Nottingham Forest v Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Blues edge thriller
Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea: Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson ensure a late turnaround to put Blues in position for a European place
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Late goals from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson lifted Chelsea to a 3-2 Premier League victory at Nottingham Forest that left the hosts mathematically still in danger of relegation.
Mykhailo Mudryk also scored for Mauricio Pochettino’s team, who are seventh in the table with two games remaining. Forest are 17th and three points clear of 18th-placed Luton Town, but with a vastly superior goal difference that should ensure their Premier League survival. Both Forest and Luton have a game remaining.
Chelsea got on the scoreboard in the sixth minute when Cole Palmer sent a through ball to Mudryk, who swept a shot into the far bottom corner. Strikes from Willy Boly in the 16th minute and Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 74th made for a carnival atmosphere at the City Ground.
But Sterling scored the equaliser in the 80th minute and then Jackson silenced the Forest crowd two minutes later when he headed in a cross from skipper Reece James.
Relive all the action from The City Ground below:
Chelsea boost European hopes as late goals stun Nottingham Forest
Chelsea continued their late surge for European qualification with a frantic 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest, who missed the chance to confirm their Premier League survival in style.
Goals from Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson made it three successive wins for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who are now level with sixth-placed Newcastle with two games to go.
Pochettino, who has said his future at the club will be decided “in one week”, could yet lead the Blues into the Europa League or Europa Conference League, depending on Manchester United’s final league position and whether they win the FA Cup or not.
Chelsea boost European hopes as late goals stun Nottingham Forest
Forest are still not mathematically safe from relegation.
FT: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
Nuno Espirito Santo is the final face in front of the cameras. He says that his side “allowed Chelsea in with bad defending”, and “should have got another prize”.
““I think we had chances to win the game, we were dominant and controlling the game. But we allowed them in. With the chances we had, we should have finished the game.
“There were moments we did really well but at the same time a lot of things repeat themselves. Through the season, we are not managing the game well when we have an advantage.
“We will prepare for the game [against Burnley] the way we always do, to complete well, because It’s important to finish this season on a high.
“As a club we have a lot of things to learn. They took four points away from us, but we as a team also have things to improve. But I think we have the foundation and the talent to do much better.”
Luton all but relegated as West Ham win David Moyes’s home farewell
In the other important game at the bottom end of the table, West Ham came back from a goal down to more or less condemn Luton to relegation.
Albert Sambi Lokonga looked set to spoil Moyes’ party and give Luton a chance of taking the survival fight to the final day when he fired the visitors into an early lead.
But second-half goals from James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek and teenager George Earthy gave Moyes a winning send-off in his final home match in charge.
Luton all but relegated as West Ham win David Moyes’s home farewell
West Ham 3-1 Luton: The Hatters will drop straight back to the Championship as they sit three points from safety with a game to go but have a much inferior goal difference than Nottingham Forest
Burnley have Premier League relegation confirmed after Tottenham comeback win
Burnley were relegated from the Premier League earlier today after Micky van de Ven’s 82nd-minute winner earned Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 comeback victory.
Vincent Kompany’s Clarets had to claim all three points to keep alive their faint hopes of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship. But van de Ven’s late goal sent Burnley back to the second tier while keeping also keeping Tottenham in the hunt for Champions League qualification after they closed the gap to fourth-placed Villa to just four points.
Burnley have Premier League relegation confirmed after Tottenham comeback win
Tottenham 2-1 Burnley: Micky van de Ven’s late winner confirmed Burnley’s fate as they immediately return to the Championship
FT: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is next to come in front of the Sky cameras.
“The best thing is the way that we always believe until the end,” he says.
“I am pleased because the players from the bench made a big impact so I am happy with our recovery. It was important for the team to finish the season strong, with the hope to start next season really well.
“If we are honest we were punished in our first 10 games. Our performance was good but we were not clinical and we wasted big chances. All the data said we were in a false position.
“After we beat Tottenham, in the last 24 games we are in the top four or five. The players believe in the way that we work”.
The Argentine finishes by saying that “if the owner is happy with my job we can continue”.
“I am always a coach who is thinking long term. All departments must be happy for us to be a good team to compete. I still have one more year in my contract and I am thinking to be here.”
FT: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
Reece James and Cole Palmer are speaking to Sky. The Chelsea captain says that it’s great to be back on the pitch.
“It’s been a long five months since I’ve played, so I’m happy I could make my comeback today and help the team.”
Palmer says that he’s happy James is back, adding that “everyone knows how good he is”.
James adds that Chelsea are learning every day, explaining that “we’re still young but we are improving and we’re coming strong at the end of the season”.
“Cole Palmer is one of the best in the world, I think personally. At City he didn’t play as much as he would like but he has come here and taken the chance with both hands.
“Slowly but surely we are finding our feet and reaching a level.”
Palmer replies that he “wouldn’t go that far, but it’s nice to hear”.
“This is my first season playing properly in the league. It was a very important win and now we focus on the next one,” he adds.
FT: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
For the home side, it’s another week until they can mathematically confirm safety, but a game against Burnley – who were relegated this afternoon – won’t provide enough of a turnaround for Luton to survive (barring arguably the biggest miracle the league has ever seen).
Matters are a little more complicated for Chelsea, who face a fight from Newcastle and Manchester United to qualify for next season’s European competitions.
Whatever happens, if Manchester United win the FA Cup, they’ll qualify for the Europa League. However, as that’s looking extremely improbable, it’s likely that whoever finishes sixth will qualify for the Europa League, with the seventh-placed team going into the Europa Conference.
Newcastle are level on points with Chelsea, but they have a 10-goal advantage in goal difference. Both sides have two games left to play: Chelsea visit Brighton before hosting Bournemouth on the final day, while Newcastle travel to Manchester United in midweek before their final game of the season away at Brentford.
Read more on European qualification below.
Which Premier League sides qualify for Europe this season?
There are places in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League still up for grabs
FT: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
FT: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
FULL-TIME! A hugely entertaining game comes to an end and Chelsea take one more step towards European qualification after an enthralling turnaround between 80 and 83 minutes.
Forest will have to wait until next week to officially confirm their Premier League status next week, but the (tentative) partying can begin in Nottingham.
Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
97 mins: Forest have one more chance with an Aina long throw. It’s launched in but Cucurella clears, but the whistle still isn’t going. We’re into minute eight as Gibbs-white lashes at a half- volley, which goes behind.
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