Michael Essien scored and was later sent off as Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a win over west London rivals Fulham. Essien powerfully headed home the only goal from a Salomon Kalou left-wing cross during the first half. The home side dominated after this and but for wasteful finishing would have clinched victory with ease. They were forced to repel late pressure and finished with 10 men after Essien's two-footed tackle on Clint Dempsey. It was a deserved straight dismissal, but a sour ending to a game in which the Ghanaian midfielder had earlier demonstrated the qualities Chelsea so badly missed during their 2-0 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday. Essien's red card also took the shine off a narrow but deserved win that ensures the Blues increased their lead over Manchester United to four points following a goalless draw in the Manchester derby. Having not won at Chelsea in the top flight since 1964 and winless away from home in the league in 15 months, the worst thing that could have happened to Fulham's hopes here was Fernando Torres' unanswered brace against the Blues on Sunday. Already sporting the daunting record of 15 wins in their last 16 home games, the champions have also never lost back-to-back Premier League matches under boss Carlo Ancelotti and this record rarely looked under threat. The Blues were not brilliant, but they did not need to be to overcome their limited local rivals, who are now only two points above the relegation places. A casual Chelsea and frugal Fulham made for a cagey first 25 minutes with matching 30-yard drives at either end from the visitors young full-back Matthew Briggs and home midfielder Jon Mikel Obi the only goalbound efforts, both of which were comfortably saved. However, in that time, Essien had already demonstrated his industrious influence and he further underlined his importance to the Chelsea cause by giving them the lead on the half hour. Kalou collected the ball on the left and delivered an inswinging cross that was headed home powerfully by the unmarked Ghanaian. The goal woke Chelsea up and but for some serial wastefulness from Kalou they would have carried a bigger advantage into the break. In a two-minute spell the Ivorian missed two superb chances: the first of which he fluffed after being picked out in the box by Florent Malouda and the second he flashed inches past the far post after initially holding off Briggs as he charged into the box. Then, in the final minute of the half, Kalou was prevented from applying a telling touch to Malouda's low cross to the back post by a strong challenge from Briggs. Kalou had the first effort of the second half when he danced past two challenges into the box, but this time the forward lacked luck as opposed to composure when Mark Schwarzer's foot slowed his goalbound shot before Aaron Hughes hammered clear. Minutes later, Hughes was on hand again to block a powerful drive by Didier Drogba - who was selected despite being diagnosed with malaria this week, but was clearly off the pace. The waves of home attacks continued, but somehow Fulham kept their heads narrowly above water. From a corner, Schwarzer saved superbly point blank from Malouda before then palming away Mikel's 30-yard drive. The keeper would have been powerless to deny Essien from close range after he was found by Branislav Ivanovic's cross in the third phase of the same attack, but the Ghanaian somehow poked wide. Fulham almost made the Blues pay late on as both Dempsey and substitute Zoltan Gera drew good saves from Petr Cech with well-struck long-range shots. With only seconds to spare, Essien made his second big impression of the evening. Unfortunately, it was on Dempsey's ankle as he jumped with both feet into a 50/50 tackle, prompting Martin Atkinson's penultimate decision to be to show him a straight red seconds prior to blowing for full-time. Source: BBC