Chelsea had been held to a draw by a dogged Nottingham Forest on Sunday as Noni Madueke’s strike earned the Blues a degree.
Chris Wooden’s scrambled end had put Nuni Espirito Santo’s facet forward early within the second half however Madueke introduced the hosts degree earlier than James Ward-Prowse was despatched off for 2 bookable offences.
Chelsea tried to make the participant benefit depend however could not, bringing their run of 5 straight wins in all competitions to an finish.
How the sport unfolded
A lot-changed from the Europa League win towards Gent on Thursday, Chelsea made an honest begin with Noni Madueke typically getting the higher of Alex Moreno however missing any substantial finish product to enrich his sharp dribbling.
As a substitute Forest, who had misplaced solely certainly one of their six league video games previous to kick-off, restricted the Blues’ creativity and gave them little time on the ball, with Cole Palmer on the periphary of occasions for a lot of the primary half.
A few yellow playing cards had been dished out to Moises Caicedo and James Ward-Prowse earlier than the primary actual piece of goalmouth motion. Murillo strode ahead and made area for a thunderous shot, nevertheless it was central sufficient for Robert Sanchez to parry it away to security.
The primary 45 minutes had been largely drab however did no less than decide up earlier than the referee’s half-time whistle. Madueke as soon as once more acquired to the byline and located Palmer, however the ball was nipped off his toes and thru the scramble of gamers to hit the put up.
Forest had executed Nuno Espirito Santo’s away day gameplan to perfection earlier than beginning the second half with a bang.
James Ward-Prowse’s dead-ball supply was flicked on by Nikola Milenkovic and Wooden was within the excellent place to prod past Robert Sanchez and put the guests forward. Immediately the gauntlet had been thrown all the way down to Chelsea, who had not misplaced within the Premier League since an opening-day defeat to Manchester Metropolis.
Santo’s facet went shut once more quickly after, with Elliot Anderson taking pictures straight at Sanchez within the field. It regarded like they had been looking a second objective, however as a substitute Chelsea discovered area to equalise earlier than the hour mark.
Madueke had been troublesome to include all recreation and eventually put all of it collectively to tug his crew degree, gathering Palmer’s cross and discovering the far nook after reducing inside.
The match swung firmly in Chelsea’s favour for the ultimate 12 minutes of regular time when Ward-Prowse noticed purple. The previous West Ham United midfielder was caught floundering in possession and had to make use of his palms to stop a Chelsea breakaway, leading to a second reserving.
That gave the Blues a bonus however Forest nonetheless proved a troublesome nut to crack, with goalkeeper Matz Sels leaping like a cat to disclaim Palmer twice within the area of some seconds.
13 minutes of second-half stoppage time made Chelsea favourites to say the factors late on and substitute Joao Felix got here closest first, planting a golden alternative broad with an inaccurate header.
Two extra possibilities arrived shortly as Neco Williams wriggled into the field and introduced Sanchez into motion. Mykhailo Mudryk ran straight up the opposite finish and picked out Christopher Nkunku completely, however the Frenchman headed too centrally as Sels made the save.
Forest could effectively have nicked all of the factors when Jota Silva flicked a header goalwards, however Sanchez sprung throughout his line to tip in behind for a nook. That set piece got here to nothing as Forest preserved their unbeaten file away from residence whereas bringing Chelsea’s run of victories to an finish.
GK: Robert Sanchez – 8/10 – Made a few saves he’d anticipate to tug off. Learn the sport effectively and tackled Gibbs-White as a sweeper. Made some beautiful stops in stoppage time to earn Chelsea a degree.
RB: Malo Gusto – 6/10 – High quality crossing from out broad was missing at factors. Did not have to fret about Anderson in behind however was examined a bit extra by Hudson-Odoi.
CB: Wesley Fofana – 6/10 – A bit bit uncovered within the air however gained most of his headers and infrequently had tempo to achieve free balls.
CB: Levi Colwill – 7/10 – Was Chelsea’s standout defender, nipping in to make interceptions and clearing hazard.
