Juan Mata gave his side the lead early in the second half but the Blues had to settle for a third draw in a row as Fulham were allowed to equalise soon after before hanging on as the Chelsea shots rained in.

David Stockdale in the Fulham goal had a busy final few minutes but in truth, the home side's display lacked penetration and creativity with most attempts on goal struck from distance or straight at him.

Following a drab first half against defensive-minded opponents in which only Fernando Torres had gone close, Mata's first goal in a month put his side on its way but not for the first time, Clint Dempsey found the back of the Blues net.

Although the second half was a better spectacle for the Boxing Day crowd, there was disappointment at the end that the promising display at Tottenham was not followed up with an equally invigorating performance.

The announcement that 41,548 resourceful fans had managed to fill Stamford Bridge despite travel problems on the tubes, trains and west London roads.

David Luiz was passed fit to return after missing three games with a knee problem. He replaced injured Branislav Ivanovic in central defence.

In midfield, Frank Lampard returned with Ramires suspended. Raul Meireles switched to the right and Oriol Romeu replaced injured John Mikel Obi.

Fernando Torres was handed a start with Didier Drogba on the bench.

Fulham had strikers Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora missing, so Orlando Sa, who played in the Carling Cup match at the Bridge earlier in the season, was the centre-forward with Bryan Ruiz and Kerim Frei on the wings. Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembeble were the more attacking of the three midfielders. Stephen Kelly was preferred to Chris Baird at right-back.


- First half

The first chance took a while coming. Torres, who had just recovered from a knee in the face, couldn't reach Sturridge's delivery towards the near post with five minutes gone, the first home-side attack. Dempsey booked for tugging back Meireles on the halfway line was more or less the only other incident in the opening 10 minutes.

Cech was the first keeper to make a save, paddling Dempsey's bouncing shot from outside the area round the post. He then punched away the resulting corner.

On 12 minutes David Luiz and John Terry allowed Sa to take possession of a long punt up the field but David Luiz was in the right place to block the Portuguese striker's shot. Two minutes later, Sa could have made Chelsea pay for allowing Kelly the chance to cross from the right but he headed over when well placed.

Fulham were playing like a side that been hammered in their last outing and were determined to avoid any chance of a repeat. On 15 minutes Chelsea at last made Stockdale work for his living. Torres did very well to take a Mata pass on his chest and volley on target but the Fulham keeper was close by and the ball hit him more than he made a conscious save. Moments later Torres rolled a pass into the path of Sturridge whose shot was always bending away from the target.

For a side showing limited ambition in terms of committing players forward, Fulham were getting shots in from time to time. Dembele dragged one wide on 25 minutes.

Three minutes later Chelsea raised the tempo for a move that ended with Bosingwa crossing promisingly but the blue-shirted players in the box, who included Terry, couldn't capitalise.

It was a better spell by Chelsea. Torres came deep to send Bosingwa away and again he crossed with good pace and trajectory but again Fulham survived. Romeu and Meireles both took off-target shots. The first-half closed with some over-optimistic shooting by the Blues.

Fulham had done well in denying space to the likes of Sturridge and Mata and the one saved shot apart, Torres's best work had been outside of the penalty area.

There was a Boxing Day special guest introduced to the crowd during the interval, Jimmy Greaves making a rare return to the pitch where he made his name. He was greeted with warm applause.


- Second half

The Chelsea goal came less than two minutes after the restart. Cole had lofted a ball into the box to where Torres stood strong with back to goal before a short lay off to Mata. From the edge of the area the little Spaniard hooked the ball away from the reach of Stockdale and into the net.

There was relief around the Bridge and Terry volleyed a Mata corner on target soon after but it was blocked by a Fulham leg.

The hope was, that with the visitors now needing to come out and score, Chelsea would find the gaps to create more chances, but there was a quick set-back with Fulham equalising on 55 minutes.

The danger was created down the Chelsea left when Ruiz turned inside and then outside Cole before crossing low. Dempsey turned it in from six yards out.

The first substitution was just after the hour - Malouda a straight swap for Lampard.

The new arrival was involved in making the next chance, advancing before Terry swept the ball out to Sturridge whose shot was tipped over at full stretch by Stockdale. The Fulham keeper then blocked on his line from Malouda's back heel after Terry had headed the corner on.

Bosingwa was booked for a foul on Frei before it was time to give Drogba a go at Senderos. There were 20 minutes to play when Sturridge made way. Torres played more on the right with Mata in the middle behind Drogba and Malouda out on the left.

The one goal conceded apart, the Chelsea defence in the second half was steady, with Terry and David Luiz putting in accomplished displays.

At the other end, Drogba dumped Senderos on the floor as Bosingwa whipped in a cross but Hangeland had made an important touch with his head to divert the ball away. Then when David Luiz sent the Ivorian away onside with a long, high pass, his shot was disappointing.

Meireles produced a much more worthy effort when he controlled a pass just inside the area and turned in a flash, shooting agonisingly wide. He would go close again before the end when his header from Malouda's cross was pushed over the bar. There were shouts for penalty when Torres was challenged by Dembele right on the line but no foul was given.

Paulo Ferreira was the third and final Chelsea sub used, complete with face mask to protect an injury suffered at Tottenham. Bosingwa came off and looked to be troubled by the back of his leg.

Stockdale was kept busy in the closing stages, saving long-range efforts from Malouda and Drogba, the latter a free-kick, but there hadn't been enough clear cut chances to gain the home win Andre Villas-Boas had stated important to build on the December results that preceded it.


- Match stats:

Chelsea F.C: Cech; Bosingwa (Ferreira 80’), David Luiz, Terry, Cole; Meireles, Romeu, Lampard (Malouda 61’), Sturridge (Drogba 70’), Torres, Mata.

Fulham: Stockdale; Kelly, Senderos, Hangeland, J A Riise; Murphy; Frei, Dembélé, Ruiz, Dempsey; Sa (Kasami 82’).

Bookings: Dempsey 06’, Bosingwa 67’.

Goals:

1-0 (47’) Mata.
2-0 (60’) Dempsey.

- Match report by chelseafc.com