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:
Fulham 1-1 Chelsea
50 mins: That was a scrappy goal for Chelsea to score but it’s got them back on level terms in this game. Can that equaliser provide a platform for them to attack the second half?
GOAL! Fulham 1-1 Chelsea (Koulibaly, 47’)
47 mins: Lewis Hall takes the ball inside of Kenny Tete before getting sandwiched between the defender and Booby De Cordova-Reid winning a free kick.
Mason Mount whips a shot at goal that Bernd Leno tips onto the post. The ball bounces back into the six-yard area where Kalidou Koulibaly is the first to react.
He turns the ball back towards goal and gets it over the line before Leno flaps it away from off the floor. Chelsea are level!
Second half: Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea get the ball rolling again for the second half at Craven Cottage. Neither manager has made any changes to the line-ups during the break so it’s as you were for both teams.
HT Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
With the inclusion of João Félix in tonight’s starting XI, Chelsea have now used more players in the Premier League this season (27) than they did in the entirety of last season (26).
HT Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
Willian is the 26th player to score against Chelsea in the Premier League after previously playing for them in the competition; Chelsea have now had the most such players score against them of any side in the competition.
HT Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
Willian, the former Chelsea forward, sends Fulham in front midway through the first half at Craven Cottage. Can Fulham go on to win this match now?
Half-time: Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
45+3 mins: That’s been a great first half for Fulham. They’ve played positively and pressed in numbers to upset Chelsea’s rhythm. Willian’s opener was a well struck effort that a deflection took past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea had created a couple of decent chances with their main threat coming through Joao Felix on debut. This match is still pretty open but Chelsea will need to up their levels.
Marco Silva will be the happier of the two managers.
Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
43 mins: Close! Fulham push for a second goal as they win the ball high up the pitch. It’s played across to Kenny Tete who curls a cross into the middle and finds Carlos Vinicius.
He heads an effort over to the far corner but Kepa scurries across and flaps it away before Thiago Silva completes the clearance!
Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
40 mins: Save! Kai Havertz bullies Tosin Adarabioyo off the ball when it comes over the top and regains possession inside the Fulham box.
He lays the ball off to Joao Felix who sneaks a shot in between the closest two defenders before forcing a low but sharp save out of Bernd Leno!
Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
37 mins: Yellow card! Trevoh Chalobah finds himself under pressure trying win the ball under pressure from two Fulham defenders. He lunges into a challenge on Joao Palhinha and takes out the man with his studs showing.
Fulham want a harsher punishment but the referee thinks that a yellow card is sufficient.
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