Ange Postecoglou became the first manager in Nottingham Forest’s history to fail to win any of his first eight games in charge, as Chelsea beat Forest 3-0 at the City Ground.
Joshua Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James scored for Enzo Maresca’s team in the second forty-five, punishing a wasteful team that failed to capitalize on numerous clear-cut opportunities.
However, the Chelsea manager will be disappointed by Malo Gusto’s unnecessary red card, adding to the team’s existing injury list.
How it happened
Nottingham Forest had an early chance less than a minute into the game when Taiwo Awoniyi shot wide from outside the area on his first start of the season.
At the other end, Chelsea came close within five minutes when Malo Gusto’s low cross was blocked by Morato before a Chelsea player could reach it.
Morgan Gibbs-White almost got his first league goal of the season when he attempted a shot from outside the area, missing the top corner by a hair.
Less than a minute later, the Forest captain came close to scoring again, but failed to hit the volley after Douglas Luiz headed inside the penalty area.
Forest continued to dominate and almost took advantage of a set piece. Murillo reached the far post but saw his shot intercepted by Robert Sánchez.
Despite missing players like Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez, among others, the visitors managed to shift the momentum in their favor. Chelsea’s first shot on goal came through Reece James, but his free kick was collected comfortably by Matz Sels in the bottom corner.
Pedro Neto was Chelsea’s most active player on the right wing in the first half hour, and his right-footed cross landed in the hands of Sels.
Andrey Santos had a chance from the edge of the area but saw his shot go over the crossbar.
The Chelsea midfielder had an even better chance minutes later when João Pedro floated the ball behind the Forest defensive line. Santos managed to stay inside the area, but his left foot shot went off the right post.
Neto continued knocking on the door: his long-distance shot missed and the teams went to half-time goalless.
Chelsea made three changes at half-time and took the lead after the break. Neto sent a cross to the far post, where Acheampong headed straight towards Sels.
However, the Forest goalkeeper could do nothing about Acheampong’s towering header in the 49th minute. The 19-year-old scored his first goal for the senior team and put his team ahead, taking advantage of Pedro Neto’s perfectly timed cross from the left wing.
And it only took three minutes for Chelsea’s lead to be doubled when Neto got on the scoreboard himself. James gently flicked the ball in from the free kick before the Portugal international wrapped the shot around the wall into the bottom corner. Sels intervened but couldn’t prevent it: two quick goals for Chelsea.
It was all Chelsea’s way early in the second half when João Pedro stole the ball from Ibrahim Sangaré but missed with his right-footed shot.
The game soon opened up and Forest regained the initiative, creating their best chance of the game. Zinchenko launched a perfectly timed ball into the penalty area, where Chelsea defenders failed to stop Neco Williams. However, the Welsh defender missed a chance and wasted his opportunity just a few meters away.
At the other end, substitute Marc Guiu reached for the ball and tried to shoot after Neto opened up the Forest defence, but Sels again denied the visitors a goal.
Forest really came to life midway through the second half when Elliot Anderson’s corner was deflected towards the goalkeeper by Nikola Milenkovic and Sanchez made a fingertip save. Sangaré was unable to force the rebound and his shot went very close to the crossbar.
The home fans soon had their heads in their hands as Postecoglou’s team was unlucky again. Substitutes Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus combined, the former delivering a cross and the latter stretching to shoot. But it was not for Forest, who this time was rejected by the post and the bar at the same time.
Postecoglou’s team continued to dominate when Anderson played a ball to the edge where an unmarked Sangaré failed to hit the target, another wasted opportunity for the hosts.
Chelsea managed to contain Forest and attacked again. Marc Cucurella recovered the ball on the edge and substitute Estêvão saw his shot deflected into a corner.
Forest were finally punished for their profligacy when captain Reece James sealed all three points on his 200th appearance for the club in the 84th minute. Estêvão took a corner and Sels punched James straight, and the Chelsea captain finished with a first-time shot.
The party was ruined for the visitors when Gusto was sent off for a second yellow card following a late charge on Neco Williams, but Maresca’s team managed to keep Forest at bay in the remaining minutes.
Reece James received the Man of the Match award and his team provisionally placed in the top four, while Ange Postecoglou was dismissed immediately after the final whistle.
the alignments
NFO: STAMPS; Milenkovic, Morato, Murillo, Williams; Luiz, Sangaré, Zinchenko, Anderson; Gibbs-White (C), Awoniyi
CHE: Sanchez, James (C), Chalobah, Acheampong, Cucurella, Gusto; Lavia, Neto, Santos, Garnacho; Juan Pedro