Chelsea headed into the game having finally put an end to their poor run of form earlier this week when they beat Bournemouth 2-0.
That result left Chelsea within eight points off 4th place, a gap that would be reduced to eight with a win over the struggling Forest team.
And when all was said and done at the City Ground,
Chelsea started on the front foot with Denis Zakaria finding Mason Mount with a long ball into the box, which the Englishman fired over from.
Nottingham Forest then probably should have scored nine minutes in when Brenan Johnson was played through on goal but his shot was weak and Kepa timed his run well.
But it was the Blues who broke the deadlock via Raheem Sterling. Christian Pulisic floated in a cross, which Wily Boly kicked onto his own crossbar. The loose ball fell to Sterling who slotted home.
STERLING! 💥
Raheem Sterling makes no mistake from close range to give Chelsea the lead! 💪 pic.twitter.com/rdugKzmBvO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 1, 2023
After looking lethargic in their emergence for the 2nd-half of action, though, Chelsea were soon made to pay.
Shortly after Morgan Gibbs-White had rattled the crossbar with a wonderful effort, a whipped corner into the visitors’ penalty area caused chaos, opening the door for former Tottenham defender Serge Aurier to slot home in cool fashion, bringing Forest level:
Serge Aurier smashes the ball home! 💥
And just listen to that reaction! 🔊 pic.twitter.com/rBU3AUNkML
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 1, 2023
Graham Potter, from here, opted to change things up, introducing the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a desperate search for a late Chelsea winner.
In truth, though, for lengthy stretches, it was Steve Cooper’s hosts who looked the more likely to steal all three points.
Nevertheless, upon the final whistle sounding at the City Ground, both sides were forced to settle for a share of the spoils, in yet another heavy blow to Chelsea’s dwindling hopes of clinching a top-4 berth.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Nottingham Forest
- GK: Dean Henderson – 5.5
- RB: Serge Aurier – 7
- CB: Joe Worrall – 6
- CB: Willy Boly – 7.5
- LB: Renan Lodi – 6
- CM: Ryan Yates – 5.5
- CM: Remo Freuler – 6.5
- CM: Orel Mangala – 5.5
- RW: Brenan Johnson – 6
- ST: Taiwo Awoniyi – 6.5
- LW: Morgan Gibbs-White – 7
Substitutes
Jack Colback – 5.5, Sam Surridge – 5.5
Chelsea
- GK: Kepa – 6.5
- RB: Cesar Azpilicueta – 6
- CB: Kalido Koulibaly – 5
- CB: Thiago Silva – 7
- LB: Marc Cucurella – 6.5
- CM: Jorginho – 5
- CM: Denis Zakaria – 6
- CAM: Mason Mount – 5.5
- RW: Raheem Sterling – 6
- ST: Kai Havertz – 5
- LW: Christian Pulisic – 5.5
Substitutes
Mateo Kovacic – 5.5, Conor Gallagher – 5, Hakim Ziyech – 6, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 5
Match reaction
Guess who is at the City Ground: https://t.co/HEb0CrBqGd #CFC #NOTCHE pic.twitter.com/7tJ6teItPJ
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) January 1, 2023
Chelsea needed that goal. Forest had started to look hugely threatening in transition, with too much space in midfield to break forward into. #CFC
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) January 1, 2023
Still a massive hole in midfield, defensively and lack of connection with the forwards, thanks to Jorginho stripping on a Sunday night.
— Nico (@NS_Genesio) January 1, 2023
Clear to see why we need one or two more younger CBs in our squad. Potter’s setup can be open on counter, and both Koulibaly and Silva are going to be done on pace every time.
— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) January 1, 2023
I’ve now heard a minority of Nottingham Forest fans singing Hillsborough chants against Liverpool and homophobic chants against Chelsea this season. It has to be stopped – it sullies the club’s name.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) January 1, 2023
Forest have begun creating chances here. Johnson wasting a big one. He has been a dangerous outlet. Don’t blame him for shooting. Thiago Silva blocked off the square ball to Awonyi well. #CFC #NOTCHE
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) January 1, 2023
Zakaria wanted all the smoke.. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/AgK3QIyWdb
— Conn (@ConnCFC) January 1, 2023
Chelsea need Enzo Fernandez ASAP Idcccc mannn how much he is
Just pay upppp the moneyyyy
— andirozidan #PochMagic (@Andirozidan21) January 1, 2023
Azpilicueta is an absolute liability.
— Futbol Chelsea (@FutbolCheIsea) January 1, 2023
forest fully deserve that goal but how can chelsea play so poorly after the first half?? it’s so frustrating to watch
— ☾san (@sanarscorm) January 1, 2023
Chelsea look a lot better since the changes.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) January 1, 2023
Koulibaly man this is a disasterclass
— CarefreeLewisG🇪🇹 (@CarefreeLewisG) January 1, 2023
Why were both Chelsea full-backs tucked infield with a narrow front 3? Why was Havertz dropping with nobody then penetrating in-behind? Potter’s structure in possession didn’t look right. Chelsea are missing some attacking profiles but Potter is not maximising what he has either.
— Premier League Panel (@PremLeaguePanel) January 1, 2023
Potter Graham, you’re not the man.
— Alabi (@the_Lawrenz) January 1, 2023
Nottm Forest (1.16) 1-1 (1.12) Chelsea
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) January 1, 2023
Key stats
Raheem Sterling since club football returned:
🏟️ 2 games
⚽ 1 goal
🅰️ 1 assistStarts 2023 in an excellent way. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/G65UIK4dHd
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 1, 2023
Raheem Sterling has now scored as many Premier League goals as Ian Wright (113).
London’s finest. 🤝
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) January 1, 2023
Amount of touches in the first-half of Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea:
◉ Koulibaly and Thiago Silva: 167
◎ Every Forest player combined: 164#NFOCHE— Squawka (@Squawka) January 1, 2023
Chelsea have failed to win their first PL game of the last SEVEN calendar years:
❌ 0-2 v Spurs (2017)
🤝 2-2 v Arsenal (2018)
🤝 0-0 v Southampton (2019)
🤝 1-1 v Brighton (2020)
❌ 1-3 v Man City (2021)
🤝 2-2 v Liverpool (2022)
🤝 1-1 v Forest (2023)New Year’s Blues…
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) January 1, 2023
Chelsea’s last four Premier League away games:
◎ 0-0 vs Brentford
◎ 4-1 vs Brighton
◎ 1-0 vs Newcastle
◎ 1-1 vs Nottingham Forest2 points from 12. 😬 pic.twitter.com/QZS6IAaZQf
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 1, 2023
25 – Chelsea have just 25 points in their 16 Premier League matches this season (W7 D4 L5), their fewest at this stage since the 2015-16 campaign, when they finished 10th. Listless. pic.twitter.com/5hou2hzgFl
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 1, 2023
Thomas Tuchel’s first 10 Premier League matches as Chelsea head coach:
6 wins
4 draws
0 defeats
11 goals scored
2 goals concededGraham Potter’s first 10 Premier League matches as Chelsea head coach:
4 wins
3 draws
3 defeats
11 goals scored
10 goals conceded#CFC— bet365 (@bet365) January 1, 2023
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