Football: Potter’s misery mounts as Fulham beat Chelsea after Felix red card
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Follow topic:
LONDON – Manager Graham Potter pleaded with his Chelsea players to “stay together”, after a shock 2-1 Premier League defeat at Fulham that saw Blues forward Joao Felix sent off on his debut before a decisive blunder from Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The troubled side crashed to a seventh defeat in their last 10 games in all competitions after another spluttering display on Thursday.
The Blues fell behind to a goal from their former winger Willian in the first half at Craven Cottage.
Kalidou Koulibaly equalised after the break but Felix – in his first game after signing on loan till the end of the season – was dismissed for a reckless studs-up lunge on Kenny Tete.
Fulham were gifted their late winner by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa, who made a hash of dealing with a cross that Carlos Vinicius converted to leave Potter facing renewed talk of the sack just four months after he replaced Thomas Tuchel.
“We made a couple of mistakes for their first goal, then the red card changes the game. Disappointed with the second goal because I think we could do better and that is what cost us,” the Chelsea boss said.
Earlier this week, he labelled managing the Blues as “the hardest job in football” after a turbulent period that is severely testing owner Todd Boehly’s faith in the former Brighton manager.
Chelsea are languishing in 10th place – 10 points adrift of the top four – after their wretched run extended to one win in their last nine league games.
They have managed just four goals in their last eight games in all competitions and Potter desperately needs a victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday to buy himself at least a little breathing space. “We have got to keep working. There is no other solution. You have to keep working, stay together and try to get the three points,” he insisted.
Chelsea fans’ patience is already wearing thin and losing to sixth-placed neighbours Fulham was another bitter blow to his hopes of avoiding the sack.
It was in keeping with Potter’s misfortune that Felix’s promising debut
“It was a forward’s tackle. There was no malice in it but I understand why it was a red. It is another blow. The hits keep coming at the moment,” Potter added.
The 23-year-old Portuguese Felix, who cost Chelsea a reported €11 million (S$15.7 million) loan fee, is now banned for the next three matches – against Palace, Liverpool and Fulham again in February. AFP
Fulham fans taunted Potter by singing “Stamford Bridge is falling down” and “you’re getting sacked in the morning”.
PHOTO: REUTERS
