German midfielder Andre Schurrle netted a second-half hat-trick to keep Chelsea top of the Barclays Premier League with a 3-1 win in the west London derby at Fulham, who remain bottom.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had been concerned a gruelling midweek Champions League trip to Istanbul would leave his players fatigued for the short journey down to Craven Cottage.
owever, despite a slow start, the Blues, driven on by brilliant Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard, blew Fulham away with three goals in the space of 16 minutes following the restart to stay clear of Arsenal and Manchester City in the championship race.
Hat-trick hero: Andre Schurrle celebrates at full-time after his three goals extended Chelsea's lead at the top
Best man: Schurrle celebrates after turning in his third goal
Top of the league: Chelsea enjoyed a great day with Arsenal slipping to defeat at Stoke
Opener: The German international opens the scoring with a smart left-foot finish
Double: Schurrle adds his second, again with his weaker left foot
Best man: Schurrle celebrates after turning in his third goal
Top of the league: Chelsea enjoyed a great day with Arsenal slipping to defeat at Stoke
Opener: The German international opens the scoring with a smart left-foot finish
Double: Schurrle adds his second, again with his weaker left foot
Match facts
Fulham: Stekelenburg 5; Riether 5.5, Hangeland 4 (Burn 16, 4.5), Heitinga 6, Richardson 6; Dejagah 5, Parker 5 (Karagounis 79), Sidwell 5.5, Dempsey 5; Kasami 5 (Holtby 61), Bent 4.
Subs not used: Stockdale, Riise, Kvist, Holtby, Rodallega.
Goals: Heitinga 74.
Booked: Dejagah, Kasami.
Chelsea: Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Cahill 6.5, Terry 7, Azpilicueta 6.5; Ramires 7, Matic 7; Schurrle 9 (Luiz 87), Oscar 6 (Mikel 78), Hazard 8.5; Torres 6.5 (Ba 82).
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Cole, Lampard, Willian.
Goals: Schurrle 52, 65, 69.
Booked: Ramires.
Ref: Mark Clattenburg 6.5
*Player ratings from SAMI MOKBEL at Craven Cottage
For Fulham boss Felix Magath, there remains plenty more hard work ahead if his side are to pull clear of trouble, and had only a consolation goal from John Heitinga to show for their spirited efforts on Saturday afternoon.
It had earlier been a bright start by the home side in some welcome sunshine.
Pajtim Kasami's cross from the left was flicked wide by Clint Dempsey, when a proper contact from the American could well have put the ball in the net.
There was a brief stoppage when Fulham defensive duo Kieran Richardson and Brede Hangeland clashed heads on the half-way line. After some treatment, both men were able to continue.
On 12 minutes, Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg delayed clearing a deadball, which saw him closed down by Fernando Torres, retained in the starting XI after his midweek goal in Turkey.
The ball ballooned back up off the Chelsea striker and into the penalty area, but Torres could not make the most of the gift, as he miskicked and then eventually sent a scuffed cross-shot wide.
Fulham had to make a change shortly afterwards as captain Hangeland was unable to continue, and replaced by Dan Burn.
Another: Schurrle completes his hat-trick in front of the Chelsea fans
Top of the lot: Jose Mourinho's team is now four points clear at the top of the Premier League
Rooted: Felix Magath's Fulham remain at the bottom of the Premier League
Consolation: John Heitinga gives the home fans something to cheer about
Top of the lot: Jose Mourinho's team is now four points clear at the top of the Premier League
Rooted: Felix Magath's Fulham remain at the bottom of the Premier League
Consolation: John Heitinga gives the home fans something to cheer about
On 20 minutes, Richardson got away again down the left and his deep cross picked out Dempsey, but John Terry and Gary Cahill were quick to close the Fulham striker down as he shaped to shoot.
Neither side were able to gain much possession in midfield, with some niggling tackles flying in.
With five minutes to go until half-time, Fulham tried a well-drilled free-kick from 25 yards which saw three players run over the ball before Kasami sent in a low drive, which Petr Cech got down well to save.
Steve Sidwell then drove an angled shot over the crossbar after a deep ball from the right dropped at the back of the six-yard box.
However, it took a fine reaction save from Stekelenburg on the stroke of half-time to keep the scores level when he deflected an angled drive from Torres over the crossbar.
Instrumental: Eden Hazard was again in sparkling form for Chelsea
The masked man: Ramires had to wear a protective mask for the clash
Shoulder-to-shoulder: Nemanja Matic and Scott Parker tussle for the ball
Nipping in: Heitinga tries to steal the ball from Eden Hazard
Chelsea were on the offensive again at the start of the second half, as Schurrle saw a curled effort deflected wide, when Oscar was free on the overlap.
The German, though, made no mistake a few moments later when he fired Chelsea ahead on 52 minutes.
Hazard - on his 100th Chelsea appearance - chipped a ball down the right, which Schurrle, signed from Leverkusen in the summer, took in his stride with a superb cushioned header. A darting run saw him surge past Burn and to the edge of the Fulham penalty area, where he coolly slotted the ball under Stekelenburg.
Hazard almost crafted a second with a lovely reverse-foot chip to the far post where Richardson just got there ahead of Torres.
Race: Fernando Torres rushes to the ball ahead of Maarten Stelenburg
Sliding in: Nemanja Matic puts a tackle in on Sascha Riether
It was, though, 2-0 on 65 minutes, with the Belgian playmaker again the provider as his slide-rule pass split the Fulham defence as Schurrle slotted in his second from 12 yards.
Despite having the game won, Chelsea remained ruthless in attack and Schurrle completed his hat-trick on 68 minutes.
Torres brought down a long ball from the goalkeeper, which he flicked on out to Schurrle, who sprinted clear to the edge of the Fulham area before slamming a low shot past Stekelenburg.
Fulham at least salvaged some pride from the derby when defender Heitinga bundled the ball in from a corner by Lewis Holtby with 16 minutes left, but it was too little too late.
Strike: Torres has a fierce shot at goal
Acrobatic: The strike forced a save out of Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg
Aerial: Chelsea skipper John Terry wins the header with Clint Dempsey challenging
There it is: Ramires and Steve Sidwell go after the ball
Fan: Lord Coe was at the game with Chelsea Chief Executive ROn Gourlay (left) and Chairman Bruce Buck (right)
Diving in: Scott Parker puts in a tackle on Brazilian midfielder Oscar
Chase: Fulham's Ashkan Dejagah and Cesar Azpilicueta sprint for the ball
Shield: Schurrle keeps the ball from Sacha Riether
Entrance: The two teams walk out onto the Craven Cottage pitch
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