Newcastle
why Chelsea suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League
FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE – Chelsea will head into the September international break off the back of a loss after succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
why Chelsea suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League
The Blues were routinely frustrated at a sunny Stamford Bridge on Saturday and were unable to breach a resilient Forest backline, and they were punished for their profligacy as Anthony Elanga finished off a counter early in the second half to seal the win.
Steve Cooper’s men won just once on their travels last season and have already equalled that tally three away matches into the new campaign.
How the game unfolded
With just over a minute on the clock, Chelsea nearly took the lead. Ben Chilwell’s low cross looked destined to be tapped in by Raheem Sterling, but former Blue Ola Aina made a brilliant recovery challenge to deny the in-form forward.
Midway through the first half, Sterling inversely attempted to pick out Chilwell with a similar scything ball through the box, but the makeshift winger was unable to get a clean touch on it and Forest were let off the hook.
Forest’s first real chance came soon after when Chelsea failed to deal with a high free-kick into the box. The ball fell kindly to Taiwo Awoniyi from six yards out, but he blazed a half-volley agonisingly over.
The visitors created more havoc from another set piece shortly afterwards, with Awoniyi holding off Thiago Silva and coming up with an acrobatic overhead kick which bounced narrowly wide of the post.
Within minutes of the second half starting, Forest took the lead. Moises Caicedo’s loose touch was pounced upon by Orel Mangala and Ryan Yates, with the ball then falling for Awoniyi to roll into the path of substitute Elanga, and he rolled it beyond Robert Sanchez into the far corner.
Chelsea wanted a penalty when Matt Turner clattered into Nicolas Jackson, and though the goalkeeper did make contact, the Senegalese striker had strayed offside and the flag was raised.
With ten minutes to go, the Blues should have been level. Sterling did well to round Joe Worrall and tee up Jackson, who poked the ball over from mere yards out while stretching to make contact.
Deep into eight minutes of stoppage time, Sterling flashed a shot across the face of goal to the relief of the travelling fans in the Shed End, with Forest clinging on to claim a first win at Chelsea since 1995.
