Forest played out a thrilling encounter with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and will travel back to Nottinghamshire with a hard-earned point.
Forest headed south to the capital on a cloudy Sunday afternoon to take on an in-form Chelsea side who had won their last five games in all competitions. The Reds were looking to bounce back from their City Ground defeat last Saturday against Fulham and continue their strong away form.
Morgan Gibbs-White returned following his one match suspension, with Callum Hudson-Odoi returning to face the side he made over 100 senior appearances for.
The opening exchanges at Stamford Bridge were evenly contested with both teams enjoying spells of possession and working the ball well into areas of danger. Forest played well through the Chelsea press and early signs indicated the battle between Hudson-Odoi and Cucurella on the right flank would be compelling.
Forest were playing good football on the edge of the Chelsea box but were just unable to get their final shot away, in addition to defending resolutely down the other end denying Chelsea any chances of note after the first 20 minutes.
Madueke bent an effort from the edge of the box over the Forest goal following a corner for the home side before Malo Gusto’s effort from a similar position failed to trouble Matz Sels either. After the half hour mark Forest were proving difficult to break down whilst also looking a threat when in the opposition half.
The home side were becoming visibly frustrated as they continued to receive no luck in getting through a compact and well-drilled defensive shape, whilst Forest had a flurry of opportunities up the other end including a Murillo shot from distance that forced Sanchez to parry away.
Matz Sels was forced into action for the first time with a smart reflex save from a dangerous ball across the face of goal before getting to his feet well to hold Enzo Fernandez’ goal-bound follow up.
Most of the action came in the final few minutes of the half, Madueke winning possession on the half-way line and driving towards the Forest box but a brilliant Ola Aina block and a sea of recovering Garibaldi shirts managed to keep Palmer’s effort from crossing the line.
Forest then went down the other end and it was Chelsea’s turn to display defensive heroics as captain Ryan Yates saw his effort, which looked to be destined for the back of the net impressively blocked by a blue shirt. A chaotic ending to what had been a balanced first half.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Forest
Neither side made changes at the interval, and it wasn’t long before Forest’s away support were treated to another goal on the road. James Ward-Prowse’s deep free kick to the corner of the box was headed towards goal by Milenkovic and it was Chris Wood who expertly flicked the ball into the far corner and beyond the diving Sanchez. It was Wood’s fourth of season and his 20th goal in a Forest shirt with the away end making their affection for the talisman heard around Stamford Bridge.
The hosts responded a little over five minutes later with Madueke cutting in from the right and drilling a low effort past Matz Sels into the far corner. The game was now a frantic end-to-end affair.
After defending well against a Chelsea side who were now pushing for a goal that would put them ahead, Forest broke with pace through Gibbs-White, but the move ended with the midfielder requiring treatment after landing awkwardly on the edge of the box. Ward-Prowse took the resulting free-kick that had been awarded for a handball, but his effort was straight at Sanchez.
Shortly after, Ward-Prowse received his second yellow card for handling the ball as he was under pressure from Jackson as Chelsea looked to build a counterattack. Ten-man Forest now looked to see out a second consecutive away game with a numerical disadvantage.
After the break in play for Gibbs-White to receive treatment and a touchline scuffle between both teams, Chris Kavanagh decided there would be 13 minutes of additional time.
Forest defended heroically, surviving the immense Chelsea pressure that was building but had a golden chance to go ahead after Neco was one on one with the goalkeeper, who made a great save to deny the Welshman. Mudryk picked up the loose ball and ran the length of the pitch before seeing his cross meet the diving head of substitute Chrispher Nkunku whose effort was somehow saved by Matz Sels. It was a world class save from the Belgian, who played a huge part in keeping the home side at bay.
Despite being a man down, it was Forest who were on top in the closing minutes, Stamford Bridge poised for what had been an electric conclusion and further Robert Sanchez brilliance denied Jota Silva a goal with what was close to being the last kick of the game. Both goalkeepers the standouts of what had been a spectacle of a second half.
The full-time whistle blew after close to two hours of football played with neither team able to find a winner despite multiple chances down both ends in the closing stages.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 1-1 Forest
The Teams
Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Moreno (Williams 82’), Ward-Prowse, Anderson (Jota Silva 66’), Yates(c), Gibbs-White (Dominguez 74’), Hudson-Odoi (Elanga 82’), Wood (Morato 82’)
Unused Substitutes: Miguel; Awoniyi, Sosa, Boly
Bookings: Ward-Prowse (34’ – second yellow 77’), Williams (88’), Sels (90+4’)
Goals: Wood (49’)
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill (Tosin 90+3’), Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo(c) (Joao Felix 81’), Madueke (Neto 90’), Palmer, Sancho (Mudryk 90’), Jackson (Nkunku 81’)
Unused Substitutes: Jorgensen; Disasi, Veiga, Lavia,
Bookings: Caicedo (20’), Palmer (74’), Cucurella (88’), Neto (90+7’), Colwill (90+12’)
Goals: Madueke (56’)
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Attendance: 39,501
Next Up for Forest
Forest host Crystal Palace in a little over two weeks’ time as they will look to build on a strong showing in the capital (Monday 21st October, 8pm KO).