Noni Madueke was suspended by Enzo Maresca for Chelsea's first Premier League defeat since October, with the Blues boss making an example of the 22-year-old England international.
Madueke was not injured as the winger missed the squad here, and Maresca instead named a bench with two goalkeepers and a couple of academy graduates.
He used just one substitute, replacing Nicolas Jackson with Christopher Nkunku, as Fulham won at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 45 years.
Maresca has not yet explained exactly why he dropped Madueke, but he has previously criticized the Englishman for not training properly between matches.
After axing him from the squad for their Premier League win over Aston Villa earlier this month, Maresca told us: 'He can do a lot more. The moment he starts to score or assist and is happy, he starts to fall.
“The reason he didn't play is because I don't like the way he trained.”
Maresca also scored after a Conference League match with Servette at the start of the season, saying at the time: 'I really like Noni. Probably the only problem with him is understanding that he has to be consistent during the week.”
Maresca also suggested that this derby defeat to Fulham was proof of why Chelsea are not in the title race with Liverpool and Arsenal this season.
The Blues awkwardly conceded twice in the 82nd and 95th minutes as Fulham came from behind to win.
“It's more the feeling we have inside and the reality we have inside that allows us to do better,” Maresca said. “One of the things is game management.”
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