Rivalry Renewed: Nottm Forest vs Chelsea – A Journey Through Time
Chelsea travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday, May 25 and will be desperate for a result after only rescuing a draw in October’s home clash.
It will be the 100th time these two sides have locked horns in all competitions, but it’s only the sixth time they’ve met in the Premier League after Forest were relegated in 1999.
Chelsea boast the bragging rights in head-to-heads, having won 41 times (41.4%) while drawing 31 of their meetings (31.3%) and losing 27 (27.2%). They’ve managed only one league win over the Reds since their return to the top-flight, however.
Forest were the better team in their early clashes with Chelsea too, enjoying more trophy success than their London counterparts up until the 1990s, so there’s a rivalry brewing.
Origins : Nottm Forest vs Chelsea
Chelsea’s story began in March 1904, with football fan and businessman Gus Mears buying the Stamford Bridge athletics stadium in Fulham to turn it into a football ground. After Fulham FC rejected the proposal to lease it, Mears found his own football club to use the stadium in March 1905. With Fulham already existing in the borough, Mears chose an adjacent borough to name his new side.
Kensington FC, Stamford Bridge FC and London FC were considered before Chelsea FC were founded in the Rising Sun pub, opposite the main entrance to Stamford Bridge on Fulham Road. Mears opted for blue shirts, after the racing colors of Lord Chelsea, with white shorts and dark blue socks.
Chelsea nearly joined the Southern League, before being rejected after Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur objected, so they applied to be admitted into the Football League. And at a Football League AGM on May 29, Chelsea had their candidacy endorsed.
Forest were founded in 1865 when a group of shinty (similar to hockey) players met at the Clinton Arms on Nottingham’s Shakespeare Street. One of the members, J S Scrimshaw, is believed to have proposed association football and the club was eventually born.
Red tasselled caps were agreed upon, leading to the club’s official colours being established. And before moving to the City Ground in 1898, games were played at Forest Racecourse which could have been where the club’s name originated.
First meeting Nottm Forest Vs Chelsea
Chelsea entered the Football League Division Two in 1905/06 but wouldn’t play against Forest until the following season as the Reds were still in Division One. But after Forest suffered relegated in 1906, Chelsea could finally lock horns with them.
The two clubs had their first meeting at the City Ground on October 6, with the Blues being beaten 3-1 in front of 24000 supporters. Harry Hadley put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute, Grenville Morris doubled Forest’s advantage minutes later, and a Joseph Walton own goal saw Chelsea go into half-time with a three-goal deficit to make up.
George Hilsdon pulled a goal back after the break, but Chelsea couldn’t pull off an upset. The Blues had to wait four months to exact their revenge and may have fancied their chances with home advantage, but Chelsea lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in February. Second-half goals from Grenville Morris and Arthur Green did the damage in front of 15000 supporters.
Forest and Chelsea won promotion to Division One that season after finishing first and second respectively, but the outcome of their head-to-heads remained the same in the top-flight. The Reds won both meetings in 1907/08 and would lose just one of their first eight games against Chelsea.
1900s
- 6/10/06 (Division Two): Nottingham Forest 3-1 Chelsea
- 9/2/07 (Division Two): Chelsea 0-2 Nottingham Forest
- 21/09/07 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 6-0 Chelsea
- 18/1/08 (Division One): Chelsea 0-4 Nottingham Forest
- 21/9/08 (Division One): Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
- 3/10/08 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 2-1 Chelsea
- 23/10/09 (Division One): Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest
1910s
- 5/3/10 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea got relegated back to Division Two in 1910 and Forest followed them a year later. The Blues would do the double over the Reds in 1911/12 to turn the tide in their favour, however.
- 14/10/11 (Division Two): Chelsea 2-0 Nottingham Forest
- 17/2/12 (Division Two): Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
After Chelsea beat Forest twice in the same season, it would be ten years until the two sides locked horns again – Chelsea won promotion to Division One in 1912 but Forest didn’t return for another decade.
