Nottingham Forest surprise Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino’s been speaking to the media after the 1-0 loss to Forest in London (from football.london):

On early boo-birds at the Bridge: “You can understand the people that came from the past and want to see the team to win and play well. We are not playing fantastic but I think the performance is not bad. The fans want to win and we need to give the possibility for them to be happy. I understand we are in Chelsea and you should win every single game.”

If patience should be required for project: That is a process that you need to think a little bit about to give time. I think today we create chances, we dominate the game ,but we were not clinical enough in the last third. We should score, if you want to win and we made one mistake and conceded. Not frustrated but disappointed because in this process you need luck. I don’t want to take credit from Nottingham Forest. We were not clinical in both areas.”

Here’s Anthony Elanga, who said that Forest boss Steve Cooper told the side they ‘deserved to win’ the game with Chelsea (which it did, 1-0).

“I need to play to build my confidence. I didn’t get to do that much at United but now that I am here I feel like I have the confidence of the manager and now hopefully these opportunities will turn into starts and more goals and assists. ... We can really build on this and keep pushing.”

(The BBC)

No real surprises here. Turner has control of an organized Forest 18 apart from Jackson’s huge miss.

Joe Worrall, Enzo Fernandez, and Taiwo Awoniyi were stars just from the eye test, but Ryan Yates’ good rating could’ve come down a bit if he was... legislated a bit more as the testy man angered Blues all day long.

Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (Fotmob)

Nicolas Jackson is a very good player but his miss will stand out from this surprising home loss.

And even if Jackson scored, it’s clear how much this team was counting on the injured Christopher Nkunku to bring his Bundesliga-feasting goal hunger to the Premier League.

Seventy-six percent of the ball, 21 of the game’s 28 shot attempts, and a 2.13-0.71 expected goals advantage all add up to zero points on the table.

Raheem Sterling does super well around the right side, just pushing his past two defenders to a prime-positioned Nicolas Jackson.

The Senegalese international just needs to push it over the line and choose the outside of his right foot instead of letting it come across to his left.

You can see where this is going: A horrible miss over the bar. Neither Mykhailo Mudryk, stationed behind Jackson ready to receive Sterling’s pass, nor Sterling can believe it. Obviously, Jackson’s surprised, too.

Now Turner pokes a Thiago Silva shot off the outside of the netting. Grandstand finish?

1-0 Forest

Steve Cooper knows where his bread will be buttered tonight, as the Tricky Trees have largely kept danger from reaching Matt Turner.

Chelsea’s had 83% possession in the second half but is just over 0.53 in expected goals o over the 36 minutes in question.

Turner’s only needed to make a single save but is up to nine recoveries. Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke have replaced Ben Chilwell and Conor Gallagher but it remains 1-0 to the visitors.

Oh boy.

Conor Gallagher and Moises Caicedo are on different pages, and Nottingham Forest pounces on their error.

Taiwo Awoniyi, he of the seven-game Premier League goal-scoring streak, megs Thiago Silva (!?!) with his entry pass to Anthony Elanga.

The Swede turns his foot and slots to the left of Robert Sanchez for his first goal in 44 games.

1-0 Forest!

Anthony Elanga had to replace an injured Danilo in stoppage time, as Forest sees an injury to an attacking player just after Brennan Johnson leaves for Spurs.

Chelsea had 68% possession and eight of the game’s 11 shots.

xG has it 0.80-0.29 for Chelsea but it’s 0-0 despite the Blues completing 257 passes to Forest’s 92.

There have been 13 fouls in this one. Seven for Chelsea and six for the Tricky Trees.

“All to play for” as they say.

Chelsea continues to be in control of the match and Nicolas Jackson is an ever-present threat.

But Forest is doing really well to stop threats from getting to Matt Turner, who has four recoveries but is yet to make a save.

Jackson’s latest cut into the box includes a good attempt but it’s a sliding block from Joe Worrall to stop the shot.

Chelsea so far has been superior and taken the only two shots of the match, but Forest had a nice little spell as the game inched toward the quarter-hour mark.

The Blues build a nice bit of pressure that leads to a Ben Chilwell cross that can’t quite pick out Nicolas Jackson.

0-0 at the Bridge.

USMNT keeper Matt Turner starts with club and country teammate Ethan Horvath backing him up.

A number of new faces on the bench including Sevilla loanee Gonzalo Montiel.

No surprises in the Chelsea XI.

MLS import Djordje Petrovic makes the bench as does new signing Cole Palmer.

Nottingham Forest have some big injuries to deal with defensively but the main issue is going to be whether or not Brennan Johnson is still around by the time this game arrives.

Johnson is being chased by Tottenham, among others, and losing the young Welsh forward would be a big blow for Forest.

Gibbs-White and Awoniyi have been leading Forest’s attack alongside Johnson, while new signing Anthony Elanga has been very good off the bench.

OUT: Felipe (knee), Omar Richards (groin), Wayne Hennessey (knee), Joe Worral (suspended), Scott McKenne (knock), Orel Mangala (knock)

Chelsea are without 10 players right now and Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted to get to the international break and hopefully have a big chunk of them back fit and available in mid-September.

Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson will continue to be the main threats up top, while Enzo Fernandez playing in a more advanced role ahead of Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher worked very well against Luton. Malo Gusto has also slotted in very nicely for the injured Reece James at right wing-back.

OUT: Reece James (thigh), Christopher Nkunku (knee), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Benoit Badiashile (thigh) Armando Broja (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Marcus Bettinelli (undisclosed), Romeo Lavia (fitness), Mykhailo Mudryk (other)