Cole urges frustrated Chelsea fans to be patient with under-fire Potter

Joe Cole has urged the Chelsea faithful to be patient with under-pressure boss Graham Potter.

The former Brighton manager, who was only appointed last September, is feeling the heat after his side's poor run continued last night with a 2-1 defeat at Fulham.

Loan signing Joao Felix was sent off on his debut for a rash challenge on Kenny Tete as the Blues slipped to their third successive loss and seventh in 10 games in all competitions.

The result at Craven Cottage also left them 10th in the Premier League, 19 points behind leaders Arsenal having played a game more.

But Cole wants his former club's fans to stick behind the manager and players as they work to turn the corner. 

The BT Sport pundit, 41, said: "He needs time. We saw a little bit of frustration creeping in here with the fans but they've just got to understand there's been so much change.

"The club has been so stable in its own unique way over the last 20-odd years and been successful. 

"But the new owners have come in and are changing things behind the scenes. They have got new ideas about everything at the club.

"I think Graham's acquitted himself very well. He's got a whole team that would finish comfortably in the top five or six out injured.

"You have to keep going and the fans should stick with him and the players. I believe we've seen enough little sparks of Chelsea to know the results will turn."

Chelsea frequently changed manager under previous owner Roman Abramovich but Cole would like to see Potter given time to embed a structure.

The former England star, a three-time Premier League winner with the Blues, added: "There's a whole generation of fans that don't usually get this long before there is a change but this is not the way forward.

"This is not what Chelsea have to do. To go and catch Manchester City there needs to be structure, there needs to be foundations and Graham's job is to put all the foundations in. 

"He is the man to steer it in my opinion. It's a really tough time but there is no need to panic."