Nottingham: Chelsea emerged victorious, 3-2, in a match of much significance for both sides. With two games remaining, Nottingham Forest, although defeated, should still avoid relegation after Luton suffered defeat against West Ham while Chelsea’s hopes of European competition next season remain alive.
Chelsea manager, Mouricio Pochettino, was delighted with the return to fitness of Reece James who came on as a 79th minute substitute and provided an excellent assist for Chelsea’s winning goal, said: “It was massive. We all love him and hopefully he can be fit to have the chance of making the Euros.
“We have one more week to work with him but he’s doing well in the training sessions. There are two big games left so he has time to work.”
With constant speculation on his future, Pochettino insisted he still wants to stay at Chelsea. "I never said I’m not happy. I have one year left (on contract) but I always think long term. We want to make the owners happy, the players happy and of course the fans happy. I’m responsible for that. So, to clarify, if the owner is happy then I think we can continue. There is nothing negative, all positive.”
Chelsea struck early with Cole Palmer the architect of their 8th minute goal. His marvellous pass opened up the Forest defence and Mykhailo Mudryk raced to the ball to finish first time past Matz Sels.
Forest, who had missed a chance before Chelsea scored, didn’t wait long for the equaliser. It came in the 16th minute from a free-kick taken by Morgan Gibbs-White to the far post which Willy Boly headed into the bottom corner.
Chelsea put more pressure on the opposition in the second half but it was the home side that shot into the lead. Prior to that a shot from Gibbs-White hit the post and Chris Wood missed an easy chance from the rebound.
Forest were again unlucky when Callum Hudson-Odoi hit the cross bar but in the 74th minute, their hopes of a possible win were raised with their second goal. This time Hudson-Odoi having received a lovely pass from Gibbs-White, put in a curling right-foot shot which found its way just inside the far corner.
Chelsea pressed hard looking to equalise with much of the action taking place in Forest’s half and parity was restored with ten minutes remaining when Raheem Stirling, on as substitute, slid into the box and drove inside the far post.
A drawn game would not have had much benefit for either side, Chelsea in their quest for Europe and Forest in their aim to ensure Premier League football next season. But just two minutes after the equaliser, James delivered a pin-point cross to the far post for Nicolas Jackson to head into the net.
Forest manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, whose side should be safe from relegation said: “I think it’s not over yet. I have seen things happen in football so we cannot relax yet. I’m disappointed to lose the game and not be able to give our fans a victory. We are frustrated.
“We allowed Chelsea in with bad defending, we were not in the right positions. We switched off and in two minutes the game went away so there were a lot of lessons for us.”
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