it was a yellow card.
“I have a very good relationship with (Marco Silva), he’s a great person and coach. If I’m put in his place, I’m going to tell you it was a red card. I understand.
“The view of the referees sometimes are different. What can I say? They thought it was only a yellow card, and good for us.”
Fulham boss Silva struck a more oppositional stance in response to the VAR’s decision.
“It’s a clear mistake from the VAR,” he said. “It’s a clear red card.
“It’s difficult for (referee) Anthony Taylor to see if it’s a red card. We have to be fair with him because the moment is really quick. In the Premier League, in 10 moments like that one, nine have been a red card.”
Tonali set for August return after receiving suspended two-month ban from FA
Sandro Tonali has been given a suspended two-month ban by the Football Association (FA) after admitting to breaching gambling rules.
The sanction means the Newcastle United midfielder will be eligible to return to action on August 27, 2024, when his 10-month suspension issued by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) expires.
FIFA ratified that ban, causing it to become applicable worldwide, after Tonali admitted to placing bets on matches as part of an investigation into unregulated betting platforms in Italy.
In March, the FA charged Tonali with breaching English football's gambling rules 50 times between August and October last year, leading to fears his spell out of the game could be extended.
However, on Thursday it was confirmed that the FA had suspended Tonali's punishment for the duration of the 2024-25 season, meaning he can return in August if he does not reoffend.
In a statement, Newcastle said: "Sandro Tonali has been given a suspended two-month ban from competitive football by an independent regulatory commission after self-declaring breaches of FA betting rules.
"He has also been fined £20,000 and warned by the FA as to his future conduct.
"Provided that he does not commit any further breach of the FA betting rules during the suspension period, Sandro will not serve any part of the two-month sanction.
"As acknowledged by the FA in the independent regulatory commission's written reasons, the level of assistance Sandro has provided by self-referring and fully cooperating with a subsequent investigation is extraordinary and unprecedented.
"Sandro is continuing to follow a therapeutic plan and educational programme with the club's full support and will continue to train with his team-mates."
Tonali's initial ban has limited him to just eight Premier League appearances since he joined Newcastle from Milan in a £55million deal, while he will also miss Italy's Euro 2024 campaign.
Will Still leaves Reims job with immediate effect
Will Still has left his role as Reims head coach with immediate effect, the Ligue 1 club announced on Thursday.
Still took over as Reims boss – initially on an interim basis – after Oscar Garcia was sacked in October 2022 and went unbeaten through his first 19 league games at the helm.
The 31-year-old was eventually handed the role on a permanent basis and led Reims to an 11th-placed finish in Ligue 1 in 2022-23, with his lack of a UEFA Pro Licence causing the club to be fined €25,000 per match until he began the course.
Reims are currently 11th in Ligue 1 again, though they are winless in their last five games and have lost each of their last three.
In a statement, the club said: "Following a meeting this morning between president Jean-Pierre Caillot, general manager Mathieu Lacour and head coach Will Still, it was mutually agreed that the two parties would not continue the sporting adventure together next season.
"In order to allow Reims to confidently look forward to the next year, it was also decided that Will Still and his deputy Nicolas Still would step down from their respective functions as of today."
Still was linked with the Sunderland job earlier this season and said in February that he would be open to joining an "ambitious" Championship club.
'It's a joke' – Ten Hag slams reports of Man Utd fire sale
Erik ten Hag has angrily denied reports claiming almost every player in Manchester United's squad will be up for sale in the upcoming transfer window, describing them as "a joke".
United are officially out of the running for Champions League qualification and could yet end Ten Hag's second season at the helm out of Europe entirely, with Newcastle United and Chelsea among the teams looking to hunt down the sixth-placed Red Devils.
Big changes are expected in United's first transfer window under the stewardship of INEOS founder Jim Ratcliffe, who assumed full control of football operations when his purchase of a minority stake in the club was ratified in February.
Earlier this week, reports emerged suggesting United were entertaining offers for all but three of their players, namely Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
Speaking at a press conference to preview Monday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, Ten Hag shot down those suggestions.
"It's a joke! As long as I worked here, 200 players are apparently getting interest from Manchester United every summer, which is untrue. We did some research," Ten Hag said.
"Every summer, we sell every player in our squad, which is untrue. Be calm and take responsibility when you make up such a headline. It is total c**p."
Despite coming under fierce pressure this campaign, Ten Hag has repeatedly insisted he will remain at Old Trafford for the 2024-25 season.
He knows there is plenty to be done as the Red Devils enter a new era, saying: "There's always a lot of work, that's normal when you go into a transfer window.
"We are still below the levels of the expectations that Manchester United have, so we have to catch up.
"I am now going into my fifth window, two windows were okay, two windows we did nothing. We have to make new improvements in the summer.
"There is a base of this squad that is very good. Injuries had a big impact on our season."
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