Chelsea’s hopes of securing a top-five end within the Premier League have been ended on Monday as they put in a shameful efficiency in shedding 3-1 to Nottingham Forest. Cole Palmer missed from the penalty spot because the Blues’ run of league defeats stretched to 6 video games, that means their hopes of securing Champions League qualification for subsequent season cling by the best of threads.
Forest made eight modifications forward of the second leg of their Europa League semi-final towards Aston Villa on Thursday, making Chelsea heavy favourites to assert victory, however the Blues fell behind after simply 98 seconds when Taiwo Awoniyi headed in on the again submit from Dilane Bakwa’s cross.
Enzo Fernandez hit the submit as Chelsea seemed for an instantaneous response, however they as an alternative discovered themselves 2-0 down earlier than the quarter-hour mark after Malo Gusto was penalised for pulling again Awoniyi within the penalty space, and Igor Jesus made no mistake from the spot.
Calum McFarlane’s aspect have been handed a golden alternative to tug one again proper on half-time after a sickening conflict of heads between Zach Abbott and Jesse Derry led to Chelsea being awarded a penalty. Nevertheless, after a 12-minute stoppage whereas Premier League debutant Derry was tended to by medics earlier than being stretchered off, Palmer had his spot-kick saved by Matz Sels.
Extra distress adopted after the break as Awoniyi netted his second of the sport after substitute Morgan Gibbs-White bought in behind the Chelsea defence and laid it on a plate for Forest’s No.9 to faucet residence.
Joao Pedro did have a possible comfort dominated out by VAR for offside whereas Palmer was once more denied by Sels earlier than Chelsea lastly broke their nine-hour league aim drought in stoppage time as Pedro produced an outstanding overhead kick that flew into the online. They continue to be ninth within the desk, nevertheless, with their hopes of securing any form of European soccer by way of their ending place dwindling.
GOAL charges Chelsea’s gamers from Stamford Bridge…
