Chloe White reflects on a forgettable derby at Craven Cottage last night

Bernd Leno: Super Bernd Leno has bailed us out on plenty of ocassions already this season but he was powerless to prevent the decisive double blow that sunk Fulham in the SW6 derby in the space of ninety seconds. There was nothing he could do once the much-maligned Mudryk had expertly controlled a through ball from Levi Colwill and left Issa Diop for dead – and Leno was even more helpless when Tim Ream’s desperate attempted at a clearance cannoned off Armando Broja to gift Chelsea a second. He made a superb save from Enzo Fernandez shortly afterwards – but even half an hour in that was an act of damage limitation. 6

Timothy Castagne: It is a tribute to how well the Belgian has performed since coming into the Fulham side that last night fell like the first time we missed Kenny Tete. The Dutch right back nullified Mudryk marvellously in the goalless draw at Stamford Bridge last season but the Ukrainian might have scored twice in the first fifteen minutes last night. His first goal in English football was a direct result of Castagne affording Colwill the opportunity to float a dangerous ball forward. The Fulham full back did appear to provide the sole home threat in a forward away in the second half, but it felt all a little too late. 5

Antonee Robinson: The American international also experienced a chastening evening up against Cole Palmer, who displayed the sort of class that made his move to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City earlier this summer something of a surprise. It felt like Palmer could beat Robinson at will during a torrid first half – and there haven’t been that many wingers you could say that about over the past eighteen months. Perhaps the goals and losing his individual battle battered the left back’s confidence but there was very little of those rampaging runs that pose such an attacking threat. 5

Issa Diop: An evening to forget for the Frenchman, who switched off all too easily for Chelsea’s opening goal. Fulham had ample warning of the threat in behind and Mudryk’s dangerous runs but Diop was guilty of both ball watching and not tracking the run. The Ukrainian winger’s control and finish were excellent but it was far too easy for him to saunter onto Colwill’s pass and beat Leno. Diop appeared strangely subdued against Broja, almost as if he was expecting to face Raheem Sterling as a false night, and comprehensively lost the physical battle to the Chelsea striker. 4

Tim Ream: This might have been what some Fulham fans feared when it was clear that Marco Silva would stick with Tim Ream following promotion. The American veteran has been absolutely sensational since the Portuguese head coach restored him to the starting line-up after Ream had been frozen out by Scott Parker, but he would really admit this was an abject display. It seemed error-strewn and jittery, with uncharacteristically dicey distribution, even before the catastrophic error that led to the killer second goal. Playing a pass straight to Palmer was bad enough but the panic-stricken tackle that saw the ball bounce off Broja’s right boot and into the net only compounded the initial mistake. 4

Joao Palhinha: The Portuguese midfielder, whose tenacious tackling usually sets the tone for Fulham’s intensity, was totally bypassed by Mauricio Pochettino’s clever tactical tweak to a 4-3-3. Palhinha tried, but his most resounding tackles arrived when the game was gone at 2-0 down, and he appeared unable to inspire his team-mates to match Chelsea’s high-tempo start. At times, it felt like Connor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandes had been given the freedom of Craven Cottage during a private ceremony in the away dressing room prior to the kick-off such was their dominance of the engine room. 5

Harrison Reed: Even Reed’s high standards dipped disturbingly last night. Dan has continually fretted about Silva using the man who was the defensive enforcer under Parker as the more advanced of Fulham’s two central midfielders and the Ginger Iniesta’s license to roam backfired badly last night. There was no lack of effort but Reed simply had too much ground to cover against Chelsea’s rampant trio in the middle of the park and was frequently unable to add anything going forward when the ball found him high up the pitch. 5

Harry Wilson: An anonymous display from Wilson, who has so far struggled to hit the heights with which he finished last term. There were glimpses of an understanding with Castagne along the right, but by drifting infield in search of the ball, the Welshman made it much easier for Chelsea to smother any threat that he posed. On a night where defensive diligence proved pivotal, you have to wonder whether the more disciplined Bobby Decordova-Reid might have been a better option on the wing – especially with Tete missing out. 5

Willian: Not unsurprisingly it seemed as if Chelsea knew what their ex-winger was going to do before he got the ball. Where he looked bright and inventive last season, it feels like Father Time might have caught up with the Brazilian veteran this year. Laid low by an achilles complaint after he was considering that big money offer from Saudi Arabia, Willian hasn’t really shown the sort of sparkling skill that characterised his first season at Craven Cottage. He did manage a shot from distance in the second half, but it barely bothered Robert Sanchez in truth. 5

Andreas Pereira: Pereira was Fulham’s main creator in the success of last season, full of intelligent running, clever flicks and decent delivery, as well as leading the press with relish. That dynamism has dimmed this time and, on this evidence, it can’t be long before Alex Iwobi pinches his place in the starting line-up. Pereira’s only threat arrived from corners during another below-par performance, which leaves you wondering where the service for whichever centre forward leads the line will come from. 5

Raul Jiminez: A frustrating evening for the Mexican international – whose Premier League goal drought goes on. He was ineffective in the air and on the ball against a miserly Chelsea back line but had little opportuinity to make much of an impression given how dominant the visitors were. Jimenez’s only opportunity was a header on the stretch from a corner that went wide in the first half – and it was no surprise to see him hauled off shortly after the interval. The failure to replace Mitrovic looks more costly with every passing week at present. 5

Substitutes:

Carlos Vinicius: He did liven up proceedings with a bit of pace and endeavour that certainly rubbed Thiago Silva up the wrong way. Couldn’t convert a decent headed opportunity in the area shortly after coming on – and might have been better served bringing that into his body before laying it off, but his pace offered a rare threat in behind for Fulham. You feel as if Silva will have to start him soon. 6

Alex Iwobi: Introduced at the same time as Vinicius, the Nigerian added some drive and creativity to the Fulham attack. Scuffed a shot into the ground shortly after being sent on but his intelligent runs and vision at least gave Chelsea something to think about – even if it didn’t change the course of a comfortable away win. 6

Tom Cairney: The Scottish international’s composure and eye for a pass almost paid dividends when he poked a lovely ball through a crowded penalty area to find Sasa Lukic only for the Serbian to be denied by a smart save from Sanchez. 6

Sasa Lukic: Good to see Lukic back in the action after a lengthy injury lay-off. Could easily have set up a grandstand finale with his first Fulham goal but placed his shot too long to the Chelsea keeper. 6