Taiwo Avoni has been a constant threat to Chelsea's defence. summary
Another priceless breath of air for Nottingham Forest in their quest to survive in the Premier League, and incredibly accomplished away from home, where it was only their seventh point they have amassed all season.
Stamford Bridge is where a club struggling to stay in the Premier League can now just believe they have a chance. It sounds great, but such is the current gloom that hangs over Chelsea this clueless season, Frank Lampard's interim squad may simply prefer to be away from home. Even against Forest, who came up with a plan that worked.
Forest only had 24 percent ownership, but what they had they put to good use. A five-man defense and a midfield that did its best to back them up, relying heavily on the fact that Taiwo Avonia could come forward on his own. The answer was that he scored two goals, the second of which came when Chelsea rallied to take the lead and it looked like they could run away with him. These are the moments when the seasons can change.
Forest took advantage of every dead ball situation they could – “long, loopy shots,” as Lampard described them, as well as corners and free kicks. They sent the ball into the Chelsea box early and you could say the Chelsea centre-back did the rest. They were jumped over the first time and reacted slowly the second time. This is a worried Chelsea team praying for the end of the season. At half-time they were booed for conceding a goal, and the fans almost suppressed the same instinct at the end.
Taiwo Avoni has risen above the rest, giving Forest the lead at Stamford Bridge. Photo: Getty Images/Clive Rose
Forest will play Arsenal at home next Saturday. Crystal Palace on the last day. Perhaps 34 points is already enough for Forest, who are currently three ahead of 18th-placed Leeds United. Steve Cooper said he predicted a height advantage over Chelsea despite Lampard's five substitutions in the team that beat Bournemouth last weekend.
“Now we've got three long shots, and I do not hide the fact that I will mention this, ”said Cooper. “But it's not about throwing it in there and seeing what happens, it's about strategizing around it.”
Forest and Chelsea both have owners who have spent fortunes putting together squads that might seem mysterious. Although it must be said that Forest operates at a completely different level of the market. However, in Morgan Gibbs-White, they have a player that Todd Boly and the rest of the Chelsea consortium would surely take notice of. Felipe again confidently led the defense.
When asked if this could be called an “amazing result”, Cooper objected. “I wouldn’t say that – there are a few disappointed guys in the dressing room and I like it. Although we had to work really hard for what we got today, we could easily get a little more. So it's a mixed feeling… we went all out and stuck to the plan. We showed good resilience, losing 2:1. I wouldn't say we gave Chelsea a gift, but we could have played a lot better.”
Raheem Sterling brightened up miserable season individually and collectively with two goals. Photo: Getty Images/Darren Walsh
Forest's first goal began when Mateo Kovacic, who was later injured, kicked the ball away. Forest took his chance, worked it out from the left, where Renan Lodi landed a decent ball in the Eduardo Mendy limbo zone. Returning to the team instead of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mendy, as well as Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva, lost to Avonia with a header. He later headed in a second when Chelsea failed to complete a long-range shot.
There were two goals from Raheem Sterling in between. His first blow to the head of a landed Ryan Yates en route to the target. The second was a brilliant transition from the right foot down to the left. But Forest didn't end there.
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest 2022-23 line-ups
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