The match report from Monday afternoon, where Chelsea were yet again humiliated in the Premier League in more and more embarrassing circumstances
On Monday afternoon, at 15:00 BST, Chelsea hosted Nottingham Forest for the penultimate game of Premier League match day 35.
For the task at hand on this bank holiday, Calum McFarlane opted for a starting XI of; Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Derry; Pedro.
A first senior start for Jamie Derry, an amazing achievement for him and his family. Levi Colwill was named amongst the subs, for his first appearance in a match day squad since the Club World Cup final. Reece James was also in the squad, for the first time since the defeat to Newcastle United in mid March.
After just two minutes of the game, despite making wholesale changes, Forest took the lead, after Taiwo Awoniyi headed home a great cross from the right hand side.
With a little over ten minutes on the clock, nice work down the left from Derry and Joao Pedro saw the ball laid off to Enzo Fernandez, with his curling effort hitting the far post. Unlucky.
However, within 90 seconds, the visitors had a penalty, after Malo Gusto brainlessly pulled back Awoniyi after he tried to get on the end of an inswinging cross from the right. From there, Igor Jesus converted from the spot to make it 2-0.
Just on the stroke of half time, Chelsea were awarded a penalty. There was a clash of heads between Zach Abbott of Forest and Derry, resulting in a long delay to proceedings. The Chelsea youngster was stretchered off and and replaced by Liam Delap.
Unfortunately, Cole Palmer could not convert from the spot, with his penalty being saved by Forest keeper Matz Sels down to his right hand side. After around 13 minutes total stoppage time, the half time whistle went with Forest 2-0 up.
At the break, Colwill came on for Tosin, to make his first appearance since that win over PSG last summer, in a boost for everyone involved with the club.
After 52 minutes, Forest made it 3-0. Half time substitute Morgan Gibbs-White made a great run in behind, and squared the ball to Awoniyi for his second goal of the game. So, so poor. Five minutes later, Andrey Santos replaced Romeo Lavia.
Shortly after the hour mark, there was another clash of heads, this time between Robert Sanchez and Morgan Gibbs-White. Like in the first half, both players had to be taken off, with Filip Jorgensen coming on for Chelsea.
With just under 20 minutes remaining, Chelsea thought they had one back. After Cucurella squared the ball across goal, his initial shot was saved well, before headed home the rebound. However, he had strayed marginally offside from the initial ball in.
Three minutes into stoppage time, Chelsea and Pedro did have a goal, with a superb overhead kick into the top corner from close range, ending the 9 1/2 hour goal drought in the Premier League.
That would be that, though. Chelsea condemned to yet another defeat, this time 3-1 at home to a heavily rotated Forest side.
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