Fights, red card, dark arts and a couple of goals see Chelsea held 1-1 by 10-man Forest in pulsating match at Stamford Bridge
By Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 1 v Nottingham Forest 1
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A blistering pulsating second 45 minutes had everything the dour first 45 minutes lacked.
Goals, one apiece, erupting dugouts, fights, a possible punch, lots of yellow cards, a red card and an additional 13 minute to boot.
But it will be Forest who will be the happier. They went 1-0 up in the 49th minutes with a well taken training ground free-kick.
Chelsea equalised through Noni and then the game exploded with James Ward-Prowse got a second yellow card and was sent off.
Chelsea then pushed forward to try and win the game but fell foul to some dark arts by the visitors and let their composure falter.
Both goalkeepers can be happy with their performance – both made point saving saves late on.
It was a very even opening 15 minutes with both sides having a half chance apiece.
Noni was first up for the home side. He cut in from the right before hitting the ball short of Matz Sels. Near post. At the other end, some excellent approach play by the visitors saw Ryan Yates free to head towards Robert Sanchez, but his effort was not powerful enough to unduly trouble the goalkeeper.
Noni got a little loser on 24 minutes, but still his effort sailed over the Forest crossbar.
Malo Gusto was next try his luck.
Excellent left wing play by Jadon Sancho set up the right back but his right-footed effort zipped into the Shed.
A misplaced pas by Enzo on 39 minutes saw the ball given to Murillo, who did not need a second invitation to go for a run and shot. He did just that and his venomous left-footer stung the palms of Sanchez, but the ball stayed out of the back of the Chelsea net.
Chelsea finally got a shot on target, a snap left-footed effort by Enzo from 10 yards out, but Se;s was on the spot and snaffled the shot, on 42 minutes.
Forest survived a quick counter by the Blues a minute later after there was a needless back pass that put the Forest defence under pressure.
Sells managed to scrap the ball off the line after Nicolas Jackson toe-poked the ball forward.
Forest then had a good chance blocked for a corner as the first half of see-sawing play without too much goalmouth action came to a close.
There was no change by either side at half-time.
But within four minutes of the restart the visitors took a deserved lead.
It was straight from the training ground.
A simple free kick was taken by James Ward-Prowse. Nikola Milenkovic rose above the rest and headed a deft short ball forward where Chris Wood followed up by stretching out his leg and directing the ball past Sanchez.
Elliot Anderson then found himself free on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area. His fist time shot, on target was well held by Sanchez.
The lead lasted for eight minutes and it was the individual play of Noni rather than and team play that brought the south Londoners level.
The right winger did what he does best, jink the ball left and right and try to open up some space.
He did just that on 58 minutes and his left-footed daisy-cutter took an ever so slight deflection on his way Into the inside side-netting of Sels' goal.
He was far too casual three minutes later, sending the ball over the crossbar when greater composure could have reaped serious dividends.
The Blues started to produce their best period of pressure of the game.
After what seemed an eternity, when Morgan Gibbs-White went down injured and was finally replaced after being fouled. Ward-Prowse too a free-kick which Sanchez handled well.
In-between Palmer was booked as well as Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo. For dissent.
Minutes later, and an already yellow carded Ward-Prowse tried to catch Noni, but he lost his footing and grabbed the ball.
The inevitable second yellow and red card on 78 minutes saw the midfielder exit the pitch.
Chelsea opted to bring on Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix, off went Enzo and Jackson on 80 minutes.
A double save by Sels thwarted Palmer as the Blues went for the jugular.
The simmering hate erupted on 88 minutes when Cucurella was pushed off the pitch, he upended Maresca
The players then went for the Forest culprit and soon the dugouts and others
left on the pitch..
Several yellow cards were brandished by referee Christopher Kavanagh as 13 minutes of added time was announced.
Sanchez then produced a wonder save to thwart Forest while Sels then produced two great saves to keep his side in the match.
Sanchez then produced a superb have to parry away a goalbound header from substitute Jota Silva.
Teams: Chelsea: Sanchez, Cucurella, Colwill, Enzo, Noni, Jackson, Sancho, Palmer, Caicedo, Gusto, Fofana
Subs:Jorgensen, Disasi, Tosin, Neto, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku, Veiga, Lavia
Nottingham Forest:Sels, Murillo, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Wood, Hudson-Odoi, Ward-Prowse, Moreno, Yates, Milenkovic, Aina
Subs: Miguel, Morano, Williams, Awoniyi, Dominguez, Silva, Elanga, Sosa, Boly
Referee:Chris Kavanagh
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