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:
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Chelsea
79 mins: James’ first involvement is to make an overlapping run into the box and cut back a nice cross, but it’s turned behind.
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Chelsea
78 mins: Gusto does well to carry it into the box, but his cross is wasteful.
Gallagher comes off for club captain Reece James.
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Chelsea
77 mins: The City Ground is in a jubilant mood now. Niakhate is booked for taking too long over a free-kick.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 2-1 Chelsea
74 mins: GOAL! And who else would it be?
Sels knocks it long and it runs to Morgan Gibbs-White, who surges towards the box and then spreads it wide to Hudson-Odoi.
The former Chelsea man cuts inside and bends a lovely effort past the defenders which nestles in the bottom corner of Petrovic’s net! Muted celebrations from the English winger.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
72 mins: Forest make some changes now. Montiel and Yates come off for Anthony Elanga and Harry Toffolo.
For Chelsea, Raheem Sterling replaces Mudryk.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
71 mins: Another Forest counter is led by Hudson-Odoi, and this time, rather than laying off a pass, he opts for the curled shot. It’s a decent effort which clips the bar as it goes over.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
68 mins: Forest counter again, once again with Hudson-Odoi down the left. He lays it off to another former Chelsea man, Ola Aina, who fizzes a low shot past the near post.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
67 mins: Appeals for handball as the balls seems to bounce off Murillo, but nothing doing for the VAR. Moments later, Jackson’s pass is just inches away from landing at Nkunku’s feet in the box.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
66 mins: Palmer’s effort crashes against the Forest wall, and Chelsea recycle possession.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
64 mins: Mudryk clips a long ball towards Jackson, but he’s isolated and loses the header.
Soon after, Palmer skips past Murillo’s challenge before being brought down right on the edge of the box by Danilo.
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