Key Takeaways:
- Chelsea suffered a 1:2 defeat to Fulham in the London derby, extending their winless streak to five matches
- Marc Cucurella was sent off for Chelsea in the 22nd minute after a foul on Harry Wilson
- Raúl Jiménez and Harry Wilson scored for Fulham, while Liam Delap netted Chelsea’s only goal
Match Overview
Fulham secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over a ten-man Chelsea side in a thrilling London derby at Craven Cottage. Liam Rosenior, newly appointed as Chelsea manager, observed from the stands while interim boss Callum McFarlane took charge on the touchline. This defeat means Chelsea have now gone five matches without claiming a win, which impacts their ambitions for a Champions League position in the table.
Key Moments in the First Half
The match commenced with both sides pushing forward at pace, creating notable opportunities at each end. For Fulham, Harry Wilson was integral to their attacking moves, forcing Robert Sánchez into two important saves before the interval. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández troubled the home defence with threatening corner deliveries; one was punched clear by Bernd Leno, while Andrey Santos rattled the post, and Sander Berge stopped Moisés Caicedo’s goal-bound effort on the line.
Fulham shock Chelsea 😮 pic.twitter.com/gke2dWaheq
— 433 (@433) January 7, 2026
The complexion of the game changed in the 22nd minute when Marc Cucurella was dismissed with a red card for hauling down the breaking Harry Wilson. The incident led to multiple bookings for dissent among Chelsea players. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Blues held firm, and though Wilson found the net for the hosts just before the break, his goal was chalked off for offside. The first half concluded goalless.
Second-Half Drama and Decisive Goals
The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute when Raúl Jiménez met a pinpoint cross from Sander Berge and powered a header past Sánchez to put Fulham a goal up. Substitute Kevin introduced fresh energy for Fulham, menacing the Chelsea defence. Despite being reduced to ten men, Chelsea displayed resilience: Leno thwarted a Delap chip, a fierce Caicedo attempt, and a drive from Palmer.
The equaliser arrived in the 72nd minute when Liam Delap reacted quickest to a rebound off the post, slamming the ball home. Fulham responded nine minutes later as Harry Wilson restored the advantage with a strike from the edge of the area, the ball taking a deflection off James, leaving Sánchez helpless. Fulham held on to claim all three points.
| Team | Score | Goal Scorers | Red Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulham | 2 | Raúl Jiménez (55′), Harry Wilson (81′) | – |
| Chelsea | 1 | Liam Delap (72′) | Marc Cucurella (22′) |
Implications for Chelsea’s Season
This latest setback leaves Chelsea trailing in their pursuit of a Champions League berth after five successive fixtures without a victory. With a new managerial era on the horizon under Liam Rosenior, attention will turn to how quickly the Blues can recover their form and climb the standings once again.
