Last Saturday, our young Blues secured all three Under-18 Premier League points, defeating West London rivals Fulham 2-1 at Cobham.

Eager to bounce back after a disappointing result against Southampton, we applied pressure from the outset. Frankie Runham opened the scoring, finishing a brilliant team effort.

Kobe Barbour sprinted up the wing, delivering a precise cross into the area, where Sol Gordon flicked a header for Runham to tap into the bottom corner, putting the Blues ahead at the break.

Like in the first half, we started the second period strong, pinning Fulham back in their own half. During a goal-scoring opportunity, a handball was called in the box. Ollie Harrison stepped up and calmly powered the penalty into the net, beyond the Fulham keeper's reach, putting us 2-0 up.

The Cottagers fought back, securing a goal through a fine effort from Tom Wingate, but we held on to claim our fifth win of the season.

'After defeats to Reading and Southampton, the derby against Fulham was as much about performance as it was about character,' said the Under-18s head coach. 'Fulham are a tough side to play and the close proximity of our teams always makes for a feisty game - this time was no different.

'We wanted to see character, fight, resilience and bravery on the ball. With that, we knew the tactics would work as planned.

'The boys started strong right from kick-off, keeping possession well and imposing our game, creating overloads in the right areas and gaining plenty of entries into the final third. We did this by being patient, staying on the ball, breaking lines and playing positively.

'At half-time, we praised the boys but reminded them that the job wasn’t done. I urged them to take control after the break and search for that second goal. We did, going 2-0 up just five minutes in.

'Of course, this was a derby, Fulham weren’t beaten yet and they pulled one back ten minutes later. That goal came from a transitional play, ironically following our own good sequence.

'From there, it was about managing the game so Fulham couldn’t find an equaliser. The boys did that well and secured a good win.'

With a younger squad this season, including 11 first-year scholars and several schoolboys stepping up to the youth level, there’s an emphasis on the players still developing and learning.

Sulaiman continued: 'That’s the nature of youth development, sometimes you’ll concede, but it’s about how you adapt and react. Winning games also boost morale and confidence.

'We want to win, but not at the expense of performance; both must go hand-in-hand. That balance gives the boys the confidence to work on areas for improvement while aiming to win.'

Next, the focus shifts to Norwich, our fourth Under-18 Premier League away fixture. The Canaries have had a steady start to their season with two wins, two losses and four draws, sitting just a point above us. The side come into this fixture off an action-packed 3-3 draw against West Bromwich Albion.

Sulaiman concluded: 'It’s crucial to take key lessons from past games and apply them daily in training and of course, in the next match.

'We need to approach it maturely, maintain possession for longer periods and capitalise on our ability to create chances. At the same time, we must stay defensively alert, particularly around our penalty area.'

Watch our young Blues

Supporters worldwide can watch our Under-18s in action this Saturday morning, as we face Norwich at the Avant Training Centre. The match kicks off at 11am, and supporters can access the free live stream through the official Chelsea app and website. Just follow the Norwich U18 vs Chelsea U18 Match Centre to tune in.