Saturday saw two desperate sides claim relieving victories as Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion rose to victory by a one goal margin in their respective games. It was Mason Mount who responded to pressure and kept Lampard smiling as Chelsea defeated Fulham 1-0 in the West London derby. In Wolverhampton it was Matheus Pereira who bought Sam Allardyce his first victory with the club in a 3-2 win over Wolves.

The Blues were given a boost when Fulham defender Antonee Robinson was sent off just before half-time for a rash challenge of Cesar Azpilicueta. However, the visitors still seemed to labour to get the one right shot before Mount’s precise low finish moved them to the seventh rung and within three points of the top four.

This victory came for Lampard, who had one shoe outside the Stamford bridge for a ‘revamped’ Chelsea had won only one from their last six Premier League games. This was also Chelsea’s first English win post Christmas. For Fulham, the match marked their first defeat in six games as they still remain in the relegation zone.

In the other match, former England manager Allardyce was able to celebrate after a pulsating Black Country derby at Molineux. Allardyce had failed to win any of his first five matches since replacing the sacked Slaven Bilic. Matheus Pereira shot Albion ahead from the spot before goals from Fabio Silva and Willy Boly put Wolves in the driving seat at half-time.

Semi Ajayi equalised after the interval and Pereira’s second penalty sealed West Brom’s first win in eight league games.Albion remain second bottom of the table after their second league victory, but are just three points from safety.

“I thought the way the lads carried out their tactics was excellent. It’s the best I have seen us in possession since I have been here,” Allardyce said.

“The lads were excellent in the second half, their heads could have gone down with the results we have had recently but they came bouncing back.”

Wolves are winless in six league games and have not beaten the Baggies in 10 years.