John Obi Mikel scored his first Barclays Premier League goal as Chelsea beat Fulham in the west London derby at Stamford Bridge and won for the first time in a month.
Oscar's second-half strike and Mikel's first goal in almost seven years ended a four-match winless streak and extended manager Jose Mourinho's unbeaten Premier League home record to 63 matches with a first victory since the defeat of Aston Villa.
The 2-0 win means Fulham's 34-year wait for victory at Stamford Bridge went on to the relief of Chelsea, who responded from defeats to Everton and Basle.
Back to winning ways: Oscar celebrates his goal - Chelsea's first in more than four hours of Premier League football
Match facts
Chelsea:
Cech 6; Ivanovic 8, Cahill 7, Terry 7, Cole 6; Ramires 6, Mikel 7;
Schurrle 6 (Lampard 79), Oscar 7, Hazard 7 (De Bruyne 85); Eto’o 6
(Torres 64, 6).
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Essien, Willian, Azpilicueta.
Goals: Oscar 52, Mikel 85.
Fulham: Stockdale 5; Riether 5, Amorebieta 6, Hangeland 6, Richardson 6; Duff 6 (Taarabt 64, 6), Parker 6, Sidwell 6, Kacaniklic 5 (Tue Na Bangna 72, 5); Kasami 6 (Rodallega 85); Bent 5.
Subs not used: Etheridge, Senderos, Karagounis, Zverotic.
Att: 41,608
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands).
*Player ratings by SIMON CASS at Stamford Bridge
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Essien, Willian, Azpilicueta.
Goals: Oscar 52, Mikel 85.
Fulham: Stockdale 5; Riether 5, Amorebieta 6, Hangeland 6, Richardson 6; Duff 6 (Taarabt 64, 6), Parker 6, Sidwell 6, Kacaniklic 5 (Tue Na Bangna 72, 5); Kasami 6 (Rodallega 85); Bent 5.
Subs not used: Etheridge, Senderos, Karagounis, Zverotic.
Att: 41,608
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands).
*Player ratings by SIMON CASS at Stamford Bridge
Too often the Blues relinquished possession and their attack was blunt, with Samuel Eto'o again struggling to recover former glories on his third successive start after signing from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.
Roman Abramovich did not appear impressed watching down from his seat, but Oscar's third of the season and Mikel's third for the club in more than 300 appearances were enough for the Blues to return to winning ways.
That Branislav Ivanovic was Chelsea's most creative player illustrated the ongoing struggle Mourinho has to overhaul their playing style.
Mourinho insists he will accept short-term pain for long-term gain, but admitted positive results were required early in the Blues' 'beautiful project'.
After two 'ugly' results - the recent defeats, which followed a draw at Manchester United and a European Super Cup penalty shootout loss to Bayern Munich - this was far from pretty.
On target: Oscar breaks the deadlock at Stamford Bridge
A rarity: John Obi Mikel stretches to score his first goal for 258 matches
Ecstatic: The midfielder was delighted with his goal
Mourinho left out Mata and David Luiz,
both of whom sat behind the bench having failed to satisfy their
manager's tactical demands.
In the first half, it looked like Chelsea could have done with them, Mata for his guile and Luiz for his ability to play a defence-splitting pass.
Four changes were made following Wednesday's shock Champions League Group E loss to Basle, with John Terry, Mikel, Ramires and Andre Schurrle brought in.
Martin Jol, who was the subject of jeers following last Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Brom which extended Fulham's wait for a home to six matches, made three changes and fielded three former Blues.
Two combined early on when Damien Duff crossed for Steve Sidwell, who mistimed his leap.
Eto'o, profligate in the loss at Everton and anonymous against Basle, next had an opportunity to put the Blues in front but David Stockdale did just enough to deflect Ivanovic's cross away at the near post.
Schurrle, nominally starting in Mata's place on the right wing with Mourinho preferring Oscar as his number 10, kicked thin air when an Ivanovic cross was played towards him at waist height before Fulham had the chance of the half.
In the first half, it looked like Chelsea could have done with them, Mata for his guile and Luiz for his ability to play a defence-splitting pass.
Four changes were made following Wednesday's shock Champions League Group E loss to Basle, with John Terry, Mikel, Ramires and Andre Schurrle brought in.
Martin Jol, who was the subject of jeers following last Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Brom which extended Fulham's wait for a home to six matches, made three changes and fielded three former Blues.
Two combined early on when Damien Duff crossed for Steve Sidwell, who mistimed his leap.
Eto'o, profligate in the loss at Everton and anonymous against Basle, next had an opportunity to put the Blues in front but David Stockdale did just enough to deflect Ivanovic's cross away at the near post.
Schurrle, nominally starting in Mata's place on the right wing with Mourinho preferring Oscar as his number 10, kicked thin air when an Ivanovic cross was played towards him at waist height before Fulham had the chance of the half.
Back to winning ways: Jose Mourinho celebrated his first win in a month
Slightly better: Roman Abramovich was in the stands again to watch the victory
Chelsea had numerous opportunities themselves but did not test Stockdale, with Fulham time and again getting in crucial blocks.
Having performed well in the first period, Stockdale was culpable for the opening goal.
Schurrle cut in from the left and fired right-footed straight at the Fulham goalkeeper, who failed to hold the ball, allowing Eto'o to follow up.
The Cameroon striker's effort was blocked by Stockdale, but Oscar bundled the ball in via a deflection as the Brazil forward extended his fine start to a campaign.
Golden: Darren Bent missed a brilliant chance when the game was still 0-0
In pain: Scott Parker is felled by Gary Cahill
Flattened: Steve Sidwell leaves Eden Hazard on the floor after a challenge
Moments
later, Fulham should have levelled but Sidwell, unmarked at the far
post with Chelsea's defenders occupied by Brede Hangeland, headed
Kasami's free-kick wide.
Eto'o was replaced by Fernando Torres and Duff by Adel Taarabt as their respective managers sought a spark, but few would have guessed the next scorer.
Stockdale made a fine reaction save to deny Torres from Oscar's corner, resulting in another set-piece.
And Lampard's cross was headed down by Terry for Mikel to scissor-kick the ball in.
The Nigeria midfielder's previous goals were in successive FA Cup rounds in January 2007 against Macclesfield and Nottingham Forest and in the remaining minutes Mikel was urged to shoot by the Stamford Bridge faithful, even when in his more customary position protecting the back four.
Eto'o was replaced by Fernando Torres and Duff by Adel Taarabt as their respective managers sought a spark, but few would have guessed the next scorer.
Stockdale made a fine reaction save to deny Torres from Oscar's corner, resulting in another set-piece.
And Lampard's cross was headed down by Terry for Mikel to scissor-kick the ball in.
The Nigeria midfielder's previous goals were in successive FA Cup rounds in January 2007 against Macclesfield and Nottingham Forest and in the remaining minutes Mikel was urged to shoot by the Stamford Bridge faithful, even when in his more customary position protecting the back four.
Drawing a blank: Samuel Eto'o again failed to find the mark for his new club
Up in the air: John Terry directs the ball towards goal from a corner
Under pressure: Branislav Ivanovic is closed down by Pajtim Kasami
Battle: Ramires, attempts to tackle Alexander Kacaniklic
In control: Chelsea dominated large parts of the match
Support: Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale was
one of a couple of Fulham players who wore the anti-homophobia laces -
no Chelsea players wore them
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