Taiwo Awoniyi was the hero of the day as a reshuffled Nottingham Forest side moved closer to Premier League safety, deepening the crisis at Chelsea with a stunning victory. Despite making eight changes to his lineup with one eye on their upcoming Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa, manager Vitor Pereira watched his team dismantle a struggling Chelsea side. The win, powered by an Awoniyi brace and a composed finish from Igor Jesus, gives Forest a vital six-point cushion over the relegation zone.
The afternoon at Stamford Bridge was nothing short of a nightmare for the home side. Chelsea avoided the embarrassment of a sixth consecutive league game without a goal only through a late overhead kick from Joao Pedro, but the result does little to mask their ongoing struggles. The match also marked the first home game for interim coach Calum McFarlane following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, but the optimism from their recent FA Cup success quickly evaporated.
Forest needed only two minutes to stun the home crowd. Dilane Bakwa easily bypassed Marc Cucurella before floating a cross into the box for an unmarked Awoniyi, who headed home with ease. The duo proved to be a constant menace, combining again in the 15th minute to win a penalty after Malo Gusto hauled Awoniyi down in the area. Following a brief VAR review that saw Gusto narrowly escape a red card, Igor Jesus stepped up to bury the spot-kick straight down the middle.
The first half was marred by a series of physical and unfortunate incidents. Chelsea’s 18-year-old debutant, Jesse Derry, won his side a penalty after a heavy head collision with Zach Abbott, which led to a lengthy stoppage as both young players were forced off. However, the chance to claw back into the game was squandered when Cole Palmer saw his low penalty brilliantly saved by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Forest effectively sealed the points early in the second half. Substitute Morgan Gibbs-White delivered a precise low cross that found Awoniyi for a simple tap-in, marking the striker’s second of the afternoon. The game continued to be a gritty affair, with Gibbs-White himself later being forced off with a bandaged head following a collision with Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez.
While Joao Pedro’s spectacular late effort finally ended Chelsea’s 550-minute league goal drought, it was far too little, too late. The result leaves Chelsea languishing in ninth place, ten points away from the Champions League spots they targeted at the start of the season. For Nottingham Forest, the victory represents a massive psychological and mathematical boost in their fight to remain in the top flight.
