Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest: Awoniyi brace moves Garibaldi closer to safety
Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest: Awoniyi brace moves Garibaldi closer to safety Chelsea’s losing run in the Premier League was extended to six games this afternoon, with a 3-1 loss at home to Nottingham Forest, who will now feel they are almost certain to be playing top-flight football again next term. Taiwo Awoniyi opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, heading past Robert Sánchez and into the top corner. The Nigerian then won a penalty for his side just 10 minutes later, which was calmly converted by Igor Jesus.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer missed a penalty of his own at the other end on the stroke of half-time, just his second miss from the spot in the Premier League. Awoniyi found the net again shortly after the break, poking home from close range after being beautifully set up by Morgan Gibbs-White. João Pedro netted a late consolation goal for Chelsea, with an impressive overhead kick.
As It Happened Nottingham Forest fielded a heavily rotated side this afternoon, making eight changes ahead of their vital Europa League trip to Villa Park later this week. Meanwhile, Calum McFarlane handed 18-year-old Jesse Derry his Premier League debut for Chelsea, after the teenager had already made substitute appearances in the FA Cup this season against Hull City and Wrexham. Forest took the lead in the opening two minutes when Awoniyi’s powerful header flew into the top corner off the back of Dilane Bakwa’s cross.
Chelsea went in search of an instant equaliser, but Palmer failed to connect with Enzo Fernández’s ball to the back post. The Argentine came close to drawing the Blues level himself moments later, hitting the post from inside the area. Forest’s Morato picked up the first yellow card after fouling João Pedro.
Anthony Taylor was sent to the VAR monitor after 13 minutes, where he subsequently awarded the visitors a penalty after Malo Gusto pulled Awoniyi back; Gusto was booked for the foul. Jesus stepped up to the spot and calmly passed the ball into the net to double his side’s lead. Palmer flashed the ball wide of the top corner five minutes after the goal, as he looked to get Chelsea back into the game.