LB: Marc Cucurella – 6/10 – Confirmed power in some one-on-one duels and was booked throughout a late melee between the squads.
CM: Moises Caicedo – 6/10 – Picked up a yellow after some rugged midfield play. Struggled to manage the tempo of the sport.
CM: Enzo Fernandez – 5/10 – Performed easy passes but in addition misplaced a couple of too many straightforward ones and could not contribute a lot in defence.
RW: Noni Madueke – 8/10 – Had Moreno on toast for the primary half however could not discover an correct shot or cross. Dragged Chelsea degree with a stable end after drifting infield and was his facet’s most harmful outlet all recreation.
AM: Cole Palmer – 7/10 – Was closed down fairly shortly for many of the match however nonetheless discovered sufficient area to get an help.
LW: Jadon Sancho – 6/10 – Got here alive in the direction of the top of the primary half and was concerned in some threatening interchanges.
ST: Nicolas Jackson – 5/10 – Had few alternatives to shoot at objective and reduce a pissed off determine for a lot of the sport.
Substitutes
SUB: Christopher Nkunku (81′ for Jackson) – 5/10
SUB: Joao Felix (81′ for Fernandez) – 5/10
SUB: Mykhailo Mudryk (90′ for Madueke) – 6/10
SUB: Pedro Neto (90′ for Sancho) – 5/10
SUB: Tosin Adarabioyo (90′ for Colwill) – 5/10
Subs not used: Filip Jorgensen (GK), Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Romeo Lavia.
Supervisor
Enzo Maresca – 5/10 – Noticed his facet’s pure rhyhym disrupted by a Forest facet intent on making issues troublesome. Could not discover the reply to the low block.
GK: Matz Sels – 7/10 – Was referred to as into motion commonly in the course of the last levels and made a pointy double save to disclaim Palmer. Was pivotal after Ward-Prowse’s purple card, conserving out Chelsea’s barrage.
RB: Ola Aina – 6/10 – Had a enjoyable duel with Sancho and held up effectively sufficient.
CB: Nikola Milenkovic – 7/10 – Received a significant flick to arrange Wooden’s opener and gained the vast majority of his defensive duels.
CB: Murillo – 7/10 – Confirmed nice ambition as he strode ahead and powered an effort on objective that wanted saving.
LB: Alex Moreno – 5/10 – Had numerous issue coping with Madueke, continuously being crushed for tempo out broad. Did no less than get well the ball often.
CM: Ryan Yates – 5/10 – Slowed issues down and pissed off Chelsea with some darkish arts.
CM: James Ward-Prowse – 3/10 – His free kick leading to Wooden placing Forest forward. Struggled in open play and was despatched off for a second yellow card after comically dealing with the ball whereas sprawled on the ground.
RW: Callum Hudson-Odoi – 5/10 – Was stopped fairly simply in some duels with Marc Cucurella earlier than swapping flanks within the second half.
AM: Morgan Gibbs-White – 6/10 – Had moments when he regarded harmful on the break however failed to seek out the ultimate ball. Needed to come off with an harm.
LW: Elliot Anderson – 5/10 – Did get one respectable shot away after Forest went forward however was largely restricted to defensive work which he carried out effectively.
ST: Chris Wooden – 7/10 – Confirmed his poacher’s instincts by getting on the top of a set piece.
Substitutes
SUB: Jota Silva (66′ for Anderson) – 5/10
SUB: Nicolas Dominguez (76′ for Gibbs-White) – 4/10
SUB: Neco Williams (82′ for Moreno) – 5/10
SUB: Anthony Elanga (82′ for Hudson-Odoi) – 5/10
SUB: Morato (82′ for Wooden) – 5/10
Subs not used: Carlos Miguel (GK), Willy Boly, Ramon Sosa, Taiwo Awoniyi.
Supervisor
Nuno Espirito Santo – 8/10 – Forest executed their supervisor’s gameplan to perfection, not giving Chelsea any area earlier than Ward-Prowse’s dismissal. They had been resilient and deserved a degree.
