Chelsea F.C. saw their hopes of a top-five finish in the Premier League take a major hit on Monday after a disappointing 3–1 defeat to Nottingham Forest F.C.
Cole Palmer missed from the penalty spot as the Blues slumped to a sixth consecutive league loss, leaving their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League hanging by a thread.
Despite Forest making eight changes ahead of their upcoming European fixture, Chelsea fell behind inside two minutes when Taiwo Awoniyi headed home from Dilane Bakwa’s cross.
Enzo Fernández struck the post in response, but the visitors soon doubled their lead after Malo Gusto conceded a penalty, which Igor Jesus converted.
Chelsea were handed a lifeline just before half-time following a serious clash of heads involving Zach Abbott and Jesse Derry, which resulted in a lengthy stoppage as Derry received treatment before being stretchered off.
However, Palmer’s penalty was saved by Matz Sels, compounding Chelsea’s frustration.
The second half brought more trouble for the Blues, as Awoniyi grabbed his second goal after being set up by Morgan Gibbs-White.
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Despite the late consolation, Chelsea remain ninth in the table, with their hopes of securing European football through their league position continuing to fade.
New Telegraph Rates Chelsea’s Players From Stamford Bridge…
Goalkeeper & Defence
Robert Sanchez (5/10):
Couldn’t do much about any of the Forest goals, and showed decent handling otherwise. Forced off with a head injury midway through the second half.
Malo Gusto (3/10):
Stupidly pulled back Awoniyi to give away the penalty. Carried the ball over the halfway line with regularity, but then didn’t do much with it from there until his cross led to Pedro’s consolation.
Trevoh Chalobah (4/10):
Lost Awoniyi for both of the Forest strikers’ goals. Made a couple of decent challenges but otherwise far from his best.
Tosin Adarabioyo (4/10):
Made to look cumbersome by the intelligent movement of Jesus, and slowed things down when in possession. Replaced by Colwill at the break.
Marc Cucurella (2/10):
A dreadful day at the office. Left in the dust by Bakwa as the winger first created Awoniyi’s opener and then provided the cross that led to the Forest penalty. Chelsea’s left-back looked flustered from there on, and routinely shanked the ball out of play.
Midfield
Romeo Lavia (4/10):
Too often, Forest got in behind the Chelsea midfield in large part due to Lavia’s lack of positional discipline. While on the ball, he didn’t offer much. Off before the hour for Santos.
Moisés Caicedo (4/10):
Failed to apply much control to the hosts’ engine room before losing track of Gibbs-White’s run in the build-up to Forest’s third.
Enzo Fernandez (5/10):
Unfortunate to see his shot come back off the post at 1-0, but faded badly as the game wore on.
Attack
Cole Palmer (2/10):
Woeful penalty summed up his afternoon. Curled one shot narrowly wide, but his final product was otherwise dreadful. Whether fitness-related or not, he looks a shadow of his former self.
Joao Pedro (4/10):
His usual excellent hold-up play was nowhere to be seen, while he was lucky to avoid a booking for a desperate dive in the first half. Moved out to the left after Derry’s injury and fared little better until his superbly acrobatic goal gave the home fans that were left inside the ground something to cheer about.
Jesse Derry (5/10):
Showed plenty of confidence on his Premier League debut after being caught out defensively a couple of times early on. So unfortunate to be forced off with what looked to be a serious injury following the penalty incident late in the first half.
