Fulham vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight after Joao Felix red card
Fulham 2-1 Chelsea: Joao Felix sent off on Chelsea debut as Blues come unstuck at Craven Cottage
Graham Potter was left with more questions than answers as his Chelsea side slumped to another defeat in the Premier League when they travelled to Craven Cottage on Thursaday evening. With just one win in nine matches the Blues welcomed a trip to Fulham who haven’t beaten them in the league since 2006, but things didn’t turn out the way they’d planned.
The home side were positive and controlled in possession, often pushing high up the pitch out of it and from the off it looked like Chelsea were in for a fight. Willian, a former blue who spent seven years at Stamford Bridge, opened the scoring in the first half. He brought down a cross into the box and after cutting inside saw his deflected effort bobble into the far bottom corner.
Chelsea’s new signing Joao Felix threatened throughout and the momentum almost turned when Kalidou Koulibaly equalised after half-time. Felix had a rush of blood though and dove into a silly challenge earning himself a straight red card which sealed Chelsea’s fate.
At 1-1 there was still work to do for the home side but Andreas Pereira stepped up and lifting a pinpoint cross onto the head of Carlos Vinicius to secure all three points for the Cottagers.
Relive all the action as Fulham host Chelsea at Craven Cottage:
Joao Felix sent-off on debut as Carlos Vinicius sends Fulham sixth with win over Chelsea
As Graham Potter so badly struggles to find solutions, or even goals, Chelsea somehow find new ways to lose.
This was really the ultimate test of patience, and credulity, even as everyone insists the manager will be given time. New loan signing Joao Felix had added a sharpness to Chelsea’s attack on his debut, only to then display blunt force and astoundingly get himself sent off to see a 1-1 draw spiral into a deserved 2-1 defeat to buoyant Fulham.
The Portuguese will now miss matches against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Fulham again if his suspension stands, and questions will only increase as to whether Potter will even last that long.
Those at the club will of course keep repeating the same words about a long-term project but the numbers are currently speaking much louder. It was Chelsea’s first defeat to Fulham since 2006, which made it seven losses from 11 in all competitions and just six points from the last nine Premier League games.
It can’t keep going like this but it is somehow getting worse - as so neatly illustrated by Felix’s wild challenge.
Joao Felix sent-off on debut as Vinicius sends Fulham sixth with win over Chelsea
Fulham 2-1 Chelsea: Kalidou Koulibaly had equalised after Willian netted against his former club, but Vinicius struck following Felix’s red card
FT Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
Andreas Pereira has assisted five goals in the Premier League this season, with only Kevin De Bruyne (9), Bukayo Saka (6) and Christian Eriksen (6) setting up more.
It’s one more assist than he registered in 45 games in the competition for Manchester United (4).
FT Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
João Félix is the first player to be sent off for Chelsea on their Premier League debut, and the first to do so for any club since Federico Fazio for Spurs vs Manchester City in October 2014.
FT Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
Where does Graham Potter go from here. Each game seems to drop Chelsea to a new low. The boss has injuries and a lack of confidence to contend with.
He’s been given assurances that the board won’t sack him but he’ll need to turn around the Blues’ form sharpest to avoid the fans turning on him.
FT Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
Fulham are up to sixth in the Premier League now, above both Chelsea and Liverpool. They’re unbeaten since the World Cup break and are one of the most in-form teams in the league.
No one would have predicted this at the start of the season. The Fulham supporters are fully enjoying themselves in the stands. They’re singing and dancing.
Fulham deserved this victory.
Full-time: Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
90+6 mins: What a win for Fulham! They never beat Chelsea, this fixture is one of the most difficult ones they face but they’ve come through the test with flying colours tonight.
He won’t admit it but Marco Silva will have thoughts of European football now. This is a huge three points for the Cottagers tonight who now move above Liverpool in the Premier League table.
Graham Potter continues to search for answers to his side’s problems with the main one being how to keep clean sheets.
Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
90+3 mins: Save! Kai Havertz almost steals a point for Chelsea after the ball is booted long and drops behind the back line. The Chelsea forward sprints in behind, controls the ball inside the box then shoots and forces a low sprawling stop out of Bernd Leno!
Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
90 mins: There’s going to be six minutes of added time to play at Craven Cottage. Chelsea aren’t offering much in terms of an equaliser and Fulham look quite comfortable.
Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
85 mins: Chukwuemeka knocks the ball wide to Cucurella who whips a cross into the Fulham six-yard area. It drops onto the foot of Cesar Azpilicueta whose uncontrolled volley goes wide just as the offside flag gets raised.
Fulham are controlling this game but they need to remain switched on if they want to win it.
Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
82 mins: Willian is given a warm round of applause from the Fulham fans after his opening goal in the first half. Manor Solomon comes on to replace him but is given a bunch of rapid instructions from Marco Silva before he enters the fray.
Basically, don’t let Chelsea score.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments