Chelsea suffered a 1-0 dwelling defeat to Nottingham Forest within the Premier League after an underwhelming efficiency at Stamford Bridge.
A irritating first half for the house facet noticed little created in the best way of clear-cut probabilities. Enzo Fernández had three efforts from outdoors of the field whereas Raheem Sterling offered the brightest spark of a uninteresting show by the Blues within the opening 45 minutes.
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The Stamford Bridge crowd anticipated a response after the break, however they quickly noticed their facet go a objective down when Moisés Caicedo gave away possession cheaply in a harmful space, permitting Forest to counter and Anthony Elanga completed calmly previous Robert Sánchez.
Fernandez regarded almost definitely to make one thing occur when allowed to enterprise additional ahead the place he regarded to unlock Nicolas Jackson, who ought to have equalised when discovered by Sterling solely to overlook the goal fully.
Sterling’s strike from a tough angle went broad, with United States goalkeeper Matt Turner having simply two efforts heading in the right direction to cope with throughout the 90 minutes.
Positives
Malo Gusto appears to be like to be a robust alternative for Chelsea captain Reece James, who stays out by means of damage, and Sterling additionally offered one other instance of how he can thrive in Mauricio Pochettino’s system.
Negatives
Chelsea struggled to create probabilities in a fixture the place they need to have been in a position to assert their dominance extra, significantly after the variety of signings they’ve made this summer time. The Blues’ efficiency will not instil a lot confidence going ahead.
One other error resulting in a objective from Caicedo is a behavior that the Ecuador worldwide and British-record signing wants to interrupt as quickly as attainable.
Supervisor score (1-10; 10 = finest)
Mauricio Pochettino, 6 — Chelsea managed the match, with Forest’s probabilities solely coming from particular person participant errors. Pochettino was aggressive along with his substitutions as he introduced on attacking gamers, however he was let down by his crew’s lack of innovative on the day. Total, it is tough responsible the supervisor for this end result.
Participant rankings
GK Robert Sanchez, 5 — Had little to do with Chelsea limiting the variety of Forest’s probabilities, however could not save Elanga’s well-placed effort within the second half. Distribution may have been higher.
DF Ben Chilwell, 6 — Chelsea regarded most harmful down Chilwell’s facet once they discovered him within the attacking third, however his teammates weren’t fairly on the identical wavelength to benefit from quite a few well-placed crosses into the field. Booked for a pointless foul within the first half.
DF Levi Colwill, 6 — Did not stand out too continuously on the left facet of the again three and that’s usually a constructive indicator for a centre-back. Regarded to interrupt the traces when on the ball, shifting it swiftly into midfield. Regarded pissed off within the second half as stress started to develop across the stadium.
DF Thiago Silva, 5 – The Brazilian confronted a tough bodily battle with Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who was in a position to maintain the ball up and use his energy to get into harmful positions. Had an effort within the second half from shut vary however could not information it contained in the close to publish.
DF Axel Disasi, 6 — Saved issues easy when referred to as upon with a no-nonsense strategy, however wasn’t referred to as into motion a lot. An try from vary was blocked simply when he may have regarded to go as a substitute.
DF Malo Gusto, 6 — An brisk show noticed him present an everyday choice down the correct flank, whereas he was additionally fast to trace again in defensive phases when little obtained down his facet. Offered an choice to get crosses into the field however could not discover the goal.
MF Conor Gallagher, 6 — One other constructive efficiency from Gallagher noticed him energetic in defensive phases to win again possession, whereas he additionally helped management possession by offering a recycle choice. Went shut with a left-footed strike that curled over the bar.
MF Moises Caicedo, 5 — Dispossessed too simply at occasions, and he gave the ball away for the counter-attack that led to Forest’s winner. Substituted within the 77th minute. Not the type of efficiency that satisfied Chelsea to pay a report payment for him.
MF Enzo Fernandez, 6 — Nameless outdoors of quite a few efforts within the first half that he actually ought to have accomplished higher with, together with one from 18 yards that he put over the bar. Started to create extra within the second half with quite a few progressive passes that unlocked the defence.
MF Raheem Sterling, 7 — All the time regarded to make one thing occur with depth that wasn’t at all times matched by his teammates. Near connecting with a Chilwell cross within the first half, and unlucky to not get an help himself when chopping the ball again for Jackson.
FW Nicolas Jackson 4 — Shut out by the opposition for almost all of the sport and could not discover house. Struggled to search out house contained in the field, along with his finest effort blocked after a powerful go by Fernandez. His greatest second of the sport got here within the last 10 minutes when he needed to do higher along with his strike that was despatched over the bar. An enormous second within the sport that he did not make the most of.
Substitutes (gamers launched after 70 minutes get no score)
Noni Madueke (Chilwell, 63′), 5 — The winger tried to make issues occur however confronted a cussed Forest defence. Dispossessed to the frustration of the gang, whereas one other effort was blocked. His finest second got here when connecting with Mykhailo Mudryk contained in the field, however the Ukraine worldwide’s contact was poor.
Cole Palmer (Gallagher, 62′), 6 – The debutant was rapidly crowded out by defenders, which noticed him sluggish to develop into the sport, however he performed a component in Chelsea’s finest probability of the sport when taking part in in Sterling earlier than Jackson’s miss.
Ian Maatsen (Caicedo, 77′), N/R — On for Caicedo for the ultimate spell of the sport.
Mykhailo Mudryk (Gusto, 77′), N/R — Not allowed a lot room to precise himself when launched as Chelsea’s final attacking change.
