Harry Wilson had the game’s first opportunity within 90 seconds of proceedings but saw his rushed shot saved by Robert Sanchez.
It didn’t take the Blues too long to start making their own mark, with Liam Rosenior watching from the stands as Enzo Fernandez’s corner was awkwardly punched away by Bernd Leno.
Fulham still tried to come forward, as Wilson saw another shot saved and a Tom Cairney effort was blocked.
Another Fernandez corner then caused even more chaos as Andrey Santos hit the crossbar before Sander Berge blocked Moises Caicedo’s shot on the line.
There was a major blow for the Blues after one disappointing corner, though, as Leno got the ball forward and Marc Cucurella was sent off just 22 minutes into his return from injury for pulling down Wilson after the Welshman had got behind him.
A Chelsea trio and Marco Silva were booked for dissent in the aftermath, but there was no further damage as Wilson’s free-kick and Raul Jimenez’s follow-up were blocked.
The game’s highly competitive nature remained as the half continued, although the teams remained level going into the break as Wilson’s stoppage-time goal was ruled out due to Jimenez being offside in the build-up.
Silva showed intent by bringing Kevin on for Jorge Cuenca ahead of the restart, and the usual suspect asked a question with Wilson’s strike spinning agonisingly wide after taking a deflection off Trevoh Chalobah.
Jorrel Hato headed over from a corner at the other end, but Jimenez was far more clinical with his header moments later as the striker powered Berge’s cross into the bottom corner.
Kevin then fizzed a shot into the side netting before Leno got a hand to Liam Delap’s attempted dink, held Caicedo’s venomous strike, and stopped Palmer’s effort with an outstretched boot.
Chelsea eventually equalised through Delap in the 72nd minute, as Antonnee Robinson flicked Pedro Neto’s corner onto the post and the striker responded to convert.
But not to be denied, the Cottagers were back ahead within nine minutes as Wilson picked up the ball on the edge of the box and finished despite a slight deflection off James.
That timely strike was enough to see Fulham go a sixth consecutive PL match unbeaten, climbing to eighth in the table as a result. They now trail sixth-placed Chelsea on goal difference alone, and the Blues’ misery will be compounded by being overtaken by Brentford following their fifth match in a row without tasting victory.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Wilson (Fulham)
Catch-up with the match on Flashscore.
