Ahead of tonight’s unusually scheduled SW6 derby, we look at past encounters and this kick-off slot…
This is a fixture played only sporadically since 1910/11, and its first incarnation in the top flight came in 1949/50, when both games were drawn.
Overall, Chelsea have claimed the lion’s share of postcode pride. In fact the Blues are unbeaten over the past 15 Premier League home games against Fulham (winning 10 and drawing five), the joint-highest number without defeat against any side faced more than 10 times. The hosts have lost just two of 37 league games against our nearest neighbours at Stamford Bridge, remaining unbeaten since a 2- 0 loss on the Fulham Road in November 1979.
The Blues have also won each of the last three Premier League home games against the Cottagers by a 2-0 scoreline. Four in a row with that scoreline would be a club first.
The west London derby – a match between Chelsea, Brentford, Fulham and Queen’s Park Rangers – was first contested in the top flight between Blues and the Bees in November 1935. It has not been played as often as other local rivalries because of ups and downs: while this is Chelsea’s 88th season among England’s elite, it is Fulham’s 28th and Brentford’s seventh. QPR were previously top-tier for 23 campaigns.
Premier League west London derbies 1992-2023
P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Pts per game | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chelsea | 48 | 27 | 15 | 6 | 36 | 96 | 2.00 |
2 | Brentford | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1.00 |
3 | QPR | 18 | 4 | 4 | 10 | -16 | 16 | 0.89 |
4 | Fulham | 36 | 6 | 10 | 20 | -21 | 28 | 0.78 |
Thank god it’s Friday?
Outside of the festive season Chelsea have rarely played on this day of the week in recent years. The main exception has been the UEFA Super Cup, which accounts for three such occasions.
The Blues’ most recent Friday night action in the Premier League was almost six years ago at the Hawthorns, when Antonio Conte’s won 1-0 to claim the title with two games still to play.
Friday night fixtures (non-Christmas)
Hull City home (FA Cup) - 16 Feb 2018 - W 4-0
West Brom away (Premier League) - 12 May 2017 - W 1-0
Liverpool home (Premier League) - 16 Sep 2016 - L 1-2
Bayern Munich (Super Cup) - 20 Aug 2013 - D 2-2 (lost on pens)
Atletico Madrid (Super Cup) - 31 Aug 2012 - L 1-4
Man United home (Premier League) 23 Aug 2002 D 2-2
Real Madrid (Super Cup) - 28 Aug 1998 - W 1-0