Newly appointed Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior had to settle for a spectator’s role as Fulham claimed bragging rights in the west London derby at Craven Cottage.
Newly appointed Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior had to settle for a spectator’s role as Fulham claimed bragging rights in the west London derby at Craven Cottage.
Rosenior was unable to take charge in time and instead watched events unfold from the stands, where Chelsea’s afternoon quickly became complicated by Marc Cucurella’s dismissal midway through the first half.
Despite the setback, Chelsea showed resilience and briefly restored parity in the second half, but Harry Wilson’s decisive moment ultimately ensured the hosts collected all three points.
The result drops Chelsea to eighth position in the Premier League table, while Fulham moves level with their rivals on 31 points after 21 matches.
Wilson proved influential long before he scored the winner, troubling Chelsea’s defence during the opening exchanges when both sides still had 11 players.
His intelligent movement drew the foul from Cucurella that led to the red card, dramatically altering the balance of the contest.
The Wales international thought he had found the net before the interval with a driven effort, only for the goal to be disallowed after Raul Jimenez strayed offside in the build-up.
Wilson eventually made his impact count late on, controlling the ball neatly inside the area before firing a half-volley beyond Robert Sanchez, a finish that prompted loud acclaim from the home crowd.
Since early November, only Erling Haaland has registered more Premier League goal contributions, with Wilson tallying six goals and four assists over that period as Fulham surged away from relegation concerns.
Chelsea’s task became far more difficult in the 22nd minute when Cucurella was judged to have denied a clear opportunity by hauling down Wilson, resulting in a straight red card.
The dismissal was followed by further frustration, with yellow cards shown to Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, and Tosin Adarabioyo for dissent shortly afterwards.
Fulham capitalised after the break when Jimenez headed them in front, before Chelsea responded through Liam Delap, who converted from close range after the ball rebounded off the post during a corner.
Wilson’s late strike settled the contest, leaving caretaker manager Calum McFarlane and Rosenior to reflect on another costly sending-off, the club’s eighth in all competitions this season.
The defeat unfolded amid visible discontent from the travelling support, including protests aimed at the ownership, adding to the challenges awaiting Rosenior as he prepares to take charge.
