Fulham beat 10-man Chelsea 2-1 at Craven Cottage on Wednesday to move level on points with their west London neighbors.
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Marc Cucurella was sent off for dragging back Harry Wilson early in the first half and Chelsea never fully recovered. Raul Jimenez gave Fulham the lead in the second half but Chelsea kept scrapping away and Liam Delap did equalize with 20 minutes to go.
But red-hot Harry Wilson scored the winner with just under 10 minutes of normal time to go to seal a fourth win in their last six games for Fulham as Marco Silva’s side are unbeaten in that stretch and move on to 31 points.
That is the same number of points Chelsea have as their new manager Liam Rosenior was watching on from the stands and will have plenty to ponder.
Chelsea’s erratic edge has to be curbed by Rosenior
Under Enzo Maresca there was an erratic edge to Chelsea which has cost them so many points this season due to red cards, rash challenges and poor defensive mistakes at key moments. That has to change and they have to calm down under new manager Liam Rosenior. He watched on as Marc Cucurella’s decision to haul back Harry Wilson cost Chelsea against Fulham, as their seventh red card in all competitions this season was costly. Once again. Chelsea can’t keep playing on the edge like this. There needs to be more control and discipline when it comes to their play. They have the talent and nearly grabbed a point despite playing most of this game down a player, but they have spent so much of this season fighting an uphill battle because they’ve created it. That is not sustainable and the first thing Rosenior has to do is keep Chelsea’s fighting spirit there but dial it down a notch so it doesn’t keep boiling over and costing them crucial points.
What’s next?
Fulham host Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Saturday, then head to Leeds on Saturday, January 17. Chelsea head to Charlton in the FA Cup on Saturday, then host Arsenal in the League Cup semifinal first leg next Wednesday before hosting Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, January 17.
Fulham vs Chelsea score: 2-1
Jimenez 55', Wilson 81', Delap 72'
Fulham vs Chelsea live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Wilson again!
Fulham are ahead late on as they were pushing hard as Sanchez denied Jimenez. A cross then comes in and is cleared straight to Harry Wilson and his low shot deflects off Reece James and flies in. Fulham have retaken the lead and Marco Silva is loving it.
Delap has Chelsea level!
What a time to score his first Premier League goal for Chelsea. A corner is flicked on and hits the post and drops down to Delap who finishes. 1-1. Just over 20 minutes to go and Chelsea are well on top despite being down a player!
Big chance for Caicedo, then Palmer denied
Chelsea are taking more risks now and Moises Caicedo arrives on the edge of the box and has a clear sight of goal. But his shot is straight at Leno. Moments late Cole Palmer wriggles free and his low shot is saved by Leno.
Leno with a huge save!
Cole Palmer sets up Liam Delap and he dinks it over Leno gets a touch on it and Fulham clear.
Kevin powers a shot just wide
Brazilian winger Kevin surges forward but his low shot is just wide.
Jimenez heads home!
What a header from Mexico’s Raul Jimenez, as a cross from the right is whipped in and Jimenez gets the run on Chalobah and powers home a low header. Fulham are ahead and have made their advantage count. Jimenez celebrates by diving like a salmon to the ground. Lovely stuff.
Pedro Neto blasts over on the break
Lovely hold up play from Liam Delap and Pedro Neto is free, but his shot is way over.
Half time: Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
Yet another red card for Chelsea (their seventh of the season in all competitions) has them behind the eight ball as Marc Cucurella was sent off early. Fulham’s Harry Wilson had a goal disallowed by VAR for offside in first half stoppage time and for now the 10 players of Chelsea have done well to regroup and frustrate the hosts.
Wilson has Fulham ahead with a tidy finish... but VAR rules it out
Right on half time Harry Wilson with a lovely low finish, but VAR checks and Raul Jimenez was offside in the build-up. Fulham disappointed. They thought they had taken the lead at the perfect time.
Smith Rowe close to a beauty!
Chelsea had weathered the storm of being down a player but they were almost behind right on half time. Emile Smith Rowe’s beautiful strike from distance flies just over the bar.
Wilson’s free kick is blocked, then Hato is on for Santos
From the resulting free kick Harry Wilson’s effort is blocked, then Jimenez’s rebound is blocked too. Hato is now on for Andrey Santos to give Chelsea a left back on the pitch.
Red card for Marc Cucurella!
A long ball forward sets Harry Wilson free and Marc Cucurella decides to pull him back right on the edge of the box. That was a clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity, so Cucurella gets a straight red card. VAR checks to see if it was a penalty kick, but it was just outside the box. What a chance for Fulham this is.
Another corner almost goes straight in!
Bernd Leno is flapping as Fernandez swings in another deep corner towards goal and somehow Andrey Santos hits the crossbar from one yard out. Leno did not look comfortable there and Fernandez will basically have a shot every time he has a corner!
Enzo Fernandez almost scores from a corner!
Oh my, almost an Olimpico from Fernandez! He whips in a dangerous corner from the left and it’s going in but under pressure Bernd Leno somehow punches it clear off the line.
Fulham lineup
Leno; Diop, Andersen, Cuenca; Castagne, Berge, Cairney, Robinson; Wilson, Smith Rowe; Jimenez
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Delap
Fulham team news, focus
Samuel Chukwueze, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi are away at AFCON with Nigeria while Rodrigo Munoz, Kenny Tete and Ryan Sessegnon are out injured. Harry Wilson, Raul Jimenez and Emile Smith Rowe have really stepped up as a trio to give Fulham an extra spark in attack, while USMNT left back Antonee Robinson is back fit and looking sharp.
Chelsea team news, focus
Moises Caicedo is back from suspension for this one, while Robert Sanchez and Marc Cucurella should come back in after small issues kept them out against Man City. Liam Delap is pushing for a start after his excellent cameo against City as Chelsea’s players all have something extra to prove to their incoming new manager.
Fulham vs Chelsea preview
The Cottagers scored in the 97th minute through Harrison Reed to snatch at point at home against Liverpool. Marco Silva’s side have been on a really good run as they’re five games unbeaten and have scored late in each of their last three games to pick up plenty of extra points.
Chelsea grabbed a dramatic late point away at Manchester City on Sunday as caretaker coach Calum McFarlane saw his side grow into the game before Enzo Fernandez popped up in the 94th-minute to snatch a draw. Liam Rosenior has been named as the new Chelsea manager and even though they’ve gone five games without a win, they are still within touching distance of the top four.
Fulham vs Chelsea prediction
This is going to be a fun one with Fulham usually going all out for the win, while Chelsea will look to keep it tight but the game should open up in the second half. Go for a draw. Fulham 2-2 Chelsea.
How to watch Fulham vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:30pm ET Wednesday (January 7)
Venue: Craven Cottage — West London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
