Chelsea Punish Forest In Second Half Thriller

Chelsea produced a dominant second-half performance to sweep aside Nottingham Forest with a clean 3–0 victory at City Ground, a result that piled pressure on Forest manager Ange Postecoglou.

Forest are in a difficult position in the EPL table. They had been winless in previous seven consecutive Premier League games. Forest had a good start to the game at City Ground, having big opportunities that unsettled Arsenal in the first half. Gibbs-White led a swift counterattack and released Anderson, whose slip inside the area wasted a promising move. 

Just four minutes into the second half, teenage defender Josh Acheampong rose highest to nod home from Pedro Neto’s teasing cross, giving the visitors a 1–0 lead. Moments later, Neto turned a scorer. His low, whipped free-kick in the 52nd minute took a slight deflection through the wall and slipped under Sels’ late dive for Chelsea's second goal. 

Substitute Igor Jesus almost gave Forest a lifeline in the 70th minute, crashing off his volley underside of the bar and onto the post, in a moment that summed up their afternoon. Chelsea responded to seal the result when Reece James swept home a volley from the edge of the area, following Sels' poor save of a corner in the 84th minute. 

Chelsea remained unbeaten in three consecutive Premier League games, climbing to sixth with 14 points from eight Premier League games. Meanwhile, Forest dropped to the 18th position in the Premier League table, following their winless runs through seven games..

Overview 

Enzo Maresca's technicalities worked out, despite his absence in the dugout. Forest's resolve came under further onslaught after the Blues received an instruction from their manager. Nevertheless, Marteo Gusto's tackle, leading to his dismissal, was reckless. He should have avoided getting a red card offense in that situation. 

Forest looked sharper and more purposeful in the early exchanges. Morgan Gibbs-White, operating alongside Taiwo Awoniyi in a 3-5-2 setup, looked lively, pressing high, creating chances, and keeping Chelsea’s defense alert.