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 side who failed to convert numerous clear-cut chances.
However, the Chelsea manager will be disappointed with Malo Gusto’s unnecessary red-card which adds to the existing injury list in the squad.
As it happened
Nottingham Forest had an early chance less than a minute into the game as Taiwo Awoniyi dragged an effort wide from outside the box on his first start of the season.
Down the other end, Chelsea came close inside five minutes as Malo Gusto’s low cross was blocked by Morato before a Chelsea player could get to it.
Morgan Gibbs-White nearly got his first league goal of the season as he attempted a shot from outside the box, missing the top corner by a whisker.
Less than a minute later, Forest’s captain was close to scoring again but failed to hit the target on the volley after Douglas Luiz headed it across inside the penalty area.
Forest continued to dominate and almost capitalised on a set piece. Murillo arrived at the back post but saw his flick intercepted by Robert Sanchez.
Despite missing the likes of Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández among others, the visitors managed to shift the momentum in their favour. Chelsea’s first shot on target came through Reece James, but his free kick was comfortably gathered by Matz Sels in the bottom corner.
Pedro Neto was Chelsea’s most active player on the right-hand side in the first half hour, his right-footed cross landing in the hands of Sels.
Andrey Santos had an opportunity from the edge of the box but saw his shot elevate over the crossbar.
The Chelsea midfielder had an even better chance minutes later as João Pedro floated the ball in behind Forest’s back line. Santos managed to stay onside, but his left-footed shot flew past the right post.
Neto continued to knock on the door – his long-range effort missed the target as the sides entered the half-time break goalless.
Chelsea made three half-time substitutes and were on the front foot after the interval. Neto delivered a cross towards the far post, where Acheampong headed straight at Sels.
However, there was nothing Forest’s keeper could do about Acheampong’s 49th-minute towering header. The 19-year-old scored his first-ever senior goal and put his side into the lead, capitalising on Pedro Neto’s perfectly timed cross from the left-hand side.
And it only took three minutes for Chelsea’s lead to double as Neto got onto the scoresheet himself. James gently flicked the ball off on the free kick before the Portuguese international wrapped the shot around the wall into the bottom corner. Sels got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out – two quick-fire goals for Chelsea.
It was all Chelsea early in the second half as João Pedro stole the ball from Ibrahim Sangaré but failed to hit the target with his right-footed shot.
The game soon opened up and Forest reclaimed the initiative, creating their best chance of the game. Zinchenko whipped in a perfectly timed ball into the penalty area where Chelsea’s defenders failed to pick up Neco Williams. However, the Welsh defender missed a sitter, skying his opportunity from a few meters out.
Down the other end, substitute Marc Guiu was stretching for the ball and attempted a shot after Neto opened up Forest’s defence, but Sels denied the away side once again.
Forest really came alive in the middle of the second half as Elliot Anderson’s corner was diverted goalwards by Nikola Milenković and Sanchez applied a fingertip save. Sangaré failed to force the rebound on target as his shot went agonisingly close over the bar.
Home supporters soon had their heads in their hands as Postecoglou’s side got unlucky once more. Substitutes Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus combined, with the former delivering a cross and the latter stretching for a shot. But it wasn’t to be for Forest, who this time were denied by the post and bar at the same time.
Postecoglou’s side continued to dominate as Anderson played a ball to the edge where an unmarked Sangaré failed to hit the target – another opportunity wasted for the hosts.
Chelsea managed to hold Forest off and were attacking once more. Marc Cucurella won the ball back on the edge and substitute Estêvão saw his shot deflected for a corner.
Forest were eventually punished for their wastefulness as captain Reece James sealed all three points on his 200th appearance for the club in the 84th minute. Estêvão delivered a corner and Sels punched it straight to James, the Chelsea captain finishing with a first-time shot.
The party was spoiled for the visitors as Gusto was dismissed for a second yellow card following a late lunge on Neco Williams, but Maresca’s side managed to keep Forest at bay in the remaining minutes.
Reece James received the Man of the Match award as his side provisionally moved into the top four, while Ange Postecoglou was immediately sacked after the full-time whistle.
The lineups
NFO: Sels; Milenković, Morato, Murillo, Williams; Luiz, Sangaré, Zinchenko, Anderson; Gibbs-White (C), Awoniyi
CHE: Sanchez, James (C), Chalobah, Acheampong, Cucurella, Gusto; Lavia, Neto, Santos, Garnacho; João Pedro