Chelsea's new era under Liam Rosenior began in disastrous fashion on Wednesday night, with a 2-1 defeat to west London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage. The newly appointed head coach was a helpless spectator in the directors' box as his ten-man side collapsed, prompting furious chants from the travelling supporters aimed at co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
Chaos in the Stands and on the Pitch
In a highly unusual move, Rosenior chose not to take charge of the match, leaving Under-21s boss Calum McFarlane in the dugout after he oversaw Sunday's draw at Manchester City. The reasoning given was a lack of preparation time with the squad. However, the decision backfired spectacularly as Rosenior had a front-row seat to the scale of the task awaiting him.
The match's pivotal moment arrived in the first half. Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno launched a long ball forward for the in-form Harry Wilson, who was pulled back by Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella. Referee Peter Bankes immediately showed a red card, with VAR confirming the foul occurred just outside the penalty area. It was Chelsea's fifth Premier League red card of the season, their highest tally since the 2007/08 campaign.
Wilson the Hero as Chelsea's Hopes Fade
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Chelsea initially held firm. They even managed to claw back an equaliser in the second half through Liam Delap, who tapped in after a goalmouth scramble. Fulham had taken the lead earlier when Raul Jimenez expertly headed home Sander Berge's cross.
The home side's pressure eventually told. Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez made a fine save, but the rebound fell to the lethal Harry Wilson. The Welsh international cut inside and fired a brilliant low shot into the far corner, sending the Craven Cottage faithful into raptures with chants of "he's done it again."
A Toxic Atmosphere and a Mountain to Climb
The on-field disappointment was compounded by a toxic atmosphere emanating from the away end. Chelsea fans made their feelings towards the club's hierarchy abundantly clear, directing chants of "f*** off Eghbali, you're not wanted here" at the co-owner, who was seated beside the powerless Rosenior.
This defeat deals a significant blow to Chelsea's already fading hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. Rosenior's immediate priority will be to address the team's chronic disciplinary issues. As the final whistle blew on a jubilant night for Fulham, the new Chelsea boss was left under no illusions: the job of reviving this ailing giant is monumental.
