Rosenior Gets Stark Preview of Chelsea Challenge as Fulham Strike Late at Craven Cottage

New Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior was given a sobering first glimpse of the task ahead as his new side were beaten by west London rivals Fulham, with Harry Wilson’s late finish sealing a damaging defeat at Craven Cottage.

Rosenior, who had not been appointed in time to take charge, watched from the stands as Chelsea unravelled in difficult circumstances. Any hope of a composed performance evaporated early when Marc Cucurella was sent off in the 22nd minute, leaving Chelsea to battle for more than an hour with ten men.

The dismissal came after Cucurella pulled down Wilson as the Fulham winger broke clear, with the referee judging the challenge to be a professional foul. It marked Chelsea’s eighth red card of the season across all competitions, a statistic that continues to underline issues with discipline and game management.

Under caretaker manager Calum McFarlane, Chelsea attempted to remain compact and frustrate the hosts, but sustained pressure eventually told. Fulham broke the deadlock after 55 minutes when Raúl Jiménez rose to head home, rewarding the home side’s control and patience.

Chelsea responded with resilience and briefly threatened to steal something from the contest. Liam Delap equalised from close range after a corner caused chaos in the Fulham box, with Antonee Robinson almost diverting the ball into his own net before it rebounded kindly for the striker.

Despite being a man down, Chelsea showed spirit and organisation, but the numerical disadvantage ultimately proved decisive. With nine minutes remaining, Wilson delivered the moment of quality that settled the match. He beat teenage defender Jorrel Hato with a sharp first touch inside the area before striking a precise half volley into the left corner, beyond the reach of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

The goal sparked frustration in the away end, where discontent with the club’s direction was again visible. A banner calling for the ownership to step aside was unfurled, while chants against the board echoed around the stadium. Rosenior, seated nearby, could hardly ignore the mood as he observed his future workplace under strain.

The defeat means Chelsea drop to seventh place in the Premier League table, slipping below Brentford, while Fulham move level with their rivals on 31 points from 21 matches. For Fulham, it was another impressive result in a season built on consistency and clarity. For Chelsea, it was a reminder of how far they remain from stability.

Rosenior will take charge knowing discipline must be addressed immediately. Frequent dismissals, fragile momentum and visible fan unrest all point to a club in need of direction as much as tactical improvement. While there were signs of fight and organisation, the match exposed familiar weaknesses that have plagued Chelsea throughout the campaign.

Watching from the stands, Rosenior will have seen both the problems and the expectations. His challenge will be to restore control, reduce chaos and reconnect a frustrated fanbase with a side that too often undermines itself.