Chelsea 1-3 Nottm Forest (May 4, 2026) Game Analysis

Chelsea’s season plunged to a dispiriting new low as Nottingham Forest gained 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to sentence them to a sixth consecutive Premier League defeat.

It had already been the membership’s worst run of league kind since 1912 however simply when it regarded like there have been no contemporary crises left to go to them, Forest’s second-string XI arrived in west London and blitzed Chelsea with two targets by Taiwo Awoniyi — the primary after 98 seconds — and a penalty from Igor Jesusas Vitor Pereira’s facet moved six factors away from the relegation zone.

The Blues’ five-game scoring drought had reached nearly six, far past the purpose of credibility, by the point Joao Pedro’s stoppage-time overhead kick gave them their first league aim since March 4.

The ridiculousness of that run had earlier been laid naked when Cole Palmer had a first-half penalty saved by stand-in goalkeeper Matz Sels.

Visiting supporters within the Shed End might have been forgiven for barely recognizing their group. The seven outfield gamers introduced in by Pereira, a transfer made likely with Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg in thoughts, had 11 league begins this season between them, but it surely was Chelsea who appeared like strangers to 1 one other.

Interim head coach Calum McFarlane had seen his fingers nearly tied by late accidents to Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnachothat means a primary Premier League begin for 18-year-old Jesse Derry. As if issues might get no worse, {the teenager} required oxygen and was stretched off with a critical head harm late within the first half after colliding with Forest’s Zach Abbott.

Chelsea had been mess all through. After solely 90 seconds they gave the ball away at their very own throw-in then afforded Forest far an excessive amount of time in possession in midfield. The ball was labored huge on the appropriate to Dilane Bakwawho nipped spherical Marc Cucurella with ease and crossed for Awoniyi unmarked six yards out to nod it house.

They went two down after quarter-hour. Bakwa it was once more with the cross, and because it came to visit, Bad Taste had a transparent maintain of Awoniyi’s shirt. Anthony Taylor was referred to as pitchside and awarded a penalty from which Jesus went straight down the center.

It had been a hopeless first half, but it surely ended on a notice of significant concern. A Chelsea nook was allowed to bounce contained in the field, and as Derry and Abbott each went for it there was a sickening conflict of heads. The Forest participant, making solely his second league begin, left the sphere unassisted however Chelsea’s teenage debutant required intensive remedy on the pitch earlier than being eliminated on a stretcher.

– More: Chelsea’s Jesse Derry given oxygen, stretched off after collision

When performed resumed nearly 10 minutes later, Palmer’s penalty was saved by Sels.

There was a primary look of the season too for Levi Colwillagain after struggling an anterior cruciate ligament harm in August, on on the break to try to restore some order to the chaos.

Instead, the nightmare carried on getting worse. Seven minutes into the second half, Awoniyi was there on the tip of Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross, narrowly staying onside to faucet in from two yards out.

Robert Sanchez He was compelled off injured with a bandage spherical his bleeding head following a collision with Gibbs-White.

Pedro’s beautiful end on the finish drew ironic cheers from the small variety of Chelsea followers who had stayed.