Afternoon and a Happy Christmas. Hope it’s been a good one for you so far. It’s certainly just got better for Fernando Torres who will start his first game in a month against Fulham today. Can he fire Chelsea to a first win in three games after two successive draws- but very different performances – against Wigan and then Tottenham?

Of course, it’s all about the strikers today. The big news from Fulham – who will look to recover from that 5-0 evisceration at the feet of Manchester United – is that they start without Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson. The former, of course, has been the subject of much speculation about whether he still even gets on with manager Martin Jol.

Those teams in full…

Chelsea Cech; Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Meireles, Romeu, Lampard; Sturridge, Torres, Mata

Fulham Stockdale; Kelly, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise; Frei, Murphy, Dempsey, Sa, Dembele, Ruiz

Orlando Sa will apparently up front for this Fulham team. He’s never scored a first-team goal. Which is a bit like a lot of the Fulham team this season. Hardly seems like the solution for a such a game and such a team struggling for goals.

And we’re off.

Chelsea controlling the ball around 30 yards from the Fulham goal at the moment. I’d say we can expect a lot of that.

Torres takes it in the mid-riff from Danny Murphy as he rises for a header. That will get rid of the cobwebs anyway.

Fulham break, Dempsey strikes from distance and, with the ball skippin gup dangerously, Cech is forced to tip it around the post.

Chelsea trying that move they’ve started to use a fair bit that year: Mata lofting it down the left for Cole to cross. Fulham just about wise to it there.

A punt up towards Sa causes Chelsea a few problems as it takes both John Terry and David Luiz to deal with him, even if the latter eventually solves the problem.

What a save from Stockdale! From point-blank range it might have been a goal but Torres did equally well to chest up and then volley under pressure. The keeper, however, did even better to turn it away.

And, within moments, Sturridge goes close with a rasper. OPen, improving game this.

Torres tries one of his former typically curlers from the edge of the box but it’shigh, wide and wild.

So much for Villas-Boas’s pressing game today. Fulham have just been knocking it about their defence for the last two minutes.

… but the long, protracted move eventually ends with Dembele shooting just wide. As it stands, Chelsea really have five players dealing with one.

Romeu tries one from distance but it always looked like he was searching for another option. After a lively enough start, Chelsea aren’t providing many at the moment.

John Terry – replete with the Travis Bickle do he goes for in times of siege – heas wide from a corner.

The high lines of Chelsea’s start to the season seem a real memory now: they’re amazingly deep in a fixture where they should really feel entitled to take the play much more forward.

The game has really slowed down. Chelsea just aren’t pressing. Very flat.

Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

Villas-Boas will surely have some words to try and add a bit of urgency in the secnd half. Fulham have been very comfortable for the majority of that half.

Back under way at the Bridge. Things can only get better. Surely.

No changes to either side at half-time.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

Great finish from Mata to produce a goal out of pretty much nothing. Torres, however, did well to tee it up and open space for a shot. That should surely change the dynamics of the game now. Stamford Bridge has certainly lifted.

Fulham not far off striking back as Hangeland rises above the entire Chelsea defence to meet a corner but he can’t quite direct it towards goal.

Simple one this. Now Chelsea almost score from a corner as Terry fires a volley at goal from Mata’s delivery. Deflected away though.

Fulham have responded well to going behind, putting Chelsea under a bit of pressure and now winning a second corner.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Fulham

Fulham had been threatening. Senderos takes advantage of Chelsea’s reluctance to press by bringing the ball out of defence. The ball eventually finds its way to Ruiz who takes Cole apart before crossing for Dempsey to finish. Good goal, admirable response.

Chelsea under pressure now as Dembele, Ruiz and Frei start to combine and interchange well and make Fulham look a drastically different team.

Frank Lampard comes off for Florent Malouda. Lampard not looking happy.

Torres was about to pull the trigger just inside the box only to be blocked by Dembele. It looked like it might have been a bit too aggressive and a more lax referee might have given a penalty.

Sturridge forces another good save from Stockdale. After a good, quick Chelsea break he tries to curl one around the keeper but it’s a bit too central.

And Stockdale with another point-blank save! Sturridge’s cross is headed towards goal by Terry and, from just in front, Malouda attempts to direct it in with a flock but Stockdale had spread his body enough to keep it out.

Substitute for Chelsea as Drogba comes on. Surprisingly, it’s not for Torres though. It’s for Sturridge.

Meireles curls one just wide. Unlucky.

Ten minutes of normal time left for Chelsea to claim a winner.

Drogba shoots, Stockdale spills but, just before Torres can pounce, the keepoer recovers it.

Ferreira gets on for only the second time this season. An odd enough substitution if you’re chasing a game.

Meireles goes even closer now. Stockdale forced to push away his header. Four minutes left.

Terry felt he was pushed in the box for the ensuing corner. Chelsea only get anothger.

Drogba directs his body to divert the header from the next corner towards goal but Stockdale is equal to it again.

Cole tries a punt, Drogba flicks it on and Mata can’t quite get enough of a connection to really trouble Stockdale. Chelsea getting desperate.

Stockdale must have made that type of save at least five times today. The keeper touches Drogba’s free-kick just over the bar.

FULL-TIME: Chelsea 1-1 Fulham

Chelsea’s third 1-1 draw in a row and the second of those games in which they’ve squandered a lead against a team much lower down in the table. Fulham battled well, but Chelsea were largely devoid of dynamism. Now a point behind Tottenham, who have two games in hand on the Blues.

Villas-Boas will feel he has to make signings to continue the evolution/revolution of this team.