Chelsea (0) 0 v 0 (0) Fulham
Yellows: Gallagher Palhinha, Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Wilson
Played Friday 3 February 2023 at Stamford Bridge attendance 40,041. Ref. Stuart Attwell.
Nil-nil sounds like a ‘bore-draw’ but there was incident in this Premier London Derbies (PLDs) return match including Chelsea’s Kai Havertz hitting the post, and the opportunity to see two players whose combined transfer costs of £200 million were twice that of Fulham’s whole line-up. That one, winger Mykhailo Mudryk, was outshone by former Blues‘ favourite Willian, returning with The Cottagers, barely registered. The other, mid-fielder Enzo Fernandes, was prominent in defence and attack and looked worth the new Premier League (PL) transfer fee record. There is however, no ‘New Dawn’ so far at Stamford Bridge, where co-owner Todd Boehly must be aware that his ground capacity is 20,000 less than those of 3 PLDs rivals in this ever increasingly commercial football world.
It was not a PLDs match, but Harry Kane’s goal in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win over Premier League (PL) defending Champions Manchester City on 5 February 2023 was his 200th PL goal. He is only the third PL player to score 200 or more PL goals, behind Wayne Rooney (208) and Alan Shearer (260), but did so in the shortest number of matches, being 304 against 462 and 306 respectively. That goal also gave Harry Kane the all-time Spurs’ record of 267 overtaking the late, great Jimmy Greaves’ 266, excluding Greaves’ 2 in the 1962 FA Charity Shield match v Ipswich Town. In terms of ‘Top-Flight’ goals Jimmy Greaves is out of sight with 357 for Chelsea, Spurs and West Ham United, and Kane is only the 29th player to score 200 or more. Shearer is 5th on 283 and Rooney 22nd on 208.
There are 2 PLDs matches on Saturday 11 February 2023: West Ham United v Chelsea, and Arsenal v Brentford. Both The Hammers and The Blues are desperate for wins, and results just favour the home team with 3 wins to 2, and 1 draw in the last 6 seasons. Money will start talking soon. The Gunners got revenge for their opening day defeat away to The Bees last season and expect a win again in a close match this season.
Until next time, ‘keep Safe’ and enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.
