Before the match, there were rumours that Vitor Pereira, the manager of Nottingham Forest, who are in danger of relegation, had taken a tremendous risk by starting a backup team against Chelsea and resting his best players for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa.
The second team, however, was more than capable. In this disastrous 3-1 loss, Chelsea were so awful that Forest’s third team would have likely won as well. Additionally, I would have supported Forest to defeat this awful rabble in blue if they had a fourth team. Chelsea was that awful. It was the most muted and silent Stamford Bridge I have ever heard.
I fear that this is what happens when a club’s five sporting directors and two co-owners are so inept, incompetent, and confused that they fire Liam Rosenior and give their final chance to qualify for the Champions League—a prize worth over £100 million—to a new temporary manager who hasn’t even finished his coaching badges.
Calum McFarlane was not at fault for what transpired at Stamford Bridge, but it was embarrassing to see a group of overpaid, overentitled superstars give in. They appeared to prefer being on a beach, wearing Real Madrid shirts, speeding down the hard shoulder of the A3, or telling their barber the team lineup. There isn’t another term for it.
Chelsea was left in ninth place after the loss, four points behind sixth place, which theoretically could still earn them a Champions League spot. On this display, they have no chance of earning that. They are undeserving of it.
Since defeating West Ham on January 31st, they have not triumphed at home in the league. They had not even scored in the league for two months until Joao Pedro’s incredible overhead kick deep in extra time. What their owners have done to a once-proud club should make them feel ashamed.
Nottingham Forest defeated Chelsea 3-1 on Monday thanks to two goals from Taiwo Awoniyi (left).
The outcome exacerbates Chelsea’s problems, since they have dropped their last six Premier League games.
Awoniyi’s header at Stamford Bridge gave Forest the lead after just two minutes.
It was an unrestrained victory for Pereira and Forest. With this easy victory, his club is now six points ahead of West Ham United, who are in the top spot for relegation. Additionally, Forest has a far better goal differential. After seven league games, they are currently undefeated. In essence, they are safe.
Morgan Gibbs-White, who had been left out of the starting lineup but had entered at halftime, suffered an injury in the second half, which was the only stain on their landscape. He was brought off the pitch, bandaged and covered in blood, after a horrifying collision with Chelsea custodian Robert Sanchez. There must be some doubt about his participation on Thursday.
Forest took the lead after 97 seconds, defying all the criticism directed at Pereira for making eight changes from Forest’s last game. After easily defeating Marc Cucurella down the right, Dilane Bakwa crossed to the back post, where Taiwo Awoniyi rose between two Chelsea defenders and headed the ball beyond Robert Sanchez.
Ten minutes later, Malo Gusto pushed Awoniyi back as he attempted to grab on to a cross from Bakwa’s right, further damaging Chelsea’s hopes of making an instant comeback. Enzo Fernandez had hit the post with a looping shot.
VAR requested that referee Anthony Taylor examine the incident and award a penalty. Awoniyi confidently tucked the penalty past Sanchez. Within fifteen minutes, Forest’s second string was ahead 2-0.
Forest still appeared to be the more threatening team when they attacked, but Chelsea progressively improved—it would have been difficult not to. Furthermore, Chelsea’s defence continued to appear incompetent. James McAtee went onto it completely unmarked as they worked him a straightforward short corner. A third goal was just stopped by a deflection off his own player.
Chelsea became desperate. As the ball was out of play, Joao Pedro jinked his way into the box and made an obvious dive. Then, when Mr. Taylor disregarded his appeals with the contempt they deserved, he had the audacity to complain.
In the fifteenth minute, Igor Jesus (right) extended the visitors’ lead from the penalty spot.
Following an unintentional collision with Zach Abbott, Jesse Derry had a concerning head injury.
Chelsea suffered a setback before halftime when Cole Palmer (left) saw his penalty saved by Matz Sels.
Before their teenage winger, Jesse Derry, who was making his maiden league start, went up and risked his life, Chelsea were unable to create a significant opportunity. Zach Abbott and Derry fought for a header in the box, and as their heads collided, Derry was rendered unconscious.
Mr Taylor gave a penalty kick, but the next ten minutes were spent worrying about Derry, who was being treated by Chelsea medics while lying motionless on the pitch. The Forest supporters behind the goal cheered Derry on as he was hoisted onto a stretcher.
After Sels had saved his initial attempt, Joao Pedro headed the ball in from close range eighteen minutes from time, giving Chelsea the impression that they had recovered a goal. However, Chelsea did not have a good day. Joao Pedro was slightly offside, according to VAR.
Derry was eventually taken off the pitch while wearing an oxygen mask. Abbott also needed to be replaced. He looked as though he had a concussion. Palmer took the penalty after Liam Delap replaced Derry. Matz Sels, the forest keeper, made the proper assumption, dove to his right, and saved it.
In 20 Premier League attempts, Palmer has only missed two penalties. This is also a broader question. Can Thomas Tuchel, who was present at Stamford Bridge, truly lead Palmer to the World Cup when his form is this awful? That question would have been heretical a year ago. No more.
At halftime, Forest substituted Gibbs-White and Anderson, who both instantly looked superior to Chelsea’s uninterested players. Anderson was everywhere in the Chelsea midfield. He made them appear worn out and uninteresting.
Forest had a three-point lead seven minutes after the interval. Gibbs-White slid a low cross to the back post after Anderson released him on the right, and Awoniyi raced in to stab it home. Replays revealed that Awoniyi was behind the ball when it was played, notwithstanding Chelsea’s offside protest.
With this close-range goal on minute fifty-two, Awoniyi increased Forest’s lead after halftime.
Morgan Gibbs-White (left) and Robert Sanchez got into another heated argument.
With this bicycle kick in second-half stoppage time, Joao Pedro gave Chelsea a comeback.
Then there was another horrifying collision in the game. After just 20 minutes on the pitch, Gibbs-White pursued a through pass, Sanchez attempted to clear it, and the two men collapsed onto the ground.
Once more, the course of treatment was lengthy. Bandaged and covered in blood, Gibbs-White was brought off the pitch, raising doubts about his availability for the match against Villa.
Joao Pedro scored a spectacular consolation goal in the game’s final moments after receiving a header from Cucurella on his chest with his back to goal. Pedro then executed a stunning overhead kick that soared past Sels.
In stark contrast to the garbage Chelsea had created for the remainder of the afternoon, it was a stunning goal.
