Joao Felix's start to life at Chelsea did not go as everyone associated would have hoped for. The 23-year-old was sent off by referee David Coote in the 58th minute after a dangerous challenge on Kenny Tete.
Felix's dismissal came at the worst possible time for Chelsea after Denis Zakaria was forced off injured moments earlier. Fulham went on to win the game courtesy of Carlos Vinicius's header past Kepa Arrizabalaga to pile more pressure onto Graham Potter.
Speaking after the defeat, Potter defended Felix's intentions with the challenge but admitted he understood Coote's decision.
READ MORE: Former Premier League referee explains why Joao Felix was sent off on Chelsea debut vs Fulham
"It was a reaction from the side and it was a forward's tackle," Potter said. "There was no malice. I understand the sending off. It is another blow. I thought he was good, you could see his quality in the game, so it is a double disappointment for us."
The defeat compounds Chelsea's misery in 2023. Since the turn of the year, the Blues have played four games and failed to win one, scoring only two goals. They remain in 10th place, 10 points off the top four, with any hopes of bringing Champions League back to Stamford Bridge gradually receding.
Felix's red card now means he'll miss the next three Premier League games, leaving Potter with another selection headache for the remainder of January. Here are the fixtures that the Portugal international will miss:
Crystal Palace (H) - Sunday January 15
Liverpool (A) - Saturday January 21
Fulham (H) - Friday February 3
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