Chelsea down lively Fulham 2-1 in entertaining derby

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic heads at goal REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

(Reuters) - First-half goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Jorginho earned Chelsea a 2-1 win over struggling Fulham in an entertaining southwest London Premier League derby on Sunday but they had to work hard for the points.

On-loan Argentine striker Higuain volleyed home Chelsea's first after a perfectly-timed run on to a 21st-minute cross by Cesar Azpilicueta overlapping with Willian down the right.

Yet barely six minutes later Craven Cottage erupted when Calum Chambers drifted unmarked to the back post and scored from a Ryan Babel cross following a corner. Fulham's players rushed to celebrate with new interim coach Scott Parker.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Fulham caretaker manager Scott Parker and Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri

It was Parker's first game in charge following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, a former Chelsea boss, after less than four months in charge.

The jubilation was short-lived. Brazilian Jorginho put Chelsea back in front in the 31st, thumping in a cut-back ball by Eden Hazard from outside the area.

Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga was back in goal after being dropped in midweek over his refusal to be substituted during last Sunday's League Cup final. He had to deal with a swirling wind off the Thames river and make a series of sharp saves from Aleksandar Mitrovic, Tom Cairney, Ryan Sessegnon and Joe Bryan.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in action with Fulham's Ryan Babel REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Fulham were on top for significant periods of the second half and had a goal disallowed for offside but the result kept them 19th, 10 points from the safety zone while Chelsea stayed sixth but moved to within a point of fifth-placed Arsenal.

(Reporting by Clare Lovell; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Chelsea's Jorginho scores their second goal REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon in action with Chelsea's Jorginho and Andreas Christensen

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Chelsea's Willian in action with Fulham's Ryan Babel Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Chelsea's Willian in action with Fulham's Calum Chambers Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Fulham's Tim Ream in action with Chelsea's N'Golo Kante Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta reacts Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 3, 2019 Chelsea's Ross Barkley in action with Fulham's Denis Odoi REUTERS/Eddie Keogh