Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira expressed confidence that his team can end the season “in a fantastic way” following a commanding 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The result condemned Chelsea to a sixth consecutive Premier League defeat, their worst losing streak since 1993.
Dominant Display from Forest
Forest, who made eight changes to their starting lineup with an eye on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa, were in control from the outset. Taiwo Awoniyi headed them in front after just 98 seconds, and Igor Jesus converted a penalty to make it 2-0 before half-time. Awoniyi added his second and Forest’s third early in the second half.
Chelsea’s teenage debutant Jesse Derry suffered a serious head injury late in the first half after colliding with Zach Abbott and was taken to hospital on a stretcher with an oxygen mask. The club later confirmed he was conscious. Cole Palmer missed a penalty for the hosts, who finally ended a two-month league goal drought when Joao Pedro scored a stoppage-time overhead kick.
The victory moved Forest six points clear of the relegation zone and set them up perfectly for the European clash. Pereira praised his squad’s resilience, noting they have worked under four different managers this season. “This is the spirit of this group,” he said. “You are a special group because you work with four different managers, different ways to think football, different methodologies. And you faced a difficult season. Now you are in a moment of the season that you keep the friendship, you take care of yourselves, you are resilient, you are confident, you have the belief and ambition. The moment of the season we decide everything. We can finish the season in a fantastic way.”
Injury Concerns
Morgan Gibbs-White and Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez both went off after colliding in the second half. Pereira hopes Gibbs-White can recover for the Villa match. “He has a deep cut. We’ll see. He’s a fighter, he has a strong mentality. I hope our medical department can do magic to put him in condition. I had a conversation with him. He’s speaking normally, he remembers everything. Zach I spoke with in the dressing room. He’s OK.”
Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane provided a positive update on Derry: “We’re hearing positive signs from Jesse and Rob. I’m pleased for Jesse, he performed well while he was on the pitch but there’s more important things to think about right now.” The result leaves Chelsea in ninth place, ending their slim hopes of a top-five finish and Champions League qualification. McFarlane said: “Really disappointed with the performance and result. I don’t think we got to our level today that I know we’re capable of. I know the group. They are driven, they want what’s best for themselves and what’s best for the club. We’re going to try and win every single game until the end of the season.”
