Chelsea’s Joao Felix endured a nightmare debut when he was despatched off in a 2-1 Premier League defeat at native rivals Fulham on Thursday to extend the stress on supervisor Graham Potter.
The Portugal ahead seemed sharp in the future after finishing a mortgage transfer from Atletico Madrid however he was proven a straight crimson card within the 58th minute for a reckless sort out on Fulham defender Kenny Tete when the rating was 1-1.
Fulham made the many of the man benefit when Brazilian ahead Carlos Vinicius, standing in for the membership’s suspended high 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 levelled early within the second half by a scrappy purpose from shut vary by defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Kai Havertz had a late likelihood to equalise with a stinging effort however Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was equal to it and Marco Silva’s facet held on to file its first league victory over Chelsea in 17 years.
The win lifted Fulham above Liverpool and as much as sixth within the Premier League standings on 31 factors after 19 video games.
Chelsea, which fell to its eighth league defeat this season and third consecutive loss in all competitions, is tenth within the desk on 25 factors from 18 matches.
“We started well, we had a really good chance early but then mistakes lead to their goal, we responded well and then the red card changes the game and makes it more difficult for us,” Potter advised BT Sport.
“We could do better with the goal and that’s what cost us.”
Potter had no complaints concerning the crimson card, describing Felix’s problem on Tete as a “forward’s tackle”.
Fulham supervisor Marco Silva was glad together with his crew’s resilience.
“Delighted with the result, pleased with the first half. The second half wasn’t at our best level,” he mentioned.
“The good thing we can take as a group, even in the second half we didn’t perform at our best and we are able to win a football match against a top side even if they are on a bad run.”
FELIX LIVELY
Potter’s facet had been humbled 4-0 by Manchester Metropolis within the FA Cup on Sunday however made a constructive begin at Craven Cottage, with Felix wanting vigorous. He minimize by Fulham’s left hand facet to tee up Lewis Corridor within the space however the shot was saved by Leno.
Felix had two makes an attempt on purpose however Fulham went forward with the assistance of two defensive mishaps from Chelsea, Corridor giving freely possession and Trevor Chalobah deflecting Willian’s shot into the web.
Chelsea confirmed character to rapidly reply after the break, Koulibaly pouncing on the rebound after Leno had turned away a shot from Mason Mount.
It misplaced midfielder Denis Zakaria to harm, nevertheless, and Felix to a crimson card, the 23-year-old wildly lunging at Tete after shedding the ball.
Felix, whose mortgage signing price Chelsea a reported 9 million kilos ($11 million), will miss the following three league matches towards Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Fulham attributable to suspension.
