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Debut hell for Felix as Fulham pile pressure on Potter

Joao Felix was sent off for a rash challenge on Fulham's Kenny Tete
Joao Felix was sent off for a rash challenge on Fulham's Kenny Tete

Chelsea's Joao Felix endured a nightmare debut when he was sent off in a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Fulham to increase the pressure on manager Graham Potter.

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The Portugal forward looked sharp one day after completing a loan move from Atletico Madrid but he was shown a straight red card in the 58th minute for a reckless tackle on Fulham defender Kenny Tete when the score was 1-1.

Fulham made the most of the man advantage when Brazilian forward Carlos Vinicius, standing in for the club's suspended top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, put the hosts back in front in the 73rd minute with a clever header.

Former Chelsea winger Willian had put Marco Silva's side in front in the first half with a deflected shot but Potter's side levelled early in the second half through a scrappy goal from close range by defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

Carlos Vinicius scores Fulham's match-winning goal

Kai Havertz had a late chance to equalise with a stinging effort but Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was equal to it and Marco Silva's side saw out the win to climb above Liverpool and up to sixth in the Premier League standings on 31 points after 19 games.

Chelsea, who fell to their eighth league defeat this season and their third consecutive loss in all competitions, are 10th in the table on 25 points.

Fulham boss Marco Silva was pleased his side won despite him feeling they played below their standards.

Silva told BT Sport: "I am pleased with the first half. The second half was not at our level.

"This is a really good thing that we can take as a group - even though the second half we didn't perform at our best level we were able to win a football match against a top side, even if they are in a bad run.

"They are Chelsea and everyone knows what that means - top-quality players with a great manager."

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