1920s
- 25/12/22 (Division One): Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest
- 26/12/22 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 0-4 Chelsea
- 25/12/23 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 2-0 Chelsea
- 26/12/23 (Division One): Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea suffered relegation in 1924 while Forest went down in 1925, so the two clubs didn’t play each other in 1924/25. They would lock horns in Division Two for the remainder of the decade, however, and Chelsea got more revenge for 1907’s heavy defeat with a 5-1 thrashing of Forest at the City Ground.
In only their second game of the season, Chelsea made light work of Forest in their own backyard, with Andy Wilson and Bob Turnbull bagging a brace in front of 9,981 supporters. George Stone also got on the scoresheet.
- 31/8/25 (Division Two): Nottingham Forest 1-5 Chelsea
- 7/9/25 (Division Two): Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
- 27/11/26 (Division Two): Nottingham Forest 4-1 Chelsea
- 16/4/27 (Division Two): Chelsea 2-0 Nottingham Forest
- 19/11/27 (Division Two): Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
- 31/3/28 (Division Two): Nottingham Forest 2-2 Chelsea
- 29/9/28 (Division Two): Chelsea 3-0 Nottingham Forest
- 9/2/29 (Division Two): Nottingham Forest 3-0 Chelsea
- 31/8/29 (Division Two): Chelsea 2-0 Nottingham Forest
- 28/12/29 (Division Two): Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea won promotion to Division One in 1929/30, but Forest would be stuck in the second tier until 1957, so their only meeting in that 30-year period came in the FA Cup.
Chelsea were held to a draw at Stamford Bridge but progressed to the fifth round after winning their fourth round replay at the City Ground. George Gibson and a brace from Hughie Gallacher was enough to seal victory in front of 37,187 fans.
1930s
- 27/1/34 (FA Cup): Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
- 31/1/34 (FA Cup): Nottingham Forest 0-3 Chelsea
Chelsea were knocked out in the fifth round and finished 19th in the top-flight, so they weren’t competing for silverware just yet. Forest finished 17th in Division Two that season, so they weren’t in a great place either.
The Red would be relegated to the third tier in 1949 and were promoted back to Division Two in 1951, but it took them another six years to return to the First Division. By then, Chelsea had already won a top-flight title (1954/55) and had the opportunity to play in Europe the following season.
After their FA Cup bouts in the 1930s, it would be two decades before Chelsea and Forest faced each other again. Chelsea were a mediocre First Division side in the time spent apart, consistently finishing in the bottom half of the table without coming close to winning silverware until the 1955 title triumph, but Forest were struggling in the Football League too.
The Reds were stuck in Division Two between 1925 and 1949 before dropping into the third tier and then didn’t return to the top-flight until 1957. Forest amazingly finished one place above Chelsea in their first season back (1957/58) and won a second FA Cup before the Blues won their first, but they didn’t manage a head-to-head win over Chelsea for the first couple of years.
1950s
• 4/4/58 (Division One): Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
• 7/4/58 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
• 27/9/58 (Division One): Chelsea 4-1 Nottingham Forest
• 15/4/59 (Division One) Nottingham Forest 1-3 Chelsea
• 31/10/59 (Division One) Nottingham Forest 3-1 Chelsea
Despite Chelsea underwhelming in the league after winning the title, they had a formidable striker in Jimmy Greaves between 1957 and 1961. Forest would become one of his many conquests at the start of the 1958/59 season, losing 4-1 at Stamford Bridge in September with Greaves bagging a hattrick.
He struck in April’s reverse fixture too as Chelsea ran out 3-1 winners, and he would score four goals in a head-to-head victory years later.
