LONDON - Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has warned his team-mates against complacency as they prepare to face a shellshocked Fulham side in a Boxing Day derby on Monday.

The Blues could not have picked a better time to face the Cottagers, who are reeling after suffering their heaviest ever home defeat last week, a 5-0 thrashing by Manchester United.

Yet Cech has urged his teammates to disregard Fulham's recent problems as Andre Villas-Boas's men look to pick up three points in order to stay in touch with the league leaders.

"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."

Villas-Boas heads into the game trying to juggle a growing central defensive crisis that has seen him open talks with Bolton about a move for Gary Cahill. The injury to Branislav Ivanovic during the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotpsur last week means John Terry (pictured) is the Blues' only fully fit centerback ahead of the meeting with Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

That will only strengthen Villas-Boas's resolve to complete a deal for England defender Cahill - out of contract at the end of the season - as quickly as possible 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 in a game Chelsea must win to maintain its title hopes.

The point gained at White Hart Lane left Villas-Boas's side 11 points adrift of Premier League leader Manchester City. And while Chelsea will expect to beat a Fulham side in the doldrums following the United drubbing, a makeshift backline will do little to enhance its chances of victory.

Agence France-Presse