Mason Mount of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Fulham and Chelsea at Craven Cottage in London, England, January 16, 2021. /CFP
Frank Lampard was relieved to get Chelsea back to winning ways as Mason Mount's late strike broke the resistance of 10-man Fulham to earn a 1-0 victory in the West London derby on Saturday.
The Blues were languishing down in 10th at kick-off after a run of one win in six league games left Lampard fighting for his job.
But the former England midfielder was handed a gift by Antonee Robinson's reckless challenge just before half-time that earned the American a straight red card.
Chelsea still struggled to make the extra man advantage count, but Mount's precise low finish 13 minutes from time moved the visitors up to seventh and within three points of the top four.
Mason Mount of Chelsea scores their side's first goal at Craven Cottage in London, England, January 16, 2021. /CFP
"We can't think everything is solved because we want more," said Lampard.
"I keep saying we're in a bit of a transition and progression. We know there are new players and we're still trying to find solutions but we need to get points because it's Chelsea."
"It's a good start from a difficult patch."
Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain beat Angers 1-0 to go top of Ligue 1 despite coach Mauricio Pochettino tested positive for COVID-19 before the game.
Layvin Kurzawa scored with 20 minutes left at the Stade Raymond Kopa to send PSG provisionally two points clear of Lyon, who will have the chance to reclaim first place when they host Metz on Sunday.
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar (L) vies for the ball with Angers' French defender Ismael Traore during the game at the Raymond Kopa Stadium in Angers, France, January 16, 2021. /CFP
Assistants Jesus Perez and Miguel D'Agostino took charge of the PSG side with Pochettino having to self-isolate after the announcement on Friday that he had contracted the virus.
"It was a very difficult match. Angers are a very well organized team," said Perez. "We were in contact with Mauricio. He spoke to the players before the match via video at the hotel."
"We already know what we will be doing in training. Of course it's not the same without him, but we have been working together for eight years so we know what we need to put the emphasis on."
In a Bundesliga contest also on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund had to come from behind to rescue a 1-1 home draw against struggling Mainz 05 that kept them in fourth place in the title race, four points off the top.
Marco Reus fires the penalty goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05 at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, January 16, 2021. /CFP
Dortmund, who missed a late penalty, did everything right in the first half with close to 70 percent possession and 11 shots on goal, but they wasted a slew of chances and Jude Bellingham also hit the woodwork.
Mainz struck with their first chance after the break as Levin Oztunali picked up the ball in midfield, charged towards the Dortmund goal, beat one defender and then released an unstoppable left-footed missile from 25 meters out.
The visitors then hit the post a little later before Thomas Meunier leveled in the 73rd minute with his first Dortmund goal.
The Belgian defender also earned a penalty a minute later but Marco Reus fired it low and wide, spurning their best chance to go in front.
"We have to be careful with what we do," Meunier said. "We have had so many chances to go into the top three in the league, even into top spot. Each time we waste our chance. We have to change that."
(With input from AFP and Reuters)