1960s
• 16/4/60 (Division One): Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
• 26/11/60 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 2-1 Chelsea
• 29/4/61 (Division One): Chelsea 4-3 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea scored 98 goals and conceded 100 in the 1960/61 campaign and no match epitomised the Blues more than their seven-goal thriller against Forest at the Bridge. Greaves scored all four goals in his final game for Chelsea to become the league’s top goalscorer, but hey still shipped three at the other end. Greaves was chaired away by supporters before joining AC Milan over the summer. Chelsea finished 12th that season while Forest were 14th, but the former would suffer their first relegation in 38 years after Greaves left.
• 19/8/61 (Division One): Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest
• 16/12/61 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 3-0 Chelsea
The Blues appointed Tommy Docherty as manager and posted their joint-worst points tally in history (28) to finish 22nd in 1961/62, but they bounced back immediately with promotion the following season and became an animal in Division One.
• 30/3/64 (Division One): Chelsea 1-0 Nottingham Forest
• 31/3/64 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea
After a three-year wait, Chelsea did the double over Forest in 1963/64, winning 1-0 on both occasions just a day apart at the end of March. Barry Bridges bagged the winner in the home game while Bert Murray scored in the away victory.
This was a different Chelsea side to the decades of old. Under Docherty, the Blues finished 5th in their first season back and were 3rd in 1964/65, winning the League Cup while reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup.
• 10/11/64 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 2-2 Chelsea
• 22/2/65 (Division One): Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Forest exacted their revenge over Chelsea in 1964/65, however, by nearly doing the double over them. In November’s home clash with the Blues, Forest took the lead in the 1st minute through Chris Crowe before Bridges levelled the game at the half hour mark. Crowe scored to regain Forest’s lead before the break, but Terry Venables rescued a draw in injury time.
Forest made no mistake at the Bridge, winning 1-0 in the same season they finished fifth. Chelsea ended up getting third place, so both clubs had a great campaign. Head-to-heads would become very one-sided afterwards though.
• 11/4/66 (Division One): Chelsea 1-0 Nottingham Forest
• 12/4/66 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 1-2 Chelsea
• 24/8/66 (Division One): Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
• 30/8/66 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
• 23/9/67 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 3-0 Chelsea
Forest finished second in 1966/67 and reached the FA Cup semi-final, so they were a much stronger outfit upon facing Chelsea the following season – ironically Chelsea were FA Cup finalists the same campaign. Forest beat the
Blues 3-0 at the City Ground on September 23 in 1967, courtesy of goals from Ian Storey-Moore, Billy Taylor and Frank Wignall, but that was their last head-to-head win for five years.
• 3/2/68 (Division One): Chelsea 1-0 Nottingham Forest
• 14/8/68 (Division One): Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
• 8/4/69 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 1-2 Chelsea
• 22/11/69 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
Forest only managed four wins from 18 meetings with Chelsea in the 1960s, finishing 15th as they welcomed in the 1970s. Chelsea finishing third in 1969/70 and won the League Cup, so there was a growing chasm between the two teams.
Head-to-heads in the following decade went the same way as the last, until the Reds enjoyed major trophy success in the late 1970s.
1970s
• 7/3/70 (Division One): Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
• 12/12/70 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
• 17/2/71 (Division One): Chelsea 2-0 Nottingham Forest
• 6/10/71 (League Cup): Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
• 11/10/71 (League Cup): Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea were League Cup runners-up in 1971/72 and would beat Forest on the way to the final. The two sides drew at the City Ground before Chelsea enjoyed a third-round replay win at the Bridge days later, courtesy of goals from Tommy Baldwin and Peter Osgood.
• 6/11/71 (Division One): Chelsea 2-0 Nottingham Forest
• 14/3/72 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 2-1 Chelsea
But after three consecutive seasons of poor bottom-half finishes, Forest would suffer relegation in 1972, finishing 21st in the table on 25 points.
Chelsea were regulars in the top-half of Division One between 1964 and 1972, but they started to slip down the table and eventually joined Forest in the Second Division three years later.
