Chelsea slipped to a 2-1 Premier League defeat against Fulham, despite long spells of pressure with 10 players and caretaker boss Calum McFarlane insisting the side merited more, as new head coach Liam Rosenior observed from the stands before preparing to assume control for the FA Cup tie against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
Harry Wilson struck the decisive goal on 81 minutes, guiding a composed finish from the right side of the area past the Chelsea defence and goalkeeper, after earlier efforts from Raul Jimenez and Liam Delap had left the west London derby level, with Marc Cucurella dismissed in the first half.
Cucurella received a straight red card in the 22nd minute for denying Wilson a clear scoring chance, leaving Chelsea a player short
for more than an hour, yet the hosts still found a route back when Delap scored a first Premier League goal for Chelsea, cancelling out Jimenez's opener before Fulham punished a late lapse.
Even after the dismissal, Chelsea created several strong opportunities, particularly after half-time, with Delap, Jorrel Hato and Moises Caicedo all threatening an equaliser or potential winner, as McFarlane’s side pushed Fulham back for long stretches but failed to convert pressure into points in front of the watching Rosenior.
Cucurella’s sending off continued a difficult disciplinary trend for Chelsea, who have now collected five red cards in this Premier League campaign; the club have only received more once in a single league season, when six players were dismissed during the 2007-08 campaign, while the current total already places extra strain on an inconsistent squad.
| Team | Red cards (Premier League) | Total reds in 2025-26* |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 5 | 7 |
| Everton | 3 | 3 |
| Tottenham | 3 | 3 |
*Excluding the Club World Cup
Across all competitions excluding the Club World Cup, Chelsea have accumulated seven red cards, at least four more than any other Premier League side, with Everton and Tottenham both receiving three, a gap that highlights how frequent dismissals have complicated Chelsea’s attempts to build rhythm under different coaches this season.
Chelsea have received more than twice as many red cards in the Premier League as any other team this season. Their seasonal record in the Premier League era is six (2007-08). pic.twitter.com/KbNSpXRD9COpta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) January 7, 2026
When asked by BBC Sport if Chelsea deserved more from the game, McFarlane said: "I do, yeah. Fulham had a lot of control and passages of play, but we worked hard. We had opportunities to counter. Liamhad a big chance. Until the last nine minutes, I was confident we could draw or even nick a win. Its a tough game. The red card is a big factor and changes our gameplan. We did that well other than the first goal. We reacted really well. In the second half we had so many opportunities and moments. Im really glad for Liam to get that goal, its been coming. But then Harry Wilson shows a bit of quality in the box and it decides the game. "
The loss deepened Chelsea’s recent difficulties in the league, with the club now winning only once in the last nine Premier League fixtures, drawing five and losing three, a sequence that has slowed progress and left little margin for error heading into a busy domestic schedule.
This reverse against Fulham also ended Chelsea’s strong recent record in capital clashes, halting a nine-match unbeaten league run in London derbies and marking the first such defeat since a 1-0 loss at Arsenal last March, underlining the changing balance within the capital’s top-flight rivalries.
Chelsea future under Liam Rosenior
The Fulham match was McFarlane’s final outing as Chelsea caretaker boss, with Rosenior scheduled to take over first-team duties for the FA Cup meeting with Charlton Athletic, after using the derby to assess squad options, discipline issues and tactical choices from a vantage point in the stands.
Reflecting on the short spell in charge, McFarlane said: "It has been amazing, McFarlane added. Ive been coaching since I was 17, so it's been a long time. The last week has been the best experience Ive ever had. That's down to the players, the way theyve treated us. I'm really fortunate to have been put in that position. "
Looking ahead to the handover, McFarlane explained the regular contact with Rosenior, saying: "I spoke to Liam Rosenior the night before the announcement was made, yesterday at the training ground and today. Im really excited about what hes going to bring to the team. "
Chelsea now move from McFarlane’s brief tenure into Rosenior’s first match, carrying a frustrating defeat, a notable disciplinary concern and a challenging league run, but also some encouragement from the response with 10 players, Delap’s first Premier League goal for Chelsea and a belief that performances can sharpen under the incoming head coach.
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