Chelsea overcame the absence of a host of big names to come from behind and beat local rival Fulham 2-1 away in yesterday's Premier League lunchtime kickoff.

Chelsea's Michael Ballack (R) celebrates with team mate Shaun Wright-Phillips after scoring a goal during their English Premier League soccer match against Fulham at Craven Cottage in London January 1, 2008.

Fulham, under new manager Roy Hodgson for the first time, led with a 10th-minute Danny Murphy penalty but Chelsea leveled with a 54th-minute Salomon Kalou header and won the match with a Michael Ballack penalty eight minutes later.

Chelsea remains third on 44 points, one behind Manchester United, which was to play Birmingham City at Old Trafford later yesterday, and three behind Arsenal, which hosts West Ham United.

A year ago Chelsea drew with Aston Villa and Fulham over the Christmas period to lose touch at the top. After its 4-4 home draw with Villa on December 26 it looked like the situation might repeat itself.

Fulham, which had won only two league games previously and began the day second-last, went ahead from the spot after Moritz Volz was tripped by Joe Cole and had little trouble keeping its local rivals at bay.

All season Fulham has performed well in the first half and of the 37 goals it has conceded, 30 have come in the second half.

So, it was no surprise that it again lost its way as halftime Chelsea substitute John Obi Mikel injected some forward power for Avram Grant's team.

Chelsea duly equalized in the 54th minute when Alex nodded a deep corner back across goal for Kalou to head in from close range.

It took the lead eight minutes later when Clint Dempsey held back Ballack as he sought to reach a freekick and the German dispatched the resulting penalty.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily January 2, 2008)