• 6/9/75 (Division Two): Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
• 17/1/76 (Division Two): Nottingham Forest 1-3 Chelsea
Forest enjoyed a four-game unbeaten home run against Chelsea in the 70s, but that came to an end in 1976. Goals from Ian Hutchinson, Bill Garner and Ray Wilkins put the Reds to the sword.
Forest finished 8th in the league while Chelsea finished 11th, but clubs would turn things around to earn promotion the following season.
• 20/11/76 (Division Two): Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
• 16/4/77 (Division Two): Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea got the better of Forest in head-to-heads, with Ian Britton scoring in November’s 1-1 draw and April’s 2-1 win, but the two clubs would have wildly contrasting fortunes back in the First Division.
• 5/11/77 (Division One): Chelsea 1-0 Nottingham Forest
• 1/4/78 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 3-1 Chelsea
Forest lost to Chelsea at the Bridge in November but would enjoy their first win over the Blues in six years months later. Goals from Kenny Burns, Martin O’Neill and John Robertson sealed a long-awaited victory in April, but things got even better for Forest that season.
The Reds won the First Division title and League Cup while Chelsea finished 16th and trophyless. Forest would humiliate the Blues the following season by doing the double over them in significant fashion and also playing a part in their relegation.
• 28/3/79 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 6-0 Chelsea
• 7/4/79 (Division One): Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest
Forest had a league and cup title to defend while having Europe to contend with, but they still delivered across the board. The Reds thrashed lowly Chelsea 6-0 at the City Ground, courtesy of a goal from Garry Birtles, a double from Tony Woodcock and a hat-trick from O’Neill.
Then a month later, Forest would pile the pressure on Chelsea by beating them in their own backyard. Goals from Trevor Francis, O’Neill and Ian Bowyer put the Blues to the sword and condemned them to the drop.
Forest would finish second while winning the League Cup and European Cup, but Chelsea were relegated in 22nd place (20 points). This would be a painful era for the Blues as they yo-yoed between the top two divisions while Forest enjoyed their best period of top-level success.
Forest played a big part in relegating Chelsea in 1979 and Nigel Clough’s men wouldn’t lock horns with the Blues for six years due to Chelsea struggling in the Second Division.
The West Londoners finished 4th in Division Two and then outside of the top-10 for three consecutive seasons before getting promoted in 1984. Forest had successfully defended the European Cup during that time and were consistently finishing in the top-half of the First Division.
Chelsea had a great season back in the top-flight and exacted their revenge over Forest when the two sides finally met.
1980s
• 1/1/85 (Division One): Chelsea 1-0 Nottingham Forest
The Blues ran out 1-0 winners at the Bridge in January thanks to Mickey Thomas, but they couldn’t do the double over the Reds.
• 10/4/85 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 2-0 Chelsea
Forest, who were 3rd in 1984 and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup/Europa League, finished below Chelsea in the table a year later but restored some pride by beating them in the home clash. Garry Birtles and John Metgod were the scorers.
• 9/11/85 (Division One): Chelsea 4-2 Nottingham Forest
• 12/4/86 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
• 20/9/86 (Division One): Chelsea 2-6 Nottingham Forest
Forest enjoyed one of the most memorable wins in their history after coming from behind to thrash Chelsea 6-2 at the Bridge. Chelsea finished above Forest for the second consecutive season but were destroyed when the two sides met in 1986/87.
The Blues took a 2-0 lead through Pat Nevin and John Bumstead but found themselves 4-2 down before the break after Neil Webb and Garry Birtles grabbed respective braces. In the second half, Birtles and Webb both completed their hat-tricks and Forest had six goals to the good.
• 28/2/87 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea
• 5/9/87 (Division One): Chelsea 4-3 Nottingham Forest
• 6/2/88 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 3-2 Chelsea
• 10/1/89 (Full Members Cup): Chelsea 1-4 Nottingham Forest
Forest were strong in the late 80s, finishing third in consecutive seasons (1987/88 and 1988/89), winning the League Cup and Full Members Cup in 1989, and winning the League Cup in 1990.
