Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest: Anthony Elanga’s first Forest goal seals victory
Chelsea #Chelsea
Anthony Elanga scored three goals and made four assists in 42 Premier League appearances for Manchester United
Substitute Anthony Elanga scored his first Nottingham Forest goal to secure a hard-fought Premier League victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Summer signing Elanga, introduced in first-half added time following an injury to Danilo, struck shortly after the break when he raced on to Taiwo Awoniyi’s pass and slotted home.
Nicolas Jackson missed a glorious opportunity to equalise inside the final 10 minutes, firing over from inside the six-yard box after being teed up by Raheem Sterling.
Jackson had earlier been denied by a last-ditch block by Willy Boly, while £40m deadline day signing Cole Palmer was introduced by manager Mauricio Pochettino, as Chelsea chased a response.
But despite dominating possession, territory and chances, the hosts were punished for failing to take their opportunities by a resolute Forest.
A second victory from four games lifted Steve Cooper’s visitors to ninth in the table, while Chelsea fell to 11th in the early standings.
Elanga seizes opportunity as Forest earn rare away win
A day after the summer transfer window closed, two of the Premier League’s most active clubs went head-to-head at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s total spending in three transfer windows since Todd Boehly’s takeover surpassed £1bn following a record-breaking summer outlay of more than £380m on 10 players.
Forest, meanwhile, signed seven players during a productive deadline day – including the club-record £30m capture of PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare.
And while it was the surprise late arrival of England youth international Palmer from Manchester City which had excited the home fans, it was a promising addition for the opposition who ultimately settled the contest.
A beaming Cooper embraced Elanga following the full-time whistle as the travelling Forest fans celebrated only their second win in 21 away games since making their Premier League return last season.
Elanga, signed from boyhood club Manchester United for £15m in July, displayed speed and composure as he darted down the middle of the Chelsea defence and rolled the ball past Robert Sanchez after Moises Caicedo conceded possession.
The 21-year-old Sweden international, who had been on the pitch for a total of less than 10 minutes before he scored, proved the match-winner for Forest, for whom captain Joe Worrall – featuring despite suffering a bereavement earlier this week – and midfielder Ryan Yates were standout performers.
Singling out Worrall for praise in his post-match interview, Cooper said: “We’ve just all shown some respect to him in the dressing room. He had a brilliant ovation from the supporters too. It is an awful tragedy that he and his family have gone through.”
The Forest boss added: “To see how he has conducted himself this week, putting himself second to the team and the club – he didn’t have to do that but he has.
“Family and health is much more important than football, but I think the football has helped him this week.”
Sterling was denied by Ola Aina’s block and Ben Chilwell failed to add the finishing touch from Sterling’s superb pass in a purposeful start by the hosts, who were aiming to push on after securing a first victory of the season against promoted Luton Town last week.
Yet, despite promising build-up play, the in-form Sterling and forward Jackson were unable to inspire a fightback from the hosts.
Jackson will wonder quite how he did not equalise and set up a tense finale, but Forest, having been left empty handed from two goals up against Manchester United last week, refused to buckle under mounting pressure to clinch a significant win on their travels.
“We are disappointed because we did everything to try and get a different result,” said Pochettino. “But football is about not making mistakes and we made one mistake and paid for that.”
The Chelsea boss added: “We are building something and it is always up and down. We are unlucky because I think we deserved more. But I have said before, it is only a matter of time.”
Player of the match
McKennaScott McKenna
Chelsea
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Squad number1Player nameSánchez
Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Squad number23Player nameGallagher
Squad number15Player nameJackson
Squad number26Player nameColwill
Squad number8Player nameFernández
Squad number2Player nameDisasi
Squad number27Player nameGusto
Squad number20Player namePalmer
Squad number11Player nameMadueke
Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
Squad number29Player nameMaatsen
Squad number10Player nameMudryk
Nottingham Forest
Squad number26Player nameMcKenna
Squad number21Player nameElanga
Squad number9Player nameAwoniyi
Squad number22Player nameYates
Squad number1Player nameTurner
Squad number4Player nameWorrall
Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White
Squad number3Player nameNuno Tavares
Squad number43Player nameAina
Squad number30Player nameBoly
Squad number8Player nameKouyaté
Squad number28Player nameDanilo
Squad number5Player nameMangala
Squad number29Player nameMontiel
Squad number11Player nameWood
Squad number24Player nameAurier
Line-upsChelsea
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Sánchez
2Disasi6Thiago Silva26Colwill
27Gusto23Gallagher25Caicedo21Chilwell
7Sterling8Fernández
15Jackson
Substitutes
Nottm Forest
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Turner
30Boly4Worrall26McKenna
24Aurier5Mangala22Yates43Aina
28Danilo10Gibbs-White
9Awoniyi
Substitutes
Referee:Tim Robinson
Attendance:39,820
Live Text
Match ends, Chelsea 0, Nottingham Forest 1.
Second Half ends, Chelsea 0, Nottingham Forest 1.
Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Axel Disasi.
Attempt saved. Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Cheikhou Kouyaté.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ryan Yates.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Ryan Yates.
Attempt saved. Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Scott McKenna.
Attempt blocked. Ian Maatsen (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Cole Palmer.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest).
Attempt blocked. Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ian Maatsen.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Matt Turner.
Attempt saved. Thiago Silva (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Enzo Fernández with a cross.
Nuno Tavares (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Noni Madueke (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Nuno Tavares (Nottingham Forest).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest).
Attempt missed. Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) right footed shot from very close range is just a bit too high.