Nottingham Forest wasted several chances and injury-hit Chelsea were ruthless as they won 3-0 at the City Ground on Saturday, as Ange Postecoglou was fired by Forest just minutes after the final whistle.
The Australian coach didn’t win any of his eight games in charge of Forest in all competitions and owner Evangelos Marinakis was shown in the stands during the game but reportedly left his seat in the second half.
WATCH — Full match replay
Forest were the better team in the first half but couldn’t break through, then Chelsea scored twice in three minutes at the start of the second half through Josh Acheampong and Pedro Neto to take control of the game.
Forest missed more chances to get back into the game, then Reece James added a third late on to add further insult to injury. There was time for Malo Gusto to be sent off but it didn’t make any difference as Chelsea easily held on for the victory. With the win Chelsea move on to 14 points, while Forest remain on five points.
Ruthless Chelsea expose Forest’s set-piece weakness as Ange is out
Ange Postecoglou can point to the chances his side created, how they made life difficult for Chelsea and the control they had for large parts of the game, and that’s fair enough. But what he has to take the heat for is Forest being so unorganized defensively which is mirroring his Spurs side. It shouldn’t be this way and he should be given time to turn things around, but the same failings which saw him sacked by Spurs cost him his job at Forest. Ange was asked to turn a squad full of robust, defensively sound, counter-attacking players into a free-flowing attacking team. There are signs it is working in the general run of play but there’s also clearly a lack of of focus on the basics which Forest did so well under their previous manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Forest have now conceded 11 goals from set pieces in Ange’s eight games in charge, twice as many as any other Premier League club in that period. That isn’t good enough and of course individual mistakes are out of Postecoglou’s hands. But despite the swashbuckling football his teams play on the ball, there is clearly an issue with organization and defending generally. That is what cost Ange his job.
What’s next?
Chelsea host Ajax in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, then host Sunderland in the Premier League next Saturday. Nottingham Forest host FC Porto on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League, then head to Bournemouth next Sunday.
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea score: 0-3
Acheampong 49', Neto 52', James 84'
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Malo Gusto sent off
Yet another red card for Chelsea, their fourth in their last six games, as Malo Gusto picks up a second yellow. Chelsea will once again finish the game with 10 players.
James smashes home from a corner!
Estevao’s corner is only half cleared and it drops to Reece James who volleys home. Yet another goal conceded from a set-piece for Forest. Ange Postecoglou can’t believe it. Forest haven’t been that bad.
Estevao’s shot deflected just wide
He’s only been on for a few minutes but Estevao is looking sharp and the teenager sees his low shot deflect wide for a corner.
Igor Jesus hits the bar and post
When it’s not your day, this happens. Igor Jesus stretches well but somehow his effort hits the bar and then the post before bouncing out. Most of the Forest fans were celebrating. How did that not go in!?
Sanchez denies Milenkovic and Sangare!
Robert Sanchez with a really good double save to first deny Milenkovic’s powerful header, then Ibrahim Sangare’s rebound. Forest having a real go as we approach the final 20 minutes, but Ange looks stressed on the sidelines.
Williams should pull one back for Forest
A glorious cross to the back post finds Williams and he should score but somehow smashes his effort way off target.
Neto’s free kick sneaks home!
Chelsea are well on top and have their second. Pedro Neto’s low free kick is just around the wall but Matz Sels has to do better with that as the ball somehow sneaks in.
Chelsea’s teenager heads home!
After a set-piece is cleared, Pedro Neto clips in a cross and 19-year-old center back Josh Acheampong stayed up there and heads home. That is his first senior goal and sparks wild celebrations between the Chelsea fans and players.
Triple sub for Chelsea at half time, while Forest also make a change
Chelsea bring on Caicedo, Gittens and Guiu for Lavia, Garnacho and Santos at the break. They had to do something to get them going in attack. Igor Jesus is on for Taiwo Awoniyi up top for Forest.
