da fezbet: The Blues staged an impressive fightback, with two of their substitutes making significant contributions late on in the 3-2 win
da esport bet: Chelsea always seem to do things the hard way. It took them until the final 10 minutes of the game to finally start playing against Nottingham Forest, ultimately showing impressive character to turn what looked as if it was going to be a defeat into all three points.
It was the Blues who started on the front foot – Mykhailo Mudryk giving the visitors the lead after eight minutes, darting inside Willy Boly in the box before sliding the ball past Matz Sels. It didn't last long, though, with Boly heading home via a deflection off Conor Gallagher to level things up.
The hosts, needing a point to secure their Premier League survival, went ahead after 74 minutes as Callum Hudson-Odoi tormented his former club by cutting inside and bending an effort past Djordje Petrovic in the Chelsea goal.
The game then went a bit bonkers, with the Blues scoring twice in quick succession, through substitute Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson – who had had a nightmare 81 minutes until his goal, put on a plate for him by the returning Reece James – to stage an impressive late comeback and keep their European qualification hopes very much alive.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from the City Ground…
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Djordje Petrovic (6/10):
Big save inside two minutes as Chris Wood tried to lob him. Not his fault for either Forest goal.
Trevoh Chalobah (5/10):
Struggled to cope with the dangerous Hudson-Odoi and offered very little going forward after being given the nod at right-back. Moved inside when Gusto came on.
Thiago Silva (7/10):
A typically assured and solid performance from the Brazilian centre-back, who came out on top in his battle with Wood. Unlucky not to score as he glanced a clever header against the post in the second half.
Benoit Badiashile (5/10):
Got caught out inside two minutes by Wood's run in behind him but settled into the game after that. Sacrificed for Gusto as Pochettino attempted to deal with the growing threat posed by Hudson-Odoi.
Marc Cucurella (5/10):
Was deployed in an inverted full-back role but wasn't particularly effective, either in defence or attack.
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Moises Caicedo (5/10):
Allowed Morgan Gibbs-White to nick the ball off him and race away to set-up Hudson-Odoi for Forest's second goal. Had been okay until that point.
Conor Gallagher (5/10):
Forest fans wanted him sent off for dragging down Hudson-Odoi but Cucurella's position ultimately saved him. A pretty ineffective display from the Chelsea captain.
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Noni Madueke (4/10):
Struggled to get into the game as ex-Chelsea defender Ola Aina marshalled him well. Hooked before the hour mark as Pochettino had seen enough.
Cole Palmer (7/10):
Claimed the assist for Mudryk's opener with a delightful through ball that cut right through the Forest backline. Looked a threat throughout.
Mykhailo Mudryk (6/10):
Started the game superbly well as he showed supreme composure to give Chelsea the lead. Faded after that, though, and was a passenger before eventually coming off for Sterling.
Nicolas Jackson (6/10):
Ran down blind alleys on multiple occasions in the first half and was at fault for the Forest goal, as he didn't bother following Boly's run. Headed into an empty net for the winner to save his bacon somewhat.
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Malo Gusto (5/10):
Came on for Badiashile after 58 minutes but couldn't stop Hudson-Odoi from cutting inside and bending his effort into the far corner. Wasted a huge chance to score a fourth in stoppage time.
Christopher Nkunku (6/10):
Replaced the ineffective Madueke just before the hour mark and took up a No.10 role. Didn't manage to impact the game as much as he'd have liked.
Raheem Sterling (7/10):
Brought on for Mudryk with about 15 minutes to go and made an immediate impact, scoring the equaliser with a jinking run inside and smart finish into the corner.
Reece James (7/10):
A welcome return to action – his first appearance since December 2023 and his pinpoint cross left Jackson with the simple task of scoring the winner.
Mauricio Pochettino (7/10):
Changed the game with his substitutions after realising his starting XI weren't up to the job. Is helping inspire a recovery at the end of the season and clearly deserves more time to put things right.