A lackluster Chelsea drew 1-1 at Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Day, a result that dealt a major blow to Graham Potter’s side in their quest for a UEFA Champions League place. The Blues have only won one of their last five league games and currently sit eighth in the standings, seven points behind Manchester United to finish in the top four.
The Blues had most of the possession in the first half and asserted their superiority when Raheem Sterling opened the scoring for the evening on 16 minutes.
The right winger scored from close range after Willy Boly strangely deflected Christian Pulisic’s effort onto his own bar. This came just a minute after Forest had blasted his way towards goal with a ferocious 16-yard effort from Morgan Gibbs-White blocked by César Azpilicueta.
Forest manager outperforms Graham Potter trainers
Despite conceding, the home team never put their heads down and looked to hit Chelsea at half-time. Steve Cooper had come in with a clear game plan, absorb the pressure by defending stoically and then hit the Blues on the wings.
Forest, however, looked much better from both sides. The home team had a great chance to score just four minutes after the break when Brennan Johnson finished in a curling shot that was parried by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Forest came close once again on 55 minutes when Gibbs-White hit the bar with a sensational shot from the edge of the box.
Eight minutes later, the hosts were finally level when Serge Aurier finished off a great shot from a corner. The right-back chested the ball in before twisting his body to fit on goal with a fine volley through Kepa’s legs.
Chelsea rue missed opportunities
As both teams pressed for a winner, Chelsea could have returned home had the three points made contact with substitute striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following a glorious cross from Hakim Ziyech down the right wing in the 81st minute.
When the final whistle blows Forest would be the happier of either side as the point meant they are now up one place to 18th with one point from safety.
Cooper said after the game: “We should take a lot of the performance and some internal credit for the job the players are doing. If someone said that we would create so many good chances against a team like Chelsea, you would take it.”
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