They would beat Chelsea on the way to their Full Members Cup triumph too, winning 4-1 in the third round at the Bridge thanks to goals from Tommy Gaynor, Stuart Pearce, Garry Parker and Lee Chapman.
Chelsea suffered relegation in 1988, though they made an instant return to the First Division after promotion in 1989. The Blues impressively finished 5th in the top-flight in 1990 but would be on the wrong end of a humiliating thrashing by Forest just a year later.
• 9/9/89 (Division One): Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest
1990s
• 17/2/90 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
• 20/10/90 (Division One): Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
• 20/4/91 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 7-0 Chelsea
Forest enjoyed their biggest ever win over Chelsea in April 1991, thrashing the West Londoners 7-0 thanks to a who’s who of former players. Roy Keane opened the scoring in the 8th minute, Parker doubled their lead minutes later and Ian Woan netted Forest’s third before the half-hour mark.
Nigel Clough, who top-scored in most seasons at Forest, bagged the fourth goal before a Stuart Pearce brace and Keane goal wrapped up the scoring.
• 30/11/91 (Division One): Chelsea 1-0 Nottingham Forest
• 22/2/92 (Division One): Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
Chelsea finished 14th in Division One before the Premier League’s inception in 1992 while Forest were 8th, having won the Full Members Cup while making the League Cup final.
This era would see the Reds endure more heartbreak than success, however, with Forest mirroring Chelsea’s yo-yoing of the top two tiers from decades ago.
• 26/9/92 (Premier League): Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
• 16/1/93 (Premier League): Nottingham Forest 3-0 Chelsea
Forest’s 3-0 win over Chelsea continued their impressive head-to-head record on home soil. A Gary Bannister brace and late effort from Þorvaldur Örlygsson saw Chelsea well beaten.
And while Forest took four points off the Blues from head-to-heads in their maiden Premier League campaign, they suffered relegation after finishing 22nd. Chelsea were 11th in the table.
The Reds quickly bounced back with promotion from Division One in 1994 while Chelsea were FA Cup finalists. Forest surprisingly finished 3rd in the Premier League in 1995, but they lost twice as many head-to-heads with Chelsea than they won since returning.
• 19/11/94 (Premier League): Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea
• 25/1/95 (Premier League): Chelsea 0-2 Nottingham Forest
• 23/8/95 (Premier League): Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
• 20/1/96 (Premier League): Chelsea 1-0 Nottingham Forest
• 28/9/96 (Premier League): Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
• 11/1/97 (Premier League): Nottingham Forest 2-0 Chelsea
Forest would take four points off Chelsea in 1996/97, but they would once again fail to beat the drop – the Reds finished rock bottom in 20th. Forest won promotion from the First Division in 1998 but ended the 1998/99 season at the foot of the table again – three relegations in six years. Unsurprisingly, Chelsea were getting the better of Forest in head-to-heads during this period too.
• 12/9/98 (Premier League): Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
• 20/2/99 (Premier League): Nottingham Forest 1-3 Chelsea
Chelsea would wrap up the 90s with a win at the City Ground courtesy of goals from Mikael Forssell and a Bjarne Goldbæk double, and that was the last time the two sides met in a domestic league for 24 years.
2000s
• 19/1/00 (FA Cup) Chelsea 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea would beat Forest on route to winning the 1999/00 FA Cup, running out 2-0 winners in the fourth round at the Bridge thanks to second-half goals from Frank Leboeuf and Dennis Wise.
The two sides would meet again in the competition seven years later and the gulf in class was telling.
• 28/1/07 (FA Cup) Chelsea 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Since the last meeting, Chelsea had been taken over by Roman Abramovic and won back-to-back Premier League titles with a League Cup while Forest were relegated from the Championship (renamed from Division One).
