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 1-0 Chelsea
34 mins: Oh hello! Chelsea win a corner that gets whipped into the six-yard box. Tosin Adarabioyo leaps above everyone to nod the ball clear but it comes out to Mateo Kovacic.
He decides to shoot with a scissor kick but smokes his effort over the crossbar!
Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
31 mins: Chelsea look seriously bereft of confidence in possession. Graham Potter obviously wants them to play out from the back but they’re not making runs into space nor passing the ball with any pace or fluidity.
At the other end of the pitch they’re seeing some joy through Joao Felix. He’s been a nuisance all game and almost gets on the end of a Lewis Hall cross but his lunge just comes short of the dropping ball.
Fulham 1-0 Chelsea
28 mins: Marco Silva went wild in the Fulham dugout whn that goal went in. His team could possible have struggled for goals tonight without Aleksandar Mitrovic but now they’ve got something to defend.
Is there a way back for Chelsea?
GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Chelsea (Willian, 25’)⚽️
25 mins: Fulham have the lead!
Andreas Pereira switches the play over to Kenny Tete who slips a pass out wide to Bobby De Cordova-Reid. The Fulham midfielder swings a cross over to the back post where the ball drops to Willian.
He cuts inside and shoots with the effort getting a lucky deflection off Trevoh Chalobah that takes it away from Kepa Arrizabalaga before landing in the far bottom corner!
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
23 mins: Off the bar! A long ball is pumped up the pitch by Bernd Leno and bounces through to Trevoh Chalobah. The defender tries to nod the ball square but miscues it straight to Carlos Vinicius who slips Bobby De Cordova-Reid into the right side of the box.
De Cordova-Reid fizzes a shot at goal and Kepa Arrizabalaga is beaten by the pace. The shot continues to rise and strikes the crossbar before Chelsea clear the danger!
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
21 mins: Shot! Fulham take a short corner and send the ball across to Harrison Reed who’s waiting just outside the penalty area. Reed stops the ball before letting fly a right-footed effort but there are too many bodies inside the box and his effort is blocked.
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
18 mins: Joao Palhinha rises highest to head away Mason Mount’s corner kick but the ball gets recovered by Lewis Hall.
Chelsea slip Joao Felix into the left side of the box but his cross is also defended and Fulham push out of the box as a unit to force Chelsea to retreat.
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
15 mins: Close! Wonderful play from Chelsea as the ball is sent up to Mason Mount who spins towards goal from midfield and combines with Kai Havertz for a quick one-two to get into space on the right side of the box.
Mount swings over a cross and picks out the run from Joao Felix who volleys his effort high and wide before the offside flag gets raised.
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
12 mins: It’s Fulham’s time to work the ball into the penalty area after Cesar Azpilicueta gives away a free kick. Andreas Pereira whips in the cross but it’s well defended by Chelsea’s Kai Havertz.
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
9 mins: This could be a long night for Antonee Robinson. Joao Felix is played in down the right once again and Robinson is drawn into the foul earning himself a yellow card. It’s his fifth of the season so the defender will face a suspension.
Chelsea’s resultant free kick is curled into the box but cleared as far as Mateo Kovacic. His shot from range is deflected and drops to Joao Felix who pulls his first effort at goal wide of the near post!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments