Nottingham Forest and Chelsea shared the spoils on New Year’s Day, with the house aspect combating again to earn a deserved level.
Chelsea dominated possession from the off however the first probability of the match would fall to the hosts, with Brennan Johnson being performed by means of on objective by Morgan Gibbs-White however seeing his effort saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
He was made to pay for that miss simply 5 minutes later when Raheem Sterling gave Chelsea the lead, tucking in a rebound after Christian Pulisic’s cross was inadvertently flicked onto the bar by Willy Boly.
The guests managed proceedings after that with the vast majority of the sport being performed inside Nottingham Forest’s half.
For all of their possession although, Graham Potter’s aspect weren’t capable of create another huge probabilities, and they also headed into the break with simply the one objective lead.
The house aspect made a robust begin to the second half with Taiwo Awoniyi getting the ball within the field and firing an effort straight at Kepa shortly earlier than the Spanish goalkeeper was compelled into motion once more, palming away a shot from Johnson.
Forest continued to push and Gibbs-White so practically introduced them stage in gorgeous trend, hitting the woodwork with an ideal volley from the sting of the field.
Steve Cooper’s crew have been rewarded for his or her efforts simply after the hour mark when Serge Aurier managed a knock-down from a nook together with his chest and volleyed in from shut vary.
Chelsea followers would’ve hoped that might spark their crew into life however that wasn’t the case with Forest persevering with to be the extra threatening of the 2 groups.
Substitutions then turned the tide of the sport within the away crew’s favour although, and two of them linked up when Hakim Ziyech despatched in a cross for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, however the striker headed broad of the goal below stress from Aurier.
That would show to be the ultimate huge probability of the match with Nottingham Forest holding on pretty comfortably to take a worthwhile and deserved level.
GK – Dean Henderson – 5/10 – Had a quiet evening, solely confronted two photographs on objective however perhaps may have reacted faster for the one which went in.
RB – Serge Aurier – 7/10 – After a quiet first half he obtained ahead nicely within the second and took his objective excellently.
CB – Joe Worrall – 6/10 – Didn’t do a lot mistaken on the again, serving to preserve Chelsea’s assault quiet.
CB – Willy Boly – 7/10 – Was unfortunate for the Chelsea objective and made amends with an help and a few wonderful defending in a while.
LB – Renan Lodi – 5/10 – Looked shaky on the again at occasions and could not do an excessive amount of on the different finish both.
CM – Orel Mangala – 5/10 – Wasn’t capable of assert himself on the sport a lot, failing to make a single deal with or create something for his forwards.
CM – Remo Freuler – 7/10 – Played rather well on the coronary heart of the midfield, profitable the ball again and maintaining issues ticking over for his crew.
CM – Ryan Yates – 6/10 – Worked laborious however lacked a little bit of high quality and was a bit too rash at occasions out and in of possession.
RW – Brennan Johnson – 6/10 – Caused some issues for the Chelsea defence together with his tempo however lacked an finish product, firing two huge probabilities straight at Kepa.
ST – Morgan Gibbs-White – 8/10 – Easily the perfect attacker on the pitch, creating two enormous probabilities with wonderful passes, dribbling previous opponents plenty of occasions and so practically scoring a beautiful objective.
LW – Taiwo Awoniyi – 7/10 – Was an actual livewire on the left wing, taking over gamers, profitable the ball and creating some probabilities. The solely space by which he was missing was his taking pictures.
Substitutes
Jack Colback (78′ for Mangala) – N/A.
Sam Surridge (82′ for Johnson) – N/A.
Neco Williams (88′ for Awoniyi) – N/A.
Manager
Steve Cooper – 8/10 – Reacted excellently to going behind, making tactical tweaks that noticed his crew dominate many of the second half.
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7/10 – Made just a few wonderful saves and could not do something in regards to the objective.
RB: Cesar Azpilicueta – 5/10 – Was okay on the again more often than not however struggled to take care of Awoniyi’s physicality and did not do a complete lot going ahead.
CB: Kalidou Koulibaly – 6/10 – Defended nicely for many of the match and handed the ball nicely.
CB: Thiago Silva – 7/10 – Continues to be Chelsea’s greatest defender, not often placing a foot mistaken.
LB: Marc Cucurella – 5/10 – Would’ve hoped to make extra of an impression in assault.
CM: Jorginho – 5/10 – Couldn’t dictate the sport as he likes to, not making a lot of an impression when on the ball.
CM: Denis Zakaria – 4/10 – Wasn’t good in the midst of the park, failing to create any probabilities or win the ball again a lot.
RM: Raheem Sterling – 6/10 – Scored a superb objective and created an opportunity however was quiet asides from these moments.
AM: Mason Mount – 5/10 – Got on the ball greater than his midfield companions however did not make a lot use of it.
LM: Christian Pulisic – 6/10 – Sent in a superb cross for the opening objective and was his crew’s greatest menace for a lot of the match.
CF: Kai Havertz – 3/10 – Was invisible for many of the match.
Substitutes
Mateo Kovacic (61′ for Zakaria) – 5/10 – Wasn’t capable of assist his crew wrestle again management of the sport.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (73′ for Mount) – N/A
Conor Gallagher (73′ for Sterling) – N/A
Hakim Ziyech (73′ for Jorginho) – N/A
Carney Chukwuemeka (87′ for Pulisic) – N/A
Manager
Graham Potter – 4/10 – His crew began nicely however why he allowed them to offer away management of the match after taking the lead we do not know. Far too cautious and it price Chelsea.
Player of the Match – Morgan Gibbs-White
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News