There were two divisions separating Chelsea and Forest ahead of their FA Cup encounter, so it’s little wonder Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba had the Blues 2-0 up inside of 20 minutes. John Obi Mikel struck on half-time to finish the game off, but the chasm had never been this big, nor in Chelsea’s favour.
2010s
• 20/9/17 (League Cup) Chelsea 5-1 Nottingham Forest
It would be a decade until the two clubs locked horns again, but their League Cup meeting in 2017 was a one-sided affair. Forest were meandering in the Championship while Chelsea were coming off the back of winning two titles in three seasons, so the scoreline was accurate to their contrasting situations.
Kenedy opened the scoring inside of 15 minutes and Michy Batshuayi quickly doubled their lead. Charly Musonda would net Chelsea’s third before the break, before Batshuayi scored twice in the second half to claim a hat-trick. Chelsea reached the semi-finals of the League Cup in 2017/18 too.
• 5/1/19 (FA Cup) Chelsea 2-0 Nottingham Forest
The FA Cup clash two years later was more respectable for Forest, even if they lost. The Reds were performing much better in the Championship with regular top-10 finishes, so they gave Chelsea a tougher time.
But Forest were enduring a 27th year without silverware while Chelsea were coming off the back of an FA Cup win and League Cup semi-final the year previous, so the two were going in opposite directions.
2020s
• 5/1/20 (FA Cup): Chelsea 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea enjoyed another cup win over Forest in January 2020, thanks to goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ross Barkley in the third-round victory.
• 1/1/23 (Premier League): Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
• 13/5/23 (Premier League): Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Forest and Chelsea would finally meet in the Premier League again after the Reds were promoted in 2022.
Forest even picked up points from both games despite their 24-year absence, rescuing a draw at home from a second-half Serge Aurier goal, and coming from behind away to Chelsea thanks to a Taiwo Awoniyi brace, so it was a happy homecoming.
Their best days are arguably behind them now, however.
• 2/9/23 (Premier League): Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest
On September 2, 2023, Forest ended a 16-year wait to beat Chelsea and an 18-year wait to win at Stamford Bridge, earning a 1-0 victory near the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
Chelsea came close to opening the scoring in the first half when Ben Chilwell found Raheem Sterling in the box, but Ola Aina read thwarted his effort with a sliding tackle. Conor Gallagher then fired a long-range chance just over the bar as the Blues exerted some pressure, but Forest always posed a threat.
Taiwo Awoniyi hit an effort over the bar from close range after Chelsea failed to clear their lines from a freekick. Awoniyi came even closer with a bicycle kick in the six-yard box, but the angle didn’t favour him and he failed to hit the target.
Chelsea didn’t heed the warning with Awoniyi, and he would set up the winning goal in the second half. Moises Caicedo lost the ball after miscommunication from Conor Gallagher and Awoniyi slipped in Anthony Elanga to side-foot into the back of the net.
Forest hadn’t won a league game at the Bridge since 1995, but Chelsea’s home form had fallen apart since the start of the 2022/23. The Reds certainly smelled blood took full advantage.
11/5/24 (Premier League): Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
Chelsea picked up all three points in their penultimate away game of the Premier League season, coming from behind against Nottingham Forest to win late on. The Blues exacted their revenge for September’s defeat to the Reds, courtesy of goals from Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea took the lead in the 8th minute through Mudryk. Cole Palmer played a brilliant through ball that evaded the defence, and Mudryk slotted home after collecting in his stride. The move ripped the Forest defence to pieces within seconds, but the lead didn’t last.
Forest equalised after 15 minutes through Willy Boly. Morgan Gibbs-White floated in a free-kick from deep, and Boly rose unmarked to head home from close range. The two sides went into the break level, but Forest came out much strong in the second half.
