Chelsea v Nottingham Forest LIVE: Result and final score after Blues frustrated by 10-man visitors
James Ward-Prowse was sent off in the second half but Chelsea could not capitalise as Forest held on for a point
Chelsea’s winning run in the Premier League was brought to an end by 10-man Nottingham Forest who battled to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge to maintain their own strong start to the season.
Enzo Maresca’s side were chasing a fourth victory in a row to shore up their place in the top four but needed a brilliant solo equaliser from Noni Madueke to cancel out Chris Wood’s goal early in the second half.
Thereafter Chelsea bombarded the visitors and looked likely to go on and win when James Ward-Prowse was dismissed for handling the ball as Nicolas Jackson threatened to race through on goal.
But Forest, who also lost England forward Morgan Gibbs-White to injury, survived a frantic 13 minutes of stoppage time, during which goalkeepers Robert Sanchez and Matz Sels produced remarkable saves, to leave with a point.
Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest
52 min: Such an intelligent finish, that, from Wood. He was sprinting into the box when the ball came his way and it needed the deftest touch past the on-rushing Sanchez and inside the post. He found exactly the weight that was needed.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Wood, 49)
A Forest free-kick is floated into the box and Melinkovic leaps highest, heading down into the six-yard box where Chris Wood reacts quicker than the Chelsea defenders to tap home from close range! Well then.
Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
47 min: Moreno launches a long throw into the Chelsea box, and Gibbs-White’s header floats harmlessly to Sels.
No changes from either side at the break.
Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea were the better side for much of the half but Forest had their moments too in a lively contest.
Noni Madueke was involved in almost everything Chelsea did well, driving down the right wing and into the box, but his final pass or shot was consistently wayward. Enzo Maresca has a lot of options in the bench – namely Neto, Nkunku and Mudryk – should he need to change the game.
Forest’s mission is clear: defend the box, and stop Palmer. They’ve done both pretty well so far.
Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
There’s the half-time whistle and it’s all square at the break.
Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
45 min: Big moments at both ends! Colwill makes a brilliant block to deny Yates from firing a shot on target in the box, while at the other end Palmer and his Chelsea teammates think he’s scored, but replays show Sels just stopped his trickling shot on the line.
Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
42 min: A chance! Enzo Fernandez gets a shot away inside the box, from the left side, but it lacks power and it’s saved by Sels. A first effort on target by Chelsea.
Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
40 min: Forest counter and Murillo fires a powerful effort at goal, which is well saved by Sanchez.
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