The Blues put in a determined performance away at Fulham, facing a challenging outing. Despite chances for both sides, we went into the break level at 0-0.

Head coach Hassan Sulaiman made a handful of tactical changes to try to spark a breakthrough, but a second-half penalty from Tom Wingate proved to be the difference.

As we pushed for an equaliser in stoppage time, we were reduced to 10 men. Although it was a narrow defeat, it provided valuable lessons as we head into the final stretch of the season, with two league games remaining.

Early signs of grit

It was a wet afternoon at Motspur Park and Chelsea’s Under-18s started brightly, showing early promise. Joseph Wheeler-Henry combined well with Frankie Runham down the wing, immediately causing problems for Fulham’s defence.

However, it was the home side who created the first real opening of the match, when Fulham broke quickly through Aidan Evans driving into space before firing a low shot at goal. Chelsea’s towering defender Olutayo Subuloye reacted swiftly, blocking the initial strike, but Evans stayed alert and met the rebound with a powerful header that cannoned off the crossbar - much to the Blues' relief.

The momentum quickly shifted as Chelsea responded with chances of our own. Wheeler-Henry used his pace to get free of his marker, charge into the box, cut inside and unleash a fierce shot. Fulham's Jonathan Esenga made a crucial block, denying what seemed like a certain goal.

Moments later, Runham tested Fulham again. He latched onto a perfectly weighted through-ball from Ollie Harrison and fired a shot from just outside the box, only for the strike to fly narrowly over the bar. The Blues were starting to find our rhythm.

As the match settled, Chelsea began to dominate possession and dictate the tempo of this London derby. However, the hosts remained dangerous on the counter. Alfie White broke down the flank with pace and precision, cutting the ball back to the ever-dangerous Evans, who fired over the bar.

Fulham continued to press, with White again involved. He weaved into the penalty area and drilled a low shot towards goal, but it narrowly missed the target, saving Blues keeper Freddy Bernal from danger.

As the first half neared its end, the young Blues were forced to work hard defensively. Both teams showed glimpses of quality, but lacked the final product in front of goal.

Yahya Idrissi provided a moment of flair, drifting into the area with quick footwork that put the Fulham defence under pressure. The home side stood firm, staying compact and composed to prevent him from getting a clean shot away.

Fulham had the final effort before the interval when Macauley Zepa struck powerfully at goal. Bernal reacted brilliantly, diving to make a crucial save and ensure both teams went into the break goalless, still searching for a breakthrough.

The second half began at a quicker tempo, as both teams emerged with renewed energy and a clear determination to break the deadlock. It was Fulham who created the first real threat, Zepa charging forward and curling a powerful shot from outside the box that flew inches wide of the post.

Not long after, the Blues thought we had finally taken the lead. Striker Chizaram Ezenwata pressed high, closing down a Fulham backpass. The ball deflected off him and looped toward the open net, catching keeper Dino Kaiser off his line. It looked destined to go in, only to cruelly bounce just wide of the post.

Another chance soon followed. Gordon sprinted down the flank and delivered a perfectly placed cutback cross. Ezenwata rose to meet it with a thumping header, but Logan Cooke was quick to react, making a vital goal-line clearance to deny us the opener.

Frustration hits

As we started to gain momentum, a setback hit. Fulham won a free-kick and sent it into a crowded penalty area. In the ensuing chaos, Evans went down as Bernal rushed off his line to punch the ball clear, and the referee pointed to the spot. Wingate stepped up and converted, squeezing the ball past Bernal’s outstretched hand and into the net to put the home side ahead.

We responded with determination. Midfielder Walter Nutter stepped up to take a free-kick, striking it cleanly as it whipped over the wall and bodies in the box, only to lift just over the crossbar.

Substitute Hezekiah Grimwade brought fresh intensity to the flank, sending a dangerous cross into the box. Gordon leaped highest to meet it with a powerful header, but Kaiser was quick to claim it.

As we pushed for an equaliser in the final minutes of stoppage time, another setback struck. Substitute Lewi Richards was shown a straight red card for a high-footed challenge for a 50-50 ball, leaving us with 10 men for the remainder of the match.

Despite our best efforts, Fulham held firm to claim all three points in the midweek clash, leaving us to slip to second place in the Under-18 Premier League table.

What's next

Chelsea Under-18s are back in league action on Saturday 26 April, when we host Norwich City at 11am, in our final home game of the season. The match will be available to stream live on the official Chelsea website and app.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Freddy Bernal; Joseph Wheeler-Henry, Olutayo Subuloye, Jacob Hall, Harry McGlinchey; Ollie Harrison (c), Walter Nutter (Dante Waite 86), Frankie Runham; Yahya Idrissi (Hezekiah Grimwade h-t), Chizaram Ezenwata (Andrew Pennie 69), Sol Gordon (Lewi Richards 86)
Unused sub: Hudson Sands
Booked: McGlinchey 44
Sent off: Richards 90+2

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Dino Kaiser, Zazim Benchaita, Bradley Slade, Seth Chingwaro, Logan Cooke, Jonathan Esenga, Macauley Zepa, Jayden Quashie (Bashil Lubega h-t), Tom Wingate, Alfie White (Ruban Khan 69), Aidan Evans
Unused subs: Quinn Schutter, Dylan Deagle, Brodie Dair
Scorer: Wingate pen 72
Booked: Evans 74