Half time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
Really decent first half from Forest who couldn’t make the most of Chelsea giving the ball away on multiple occasions. Much-changed Chelsea have had a few chances on the break but have yet to going. Good first half.
Andrey Santos fires wide
A ball over the top catches out Forest and Chelsea’s Andrey Santos is in but he drags his shot just wide of the post. Despite Forest impressing for most of the first half, Chelsea so close to taking the lead before the break.
Forest should be 1-0 up!
Lavia loses the ball in a dangerous area and Morgan Gibbs-White has a free shot on goal but smashes it wide. Then moments later a long ball forward os nodded to the back post but Gibbs-White is stretching and volleys just over. Forest’s fans are loving this first 20 minutes. They should be leading. Chelsea have been way too sloppy on the ball at the back. Enzo Maresca will be shaking his head from his seat in the stands.
Anderson lets Chelsea off the hook
The ball is given away by Chelsea and Forest launch one of their famous counters but Anderson tries to cut inside on his right and Chelsea defend. Last season, that was probably a goal for Forest.
Chelsea dominating early on, but Awoniyi fails to make the most of a chance
Marc Cucurella is pushing high up on the left and popping up in dangerous positions, while both Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto are causing problems. Chelsea do look a little slack in possession at the back at times but Awoniyi can’t make the most of an opportunity.
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels; Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato; Williams, Sangare, Luiz, Anderson, Zinchenko; Gibbs-White; Awoniyi
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Acheampong, Cucurella; Gusto, Lavia; Neto, Santos, Garnacho; Joao Pedro
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
Forest have so many new players and attacking and midfield options to choose from and Ange has to get the balance and personnel right. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Omari Hutchinson could start out wide, while Morgan Gibbs-White in an attacking midfield role ahead of Elliot Anderson and Ryan Yates seems like it would be a good move. Igor Jesus and Chris Wood are also scrapping it out for the starting spot up top, though Wood has been carrying a knock. Ola Aina, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz are all struggling with injuries.
Chelsea team news, focus
The Blues have the longest injury list in the Premier League and especially in defense. Center back Levi Colwill remains out while Maresca said Friday that Benoit Badiashile has a muscular problem and won’t return until December. But Trevoh Chalobah is back from suspension and could start alongside either just-returning Wesley Fofana or Tosin Adarabioyo, although impressive youngster Josh Acheampong’s form could allow Maresca time to ease in the former two backs. Cole Palmer has been struggling with injury and will be out six more weeks but Reece James is fully fit despite ha ving to withdraw from the England squad over the break. Influential midfielder Enzo Fernandez is also a doubt after leaving the Argentina national team early during the break due to inflammation in his knee, while Pedro Neto’s status is also in question. All of that means Maresca will likely go with a very similar lineup to the team which beat Chelsea and then rely heavily on his bench with Estevao, Romeo Lavia, and Jamie Gittens pushing for starts.
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea preview
After seven games in charge of Forest he’s still searching for his first win and Forest’s fans have already started to chant “you’re getting sacked in the morning” to Ange. It’s grim. They lost 2-0 at Newcastle before the break and unless there is a huge uptick in performances and results over the next few weeks, it seems like Ange’s time alongside the River Trent is going to be extremely brief.
Chelsea will be flying after beating Liverpool before the break thanks to Estevao’s last-gasp winner at Stamford Bridge. Enzo Maresca won’t be on the sidelines for this game as he received a red card for running onto the pitch to celebrate that 95th-minute winner. The Blues’ results have been inconsistent to start the season but that’s mostly down to picking up silly red cards. If they can stay disciplined going forward, a title challenge beckons.
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea prediction
This feels like it will be tight and Chelsea’s injury issues could see them struggle to start, but they are too strong off the bench and will get the job done. Nottingham Forest 1-2 Chelsea.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday (October 18)
Venue: City Ground — Nottingham
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
