Nottingham Forest missed the chance to secure Premier League safety after losing to Chelsea
A revitalized Chelsea squad wasted no time asserting dominance as they surged ahead early in the game, courtesy of Mykhailo Mudryk‘s precise finish in the eighth minute, orchestrated by a perfectly executed pass from Cole Palmer.
However, the lead was short-lived as Willy Boly’s headed effort brought Nottingham Forest level. The momentum then swung in Forest’s favor when former Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi netted a stunning curling shot from 15 yards out, propelling his team into a 74th-minute lead.
In a match filled with excitement, Raheem Sterling, coming off the bench, equalized for Chelsea, making it 2-2, before Nicolas Jackson’s decisive strike in the 82nd minute secured the victory for Forest.
Earlier in the day, Luton’s defeat against West Ham meant that Forest needed just one point to ensure their Premier League status for a third consecutive season.
With 29 points from 37 games, they held a three-point advantage over 18th-placed Luton, with only one match remaining for both teams.
Despite their superiority in points and goal difference, Forest’s failure to secure the crucial point means their Premier League survival will be decided on the final day.
However, the odds are heavily stacked in their favor, as Luton would need a monumental 12-goal swing to avoid relegation.
Following the match, Nuno Espirito Santo and his players expressed gratitude to their supporters with a lap of honor, marking their final home game of the season.
Yet, beneath the surface, there was a sense of disappointment at missing the opportunity to guarantee safety sooner, especially after conceding two late goals to Chelsea.
Despite the challenges faced throughout the season, including the departure of key players like Brennan Johnson and the managerial upheaval with Steve Cooper’s sacking, Forest remain poised for a return to the top flight next season, barring an unforeseen turn of events on the final day of the campaign.
Nottingham Forest missed the chance to secure Premier League safety after losing to Chelsea
