Cech urges Chelsea to concentrate

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech wants his team-mates to forget Fulham’s recent heavy loss ahead of their Boxing Day clash.

Fulham are in desperate need of a lift as they are just four points above the bottom three in 13th place.

But just as important for manager Martin Jol is how his team reacts to the 5-0 thrashing by Manchester United on Wednesday.

Cech said Chelsea, in fourth place 11 points behind leaders Manchester City, had to concentrate on their own game plan first.

“We can’t look too much at the table, we need to keep going step by step, try to win our games and try to catch up as many points as we can,” Cech said.

“We depend on everybody else, so it’s up to them how they are going to do but we just need to keep winning our games. Fulham will be a difficult game because they lost 5-0 at home in their last game.”

“It’s a big London derby and they will want to bounce back, so Chelsea is a great motivation to say sorry to their supporters after Man United but we are in a situation where we need to keep winning.”

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, however, has his own headaches on the eve of the match, particularly in the heart of the defence.

The injury to Branislav Ivanovic during the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last week means John Terry is the Blues’ only fully fit centre-back ahead of the Stamford Bridge clash.

That will only strengthen Villas-Boas’s resolve to complete a deal for England defender Gary Cahill – out of contract at the end of the season – next month.

Until the window opens, however, Villas-Boas will be forced to improvise unless David Luiz recovers from a knee injury in time to face Fulham.

Fulham boss Jol is confident his side can turn things around quickly after the United debacle.

“I don’t think we are lacking confidence, it’s about teamwork. If you work as a team, we are good and our goal difference has shown that. That’s probably been a big plus for us this season,” Jol said.

“But that is something we destroyed on Wednesday with the five goals. If you play as a team, you don’t concede goals and you always get your chances.”