Mykhailo Mudryk and Chelsea had burdens lifted off them on Monday thanks to their 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Mudryk scored his first Chelsea goal to guide the club to their first league win since August.
On his 24th appearance for the club, the Ukrainian netted the opening goal for the visitors in the 18th minute after he converted Levi Colwill’s ball.
Chelsea doubled their advantage almost immediately as Armando Broja repaid his manager’s faith in him in the absence of Nicholas Jackson as he fired in from close range after a Tim Ream error.
Fulham who struggled to create any meaningful chance in the opening half improved after the break, but still only tested Roberto Sanchez once throughout the entire game.
Their chance came in 77 minute when substitute Sasa Lukic tried to steer his close-range effort past Sanchez, but the Spanish goalkeeper was at his best to keep out that effort.
Apart from the two goals, Chelsea’s other goalscoring opportunity came midway the closing half; Ian Maatsen who had replaced Mudyrk after the break, thudded an effort against the left-hand post having collected a cutback from Conor Gallagher, and from the follow-up effort, Leno did brilliantly to deny Enzo Fernandez.
This result moves Chelsea up to the 11th in the league. They are now level on points with Fulham who are just a place below Pochettino’s team on goal difference.
Chelsea will now hope to build this win when they visit Burnley on Saturday, while Fulham host Sheffield United
