Nottingham Forest handed Chelsea yet another humiliating defeat, with Alan Smith ripping into Malo Gusto for what he deemed to be “lazy” first-half defending.
Much-changed Forest thrash Chelsea
Chelsea’s season plunged to a dispiriting new low as Nottingham Forest won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to condemn them to a sixth consecutive Premier League defeat.
It had already been the club’s worst run of league form since 1912 but just when it looked like there were no fresh crises left to visit them, Forest’s second-string XI arrived in west London and blitzed Chelsea with two goals by Taiwo Awoniyi – the first after 98 seconds – and a penalty from Igor Jesus, as Vitor Pereira’s side moved six points clear of the relegation zone.
The Blues’ five-game scoring drought had almost reached six, far beyond the point of credibility, by the time Joao Pedro’s stoppage-time overhead kick gave them their first league goal since March 4.
The ridiculousness of that run had earlier been laid bare when Cole Palmer had a first-half penalty saved by stand-in goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Visiting supporters in the Shed End could have been forgiven for barely recognising their team. The seven outfield players brought in by Pereira, a move made doubtless with Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg in mind, had 11 league starts this season between them, but it was Chelsea who appeared like strangers to one another.
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Interim head coach Calum McFarlane had seen his hands virtually tied by late injuries to Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho, meaning a first Premier League start for 18-year-old Jesse Derry. As if things could get no worse, the teenager required oxygen and was stretchered off with a serious head injury late in the first half after colliding with Forest’s Zach Abbott.
Alan Smith slams “lazy” Gusto
It summed up Chelsea’s start when Awoniyi ran off the back of Gusto, before the Chelsea defender desperately took hold of the forward’s shirt. After one lapse of judgment from Marc Cucurella in the opening two minutes, the opposite fullback only increased the Blues’ problems 13 minutes later.
On commentary for Sky Sports, Alan Smith did not hold back. The former Premier League attacker claimed that “it’s ridiculous” that Gusto chose to foul Awoniyi, before describing it as “lazy” and concluding that “it cost his side” so early on.
Jesus made no mistake from the spot, before Awoniyi added a third effort in the second half. Chelsea’s nightmare looked like coming to an end after defeating Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend, but that was nothing more than a false dawn.
Without a permanent manager and without a Premier League win in their last six games, it’s only getting worse for the Blues.
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