It was return to league action last night for the U21's in a home game against Fulham. To start the second half of the season in the new tier 1 league was very pleasing and the performance was just as pleasing.
It was a team full of youth and experience. Sam Walker returned from loan to start in goal and ahead of him was Tika Musonda, Andreas Christensen, John Terry and Adam Nditi. In midfield was 2 players looking to impress and earn loan moves in George Saville and Billy Clifford and a young man looking to settle in U21's football Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The forward line consisted of a returning loan player Milan Lalkovic, Lewis Baker and Islam Feruz.
It was a game that was dominated by Chelsea as you will be able to see in the highlights but also one that full of rustiness. Things were just not clicking to full effect and Fulham were working hard to restrict us to long range and half chances. Having said that there was some very good football played and the young players will have enjoyed playing alongside John Terry who took the game seriously and used the chance to give the lads around him some good instruction.
As the game wore on it was looking like the goal would never come but a quick break and some bizarre decision making by the Fulham keeper allowed Islam Feruz to slot home from some distance and take the lead that was fully earned. Fulham did press on a bit from there and the Chelsea defence did have to work a lot harder but once Chelsea earned a penalty for handball and Lewis Baker stepped up to slot home the game was well won.
There was some good performances on the night, most notably from George Saville who if he does not earn a loan move in this window then there is something very wrong. Chelsea will be desperate to be in the play off stages of the U21's Premier League and only finishing top will earn them that so to get off the mark with a win was very pleasing.
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