The final whistle was greeted with huge cheers around a passionate City Ground as Serge Aurier’s equalizer saw Nottingham Forest move level with 17th, but Chelsea’s status under Graham Potter remains being the subject of debate after they let slip a lead established by Raheem Sterling’s opener.
Chelsea have won just once, against Bournemouth on Tuesday, in seven league games as they enter a critical week in which they play Manchester City twice. Presumably Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly wasn’t on his mind when he hired Potter from the former to replace Thomas Tuchel as head coach in September. Perhaps next Sunday’s visit to the Etihad in the FA Cup third round represents a better route to success this season than Thursday’s Premier League game against the champions.
That Chelsea managed an effort on goal, off target, in the second half is a strong indictment of an array of attacking talent against a Forest side that deserved their point for a dogged and bloody mind. If Morgan Gibbs-White’s second-half shot against the crossbar had bounced over the line, Steve Cooper’s side would have deserved victory as they extended their unbeaten home run to six games.
Potter admitted: “Our performance level was not good enough to take the three points. We didn’t move the ball fast enough, [there was] not enough movement.”
Tottenham’s home defeat to Aston Villa had given Chelsea a reprieve before kick-off, although the top four remain seven points adrift. With France defender Benoît Badiashile awaiting a medical before confirming his £32.7m move from Monaco, nobody could accuse Chelsea of resting on their laurels and after quarter of an hour he had moved forward and appeared to be in control.
Christian Pulisic played a good one-two with Mason Mount down the left flank before cutting back onto his right foot. He fired in a devilish cross towards Kai Havertz at the near post where Willy Boly inadvertently flicked the ball against the far end of the crossbar.
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Condemns Nottingham Forest fans’ homophobic chant
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Nottingham Forest are investigating reports of homophobic chants by some of their supporters during Sunday’s Premier League game against Chelsea.
Chelsea’s official LGBTQ+ supporters’ group tweeted towards the end of the first half to “totally condemn” the chant it said could be heard at the City Ground, during a match which was shown live on Sky Sports.
Forest said in a statement shortly after full-time: “The club is aware of reports of chants directed at Chelsea supporters by a minority of fans tonight and does not condone any type of discriminatory or offensive behaviour. L ‘matter will be investigated’.
Chelsea Pride’s earlier tweet read: “We totally condemn the Chelsea Rent Boy chant that can be heard at the City Ground. Time to say it, the game is live on @SkySportsPL Now classed as a hate crime” .
Forest’s LGBTQ+ group said it was ashamed and embarrassed by the abuse and apologized on behalf of those responsible. A tweet from LGBTQ+ Trickies read: “To all genuine #NFFC fans please accept our apologies, we not only hope @NottPolFootball will do their best to take action but we hope @NFFC issues a statement of condolence. [sic] this and take the necessary measures. We are embarrassed and ashamed.” Average AP
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With Dean Henderson struggling to regain ground, Sterling had the easiest of invitations to lean back and half-volley the ball into the net. It was his ninth goal in 12 away games against promoted sides and, more pertinently, Potter’s first in the Premier League.
Forest, poor in their 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on Tuesday, had just 20 per cent of possession in the first half but plenty of passion as they looked for a way back into the game. Even before he slotted in, Gibbs-White, back from a calf injury, had played Brennan Johnson through the middle and Kepa Arrizabalaga was relieved to save his left-footed shot on the rebound.
Chelsea had responded to Reece James’ injury setback by recalling César Azpilicueta at right-back, with Denis Zakaria retaining his place in central midfield after making his Premier League debut against Bournemouth. With Chelsea trying to sign World Cup winner Enzo Fernández from Benfica, this was a chance for the Swiss midfielder to make his mark.
He almost did, ahead of Ryan Yates, as the pair tired and collided in the first half. The Forest vice-captain was booked for pulling his man down, but Zakaria was lucky to escape punishment as he closed his fist to Yates and patted his head.
Raheem Sterling gives Chelsea the lead in the first half. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters
The City Ground became even more of a bear pit in the second half as Forest found their straps. Gibbs-White showed his poise and vision when he burst onto Orel Mangala’s short pass and played the perfect through ball behind Azpilicueta for Johnson to pounce and drive home, Arrizabalaga saving well .
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When Yates pulled a ball back for Gibbs-White to smash a shot from the edge of the area against the underside of the crossbar, the decibel levels rose to 11. Sure enough, an equalizer followed shortly after Potter replaced Zakaria with Mateo. Kovacic felt the momentum of the game was slipping away from him.
From Gibbs-White’s corner to the near post, Havertz’s weak header was met by Boly for Aurier to chest, turn and volley home his first goal for Forest. If this was a goal conceived in Ivory Coast, it was forged in the furnace of Forest’s fire.
Cooper acknowledged the importance of the home crowd to Forest. “They’re brilliant,” he said. “We hear it every week. We won’t take it for granted. We have to keep gaining that support.”
Potter stepped up to stem the flood with a triple change, introducing Conor Gallagher, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and sure enough those fresh legs slowed Forest down. There was a sense that this was a well earned point for Cooper’s team.
With nine minutes remaining, Aubameyang should have done better than jump – perhaps drop would be a better word – to nod home Ziyech’s cross from inside the six-yard box. For Chelsea, this looked like more than two points lost.