By Francis Onyach - Reporter
Kenya, January 8 2026- Chelsea’s struggles continued as they were forced to play most of the match with ten men following an early red card to Marc Cucurella, eventually falling to a 2–1 defeat against Fulham in a Premier League clash at Craven Cottage.
The Blues began the game with positive intent, looking to control possession and dictate the tempo. However, the turning point arrived in the 22nd minute when Cucurella was shown a straight red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The dismissal immediately shifted the balance of the contest, forcing Chelsea to reorganise and abandon their original game plan. Despite being a man down, Chelsea showed resilience and discipline in the remainder of the first half, defending deep and limiting Fulham to few clear-cut chances. Their compact shape frustrated the hosts, and the sides went into the break level, with Chelsea still very much in the contest. Fulham eventually made their numerical advantage count in the 55th minute, when Raúl Jiménez broke the deadlock with a well-taken goal to give the hosts a deserved lead. The pressure continued as Chelsea were pinned back for long spells, struggling to gain a foothold in midfield as fatigue began to show. Against the run of play, Chelsea found a lifeline in the 72nd minute. Liam Delap rose to the occasion, scoring his first Premier League goal for the club to level the match and briefly reignite hopes of salvaging a point. The equaliser highlighted Chelsea’s fighting spirit and willingness to battle despite their disadvantage. However, Fulham were not to be denied. Just nine minutes later, Harry Wilson struck in the 81st minute, restoring the hosts’ lead and effectively sealing the result. Chelsea pushed forward in the closing stages but lacked the numbers and energy to mount a sustained comeback. The defeat sees Chelsea drop valuable Premier League points, with the early red card once again proving costly. Discipline and game management remain key concerns as the Blues look to stabilise their season. Attention now turns to their upcoming fixtures, where Chelsea will be desperate for a response and a return to winning ways as pressure continues to mount. The Blues now sit 7th on the table behind Manchester United and Brentford in positions 6 and 5 respectively.
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