FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE – Chelsea’s subpar season continued on Saturday as they have been held to a 2-2 draw by struggling Nottingham Forest.
The Blues are virtually assured to complete within the Premier League’s backside half having as soon as once more did not win at dwelling beneath Frank Lampard.
Taiwo Awoniyi headed Forest into an early lead when he beat the hapless Edouard Mendy to a teasing Renan Lodi cross.
Whereas Chelsea limped via the remainder of the primary half, they managed to select themselves off the canvas after the interval. Raheem Sterling tapped in a cutback from Trevoh Chalobah to carry the west Londoners stage, earlier than discovering the highest nook with a curling strike quickly after.
However they have been pegged again once more by Awoniyi solely 4 minutes after entering into entrance, sneaking in on the again submit to move dwelling a intelligent ball excessive from Orel Mangala.
Right here have been Chelsea’s greatest and worst gamers on the day.
Raheem Sterling: 9/10
In the event you’d informed me at half-time that Sterling would finish the match as Chelsea’s participant of the day, I might have thought they have been going to lose 5-0.
The ex-Manchester Metropolis star walked round Stamford Bridge with out his trademark eagerness or line-breaking acceleration. It seemed as if he had checked out fully.
However to his credit score, Sterling led from the entrance within the second half. He dragged Chelsea again into the competition with the equaliser – a tap-in from standing in the precise place on the proper time, in fact – earlier than actually rolling again the years with a shocking strike from distance.
Sterling could not fairly drag his crew to a few factors nevertheless it wasn’t for the need of attempting, dropping deep and racing away from the chasing Forest pack simply to get the ball upfield late on.
Honourable point out
Trevoh Chalobah: 7/10
Whereas Sterling steered Chelsea’s assaults from the left, Trevoh Chalobah was typically the person making the distinction on the precise.
The versatile defender regularly discovered himself within the remaining third, stretching play and bouncing the ball between himself and winger Noni Madueke.
He crucially supplied a tangible affect in each containers, making goal-saving blocks at one finish and teeing up Sterling within the different.
Edouard Mendy: 3/10
On a uncommon likelihood to impress rather than Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy discovered himself in an identical place of infamy.
Solely 1 / 4 of an hour into his first Chelsea recreation since November, he flapped at a cross and value his aspect dearly. Lodi’s supply was in the direction of the penalty spot and didn’t require the Senegalese stopper to try to declare it. If he had been on his line, the try would have been saveable.
He did not have lots to do for the remainder of the afternoon apart from selecting the ball out of his personal web when Awoniyi grabbed his second. Eesh.
Dishonourable point out
Thiago Silva: 4/10
The veteran defender has been linked with a transfer again to Brazil in latest weeks, and followers sought to honour him pre-match with the unfurling of two giant banners at both finish of Stamford Bridge.
Nonetheless, this isn’t a day that Thiago Silva will need to bear in mind. For the 80 minutes that the Nigerian was on the pitch, Awoniyi gained just about each duel, getting tight to the Brazilian in an effort to roll off and round him.
Silva’s solely saving grace is that the youthful and stronger Benoit Badiashile wasn’t too efficient in his personal battles with Awoniyi.
