Second-half goals from Oscar and Mikel steered Chelsea to the top of the Premier League

Updated Saturday, September 21st 2013 at 23:05 GMT +3

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Second-half goals from Oscar and John Mikel Obi steered Chelsea to the top of the Premier League with an unspectacular victory over Fulham.

The visitors created the best chance of a dour first half but Darren Bent shot straight at Blues keeper Petr Cech.

Oscar settled Chelsea's nerves when he tapped in after David Stockdale spilled a Samuel Eto'o shot into his path.

And Mikel secured three points for the Blues when he hooked in his first Premier League goal in 185 matches.

The result ended a run of four games without a victory for Chelsea and took them above Liverpool at the top of the table on goal difference, although any one of Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City or Manchester United could leapfrog the Blues on Sunday.

Following successive defeats by Everton and Basel, manager Jose Mourinho said he wanted to improve Chelsea's style of play but there was little sign of a dramatic change in an unconvincing performance from the hosts.

With Spanish playmaker Juan Mata not deemed worthy of a place in the Blues squad, there was precious little guile about the home side's attacks, with Eto'o largely ineffective before being replaced by Fernando Torres in the second half.

Chelsea were, nonetheless, deserving winners against aFulham side that tired in the final half hour and have now not won a match since the first game of the season.

The visitors had held their own in the first half and should have taken the lead when Bent was played through on goal by Pajtim Kasami, only to side-foot his shot tamely at Cech.

Although they dominated possession, Chelsea's play lacked imagination and energy. Eto'o twice failed to make decisive contact with Branislav Ivanovic crosses, while Eden Hazard was restricted to speculative efforts from long-range.

On the stroke of half-time, Ivanovic found space for a low shot from the right, which was saved byFulham keeper David Stockdale with his legs.

With the tension growing in the stands, Oscar delivered the breakthrough the home fans were craving seven minutes after the break.

When Stockdale failed to hold on to efforts from Andre Schurrle and Eto'o, the Brazilian was on hand to pass the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.

Fulham came close to an equaliser shortly afterwards when a Kasami free-kick drifted over a crowd of players to Steve Sidwell, who could not direct his far-post header on target.

From then on, the Blues were dominant. They had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Andre Marriner when Ramires went down under a challenge from Fernando Amorebieta before Torres was denied a first league goal of the season when Stockdale tipped his header over the bar.

From the resulting corner, captain John Terry rose highest to nod across goal and the ball bounced up for unlikely goalscorer Mikel to lash home.