Chelsea’s new loan-signing, Joao Felix, endured an agonizing debut when he was despatched off in a 2-1 Premier League loss to crosstown rivals Fulham on Thursday, intensifying the scrutiny on embattled supervisor Graham Potter.
The Portugal ahead, having simply accomplished a mortgage transfer from Atletico Madrid, regarded spry at some point prior, however his efficiency was reduce brief within the 58th minute after being proven a straight pink card for a reckless sort out on Fulham defender Kenny Tete when the rating was 1-1.
Fulham made the a lot of the man benefit when Brazilian ahead Carlos Vinicius, standing in for the membership’s suspended prime scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, put the hosts again in entrance within the 73rd minute with a intelligent header.
Former Chelsea winger Willian had put Marco Silva’s facet in entrance within the first half with a deflected shot however Potter’s crew leveled early within the second half by means of a scrappy purpose from shut vary by defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Kai Havertz had a late probability to equalize with a stinging effort however Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was equal to it and Marco Silva’s facet held on to document their first league victory over Chelsea in 17 years.
The win lifted Fulham above Liverpool and as much as sixth within the Premier League standings with 31 factors after 19 video games.
Chelsea, who fell to their eighth league defeat this season and third consecutive loss in all competitions, are tenth within the desk on 25 factors from 18 matches.
Manchester City had humbled Potter’s facet 4-0 within the FA Cup on Sunday however made a constructive begin at Craven Cottage, with Felix trying full of life. He reduce by means of Fulham’s left-hand facet to tee up Lewis Hall within the space however Leno saved the shot.
Felix had two makes an attempt on purpose however Fulham went forward with the assistance of two defensive mishaps from Chelsea, Hall freely giving possession and Trevor Chalobah deflecting Willian’s shot into the online.
Chelsea confirmed character to rapidly reply after the break, Koulibaly pouncing on the rebound after Leno had turned away a shot from Mason Mount.
They misplaced midfielder Denis Zakaria to damage, nonetheless, and Felix to a pink card, the 23-year-old wildly lunging at Tete after dropping the ball.