The hosts nearly took the lead through Ryan Yates, but his low drive from distance went just wide of the post. Forest had another opportunity, with Gibbs-White hitting the post with a close-range header while Wood fired over from six yards.
Chelsea did respond, hitting the woodwork when Thiago Silva connected with a Palmer free-kick, but Forest showed more threat.
Callum Hudson-Odoi hit the crossbar with a curled effort from the edge of the box. He had another opportunity after cutting inside on his right foot and made no mistake the second time. Hudson-Odoi found the far corner with a curled effort, giving Forest the lead in the 74th minute.
Chelsea took mere minutes to respond, however, with Sterling scoring a carbon-copy goal to Hudson-Odoi. He cut inside on his right foot and found the far corner with a low effort. And just two minutes later, Chelsea found a winner, breaking Forest hearts near the death.
Jackson headed home from close range after being picked out by Reece James on the right flank. Chelsea took all three points.
6/10/24 (Premier League): Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea were unable to secure consecutive league victories over Nottingham Forest when the two sides clashed on Sunday. The Blues were favourites to win at Stamford Bridge but had to settle for a point against a 10-man Forest.
Chelsea should have taken the lead after capitalising on a defensive error from Murillo, but Forest recovered in numbers. Noni Madueke stole the ball and drove into the box, squaring for Cole Palmer, but Ola Aina blocked his effort.
Palmer’s shot went through Matz Sels’ legs and hit the post, but the Forest goalkeeper grabbed it in time. It was the best opportunity of the first half and Chelsea would rue the miss after the break…
Just minutes into the second half, Forest took the lead through Chris Wood. Forest lofted a free-kick from deep into the Chelsea box and Malo Gusto didn’t deal with it. Nikola Milenkovic beat him in the air and flicked the ball to Wood who slid home from close range.
Chelsea would respond quickly, however, through Madueke before the hour mark. He collected the ball on the right from Palmer, cut inside and fired into the bottom corner. Madueke had been threatening all game and got his reward for all his efforts.
Forest would go down to 10-men when James Ward-Prowse deliberately handed the ball. Nicolas Jackson was in on goal, but Ward-Prowse fell on the ball as he couldn’t catch him. He was given a second yellow card, forcing Forest to play the last 12 minutes with one man less.
Chelsea nearly made Forest pay, with Palmer forcing two close-range saves in quick succession, but Sels stayed firm. Forest had a late opportunity of their own to win it, but Neco Williams’ effort was tipped round the post.
Williams was put through on goal after a move with Anthony Elanga, but he couldn’t find the far corner. And seconds later, Christopher Nkunku was picked out on the six-yard box but couldn’t beat Sels with his header.
Forest kept trying, with Elanga picking out Jota Silva, but Robert Sanchez got down fast to save his header. Both sides were made to settle for a well-earned point and may feel they could have won it.
Sanchez and Sels put in brilliant performances in goal and deserved the plaudits.
Chelsea honours
• First Division/Premier League (6): 1954–55, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17
• Second Division (2): 1983–84, 1988–89
• FA Cup (8): 1969–70, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2017–18
• League Cup (5): 1964–65, 1997–98, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2014–15
• Community Shield (4): 1955, 2000, 2005, 2009
• Full Members Cup (2): 1986, 1990
• Champions League (2): 2011/12, 2020/21
• Europa League: 2012–13, 2018–19
• Cup Winners’ Cup: 1970–71, 1997–98
• UEFA Super Cup: 1998, 2021
• Club World Cup: 2021
Nottm Forest honours
• First Division: 1977/78
• Second Division / Championship: 1906–07, 1921–22, 1997–98, 2022
• Third Division South: 1950–51
• FA Cup: 1897–98, 1958–59
• League Cup: 1977–78, 1978–79, 1988–89, 1989–90
• Community Shield: 1978
• Full Members Cup: 1988–89, 1991–92
• European Cup / Champions League: 1978–79, 1979–80
• Euro Super Cup: 1979