Kick-Off: 15:00 BST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
On a brisk autumn afternoon, Stamford Bridge hosted an intense Premier League fixture as Chelsea FC took on Nottingham Forest. Both teams were seeking to build momentum heading into the international break, with Chelsea sitting fourth in the table and Forest aiming to close the gap from ninth. Chelsea came into the match off the back of some impressive performances, particularly from Cole Palmer, who had emerged as a key attacking force. Meanwhile, Forest had been proving difficult opponents for top-four teams, having already taken points off Liverpool earlier in the season.
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Head to Head
Historically, Chelsea FC has dominated this fixture, especially at Stamford Bridge, but Nottingham Forest’s recent form against top opposition made this contest a more even affair. Chelsea had won 7 of their last 10 matches against Forest, but with the visitors riding high on confidence after recent big wins, this encounter promised to be unpredictable.
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Lineups
Chelsea FC (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Robert Sánchez
- RB: Malo Gusto
- CB: Wesley Fofana – (Yellow 90+12’)
- CB: Levi Colwill – (Yellow 89’)
- LB: Marc Cucurella
- CM: Moisés Caicedo – (Yellow 21’)
- CM: Enzo Fernández – (Off 81’)
- RW: Noni Madueke – (Goal 57’, Off 90’)
- CAM: Cole Palmer – (Assist 57’, Yellow 75’)
- LW: Jadon Sancho – (Off 90’)
- ST: Nicolas Jackson – (Off 81’)
Substitutes:
- Tosin Adarabioyo (On 90+3’ for Colwill)
- Pedro Neto (On 90’ for Madueke) – (Yellow 90+8’)
- João Félix (On 81’ for Fernández)
- Mykhailo Mudryk (On 90’ for Sancho)
- Christopher Nkunku (On 81’ for Jackson)
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Matz Sels – (Yellow 90+5’)
- RB: Ola Aina
- CB: Nikola Milenkovic – (Assist 49’)
- CB: Murillo
- LB: Álex Moreno – (Off 82’)
- CM: Ryan Yates
- CM: James Ward-Prowse – (Red 78’, Yellow 36’)
- RW: Elliot Anderson – (Off 66’)
- CAM: Morgan Gibbs-White – (Off 76’)
- LW: Callum Hudson-Odoi – (Off 82’)
- ST: Chris Wood – (Goal 49’, Off 82’)
Substitutes:
- Neco Williams (On 82’ for Moreno) – (Yellow 89’)
- Nicolás Domínguez (On 76’ for Gibbs-White)
- Anthony Elanga (On 82’ for Wood)
- Jota Silva (On 66’ for Anderson)
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest First Half
Chelsea began the game on the front foot, dominating possession early but struggling to break down a well-organized Nottingham Forest defense. Noni Madueke looked lively on the right, linking well with Cole Palmer, but the Blues failed to create clear-cut chances. Forest, meanwhile, sat back, absorbing pressure and occasionally threatening on the break. A notable effort came from Forest’s Murillo, who tested Sánchez from distance in the 39th minute.
The first half ended goalless, with Chelsea having the lion’s share of possession but lacking the killer instinct in front of goal. Forest’s defensive resilience was evident as they kept Chelsea at bay.
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Half-time: Chelsea 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Second Half
The game burst into life after the break. In the 49th minute, Nottingham Forest took a shock lead against the run of play. James Ward-Prowse delivered a dangerous free-kick into the box, which Nikola Milenkovic headed down to Chris Wood. The New Zealand striker made no mistake, poking the ball past Sánchez to give Forest a 1-0 lead.
However, Chelsea responded quickly. Just eight minutes later, Cole Palmer found Noni Madueke with a precise pass. Madueke cut inside from the right and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 57th minute.
The game took a dramatic turn in the 78th minute when Nottingham Forest’s James Ward-Prowse received his second yellow card for a deliberate handball, reducing Forest to 10 men. Chelsea pushed forward in search of a winner, but despite late chances from Palmer and Nkunku, Forest held firm.
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Full-time: Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Stats
| Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Stats | Chelsea | Nottingham Forest |
| Possession (%) | 65 | 35 |
| Shots (on target) | 18 (7) | 9 (4) |
| Corners | 8 | 5 |
| Fouls | 14 | 12 |
| Yellow Cards | 5 | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 1 |
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Timeline
- 49’ Goal: Chris Wood scores for Nottingham Forest after a headed assist by Nikola Milenkovic.
- 57’ Goal: Noni Madueke equalizes for Chelsea with a low shot to the bottom left corner, assisted by Cole Palmer.
- 78’ Red Card: James Ward-Prowse (Nott’m Forest) is sent off for a second yellow card after a deliberate handball.
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Impact on Points Table
Chelsea remained in 4th place with 14 points after the draw, maintaining their spot in the top four heading into the international break. Nottingham Forest, with this hard-fought point, climbed to 10 points and moved up to 9th place. The result helped Forest solidify their reputation as a team that can challenge the top teams in the Premier League.
Player Achievements
- Cole Palmer was heavily involved, providing the assist for Chelsea’s equalizer and creating several chances. He was voted by the fans as the standout player.
- Noni Madueke’s goal secured a point for Chelsea, adding to his growing influence in the squad.
- Chris Wood’s goal continued his fine form for Nottingham Forest, being clinical in front of goal when it mattered most.
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest Man of the Match
The fans voted Cole Palmer as the Man of the Match for his creativity and involvement in Chelsea’s goal.
Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest provided an intense contest full of drama, with both sides battling hard. Chelsea dominated possession, but Forest’s resilient defense and Wood’s opener made them work for the draw. Despite Ward-Prowse’s red card and a late flurry of Chelsea attacks, Nottingham Forest held on to secure a point. Both teams will now turn their focus to the international break, with Chelsea needing to find more cutting-edge play and Forest continuing to surprise top teams.
FAQs
- Who scored the goals in Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest?
- Chris Wood scored for Nottingham Forest in the 49th minute, while Noni Madueke equalized for Chelsea in the 57th minute.
- Who was the Man of the Match in the Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest?
- Cole Palmer was voted Man of the Match for his assist and overall playmaking ability.
- What was the impact of the Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest match on the league table?
- Chelsea stayed in 4th place with 14 points, while Nottingham Forest moved up to 9th with 10 points.
- What key events defined the Chelsea FC vs Nottingham Forest match?
- The key events were Chris Wood’s opening goal, Madueke’s equalizer, and Ward-Prowse’s red card, which tilted the momentum in Chelsea’s favor, though they couldn’t capitalize.
