Bernd Leno: If you are going to beat Chelsea, your goalkeeper will need to have a good game. Even in their worst run of form for decades and down to ten men, Graham Potter’s men made enough chances to have won this contest twice over. Bernd Leno made a number of outstanding saves, keeping out young left-back Lewis Hall twice in the first few minutes, before bravely repelling Kai Havertz on two occasions after Carlos Vinicius had restored Fulham’s lead – the first time with his face. 8

Kenny Tete: There’s a case for the Dutchman to be considered as one of the most consistent right backs in the Premier League. His raids down the right proved vital again here, none more so then when his simple ball created a crossing angle for Andreas Pereira to whip over a brilliant ball for the Vinicius winner. Hall got into advanced positions from Chelsea’s left wing back role in the early stages, but Tete had conclusively won their individual battle by the time the teenager was replaced in the second period. 7

Antonee Robinson: The American is quietly having a season for the ages. He has all the characteristics of a modern full back and is blessed with searing pace. What was impressive here was that his defensive positioning was impeccable and he picked the first moment to burst forward and boost Fulham’s attacks. A whole-hearted display saw Robinson win a number of crucial balls in the air and, to prove how fit he is, the left back was still rampaging along the wing deep into stoppage time. 7

Tosin Adarabioyo: A surprise selection for this game considering Issa Diop’s excellent form since Christmas, Adarabioyo did loose Kai Havertz a couple of times and was caught in possession once or twice. But he headed countless crosses and set pieces clear of danger and was always a willing outlet for the ball. His confidence both in bringing the ball out from the back and distributing it was one of the ways Fulham were able to put a creaking Chelsea rearguard under real pressure. 7

Tim Ream: We will eventually run out of superlatives for the man who Pep Guardiola insisted could be one of his own centre halves at Manchester City. One of the highlights of the night for me was seeing this Fulham stalwart celebrating with the Hammersmith End at the final whistle. Ream timed his tackles to perfection and remains a reassuring sight at the heart of a miserly backline, having still not missed a Premier League minute in his incredible renaissance at the highest level. Long may it continue. 7

Harrison Reed: On a night that might called for Reed’s appetite for a tackle, we should toast Marco Silva’s decision to reinvent him as a box-to-box midfielder. The ‘Ginger Iniesta’ popped up in the wide areas that are difficult for his opposition numbers to cover and helped the Whites keep the ball to tire out a Chelsea side that had been dominating possession. He had covered every blade of grass with his insatiable appetite for running before being replaced by Tom Cairney. 7

Joao Palhinha: The biggest compliment you can pay the Portuguese high prince of tackling is that nobody is surprised by another sublime showing in the engine room against some of the world’s leading technicians. Palhinha was typically tenacious in his attempts to win the ball back, but he linked the play effectively and never stopped working hard off the ball. That became crucial once the visitors were reduced to ten men, but his consistency is a key reason why the Whites have risen to the dizzy heights of sixth in the table. 7

Bobby Decordova-Reid: If we lived in a fairer world, Bobby Decordova-Reid’s rising drive would have flown into the roof of the net rather than cracking against the crossbar. But the Jamaican international, who is keeping Harry Wilson out of Marco Silva’s starting line-up on account of his industriousness, keep working. He taught Lewis Hall a lesson in not switching off by seizing possession and standing up the cross that created the first goal and was full of tireless running throughout. 7

Willian: Plenty of people expressed surprise when Fulham opted to sign the 34 year-old Brazilian winger this summer, especially under his underwhelming season with Arsenal. But Willian has so superb on his return to west London that he has quickly become an integral part of Silva’s plans. His direct running and desire to work hard off the ball makes him a manager’s dream – and, although he may not have celebrated his opening goal, it gave the hosts a real platform to build from. 8

Andreas Pereira: This probably wasn’t Pereira’s best game in a Fulham shirt, but that says more about how outstanding he has been since he swapped Old Trafford for Craven Cottage. He lead the press relentlessly and was always driving at the Chelsea defence with the ball at his feet. £10m for his services feels like a snip. The ball he bent in for Vinicius’ winner was of the highest quality – and the attacking midfielder looks like a man loving his football again. 7

Carlos Vinicius: The former Benfica forward has copped plenty of criticism since he joined from Benfica on deadline day, but his first goal for the club sees him write his own chapter in Fulham folklore. His movement to arc a run between two experienced centre halves and get himself into a position where he had to simply steer a header into the unguarded net was sensational. But this outstanding performance was about more than the goal. He led the line with real hunger and in a way that meant the Whites didn’t miss Aleksandar Mitrovic – which seems a preposterous sentence to write, but it is true. 9

Substitutes:

Tom Cairney: Fulham’s peerless playmaker emerged from the bench to tilt another tight tussle in our favour. Cairney has done that several times this season – and his precise passing helped the hosts relax as they pondered how to break down Potter’s ten men. Cairney also drove Fulham forward with his own running and was unfortunate not to score himself in the closing stages. 7

Harry Wilson: The Welsh winger has been starved of starting opportunities since coming back from the World Cup because of the consistency of Marco Silva’s other wide options. He injected some pace and purpose into Fulham’s attacks after stepping off the sidelines here at a time when Fulham’s patient probing was becoming ineffective. 7

Manor Solomon: Another eye-catching cameo from the Israeli, who has done so well to come back from a horrible injury at the start of his Fulham career. He used the ball intelligently and looked bright as he darted in from the left wing. 7

Dan James: There wasn’t much time for James to display his blistering pace but one lungbursting run keep the ball deep in Chelsea territory late in stoppage time. 6

Nathaniel Chalobah: The former Chelsea trainee came on to ensure Fulham didn’t surrender their slender lead in the closing stages. 6