Chelsea thrash Nottingham Forest 3–0 as Awoniyi’s returns

The Blues’ impressive victory was marred by yet another red card, their fifth in six matches.

Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi endured a frustrating evening on his first Premier League start of the season as Chelsea cruised to a 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Despite a positive start from Forest, goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto, and Reece James sealed a dominant victory for the Blues, who once again finished the game with ten men after Malo Gusto’s late sending-off.

Forest fade after bright start

Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou entered the match under mounting pressure following a string of poor results. His side started on the front foot, pressing Chelsea high and creating early chances through Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White, but both failed to convert.

Chelsea, missing key players like Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo, and Enzo Fernández, struggled for rhythm in the opening half. Their best opportunity came when João Pedro slipped a clever ball to Andrey Santos, only for the midfielder to fire wide.

Despite their slow start, the visitors looked more composed after the break. Watching from the stands due to suspension, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made three substitutions at halftime that completely changed the momentum of the game.

Neto leads second-half resurgence

The introduction of Pedro Neto proved decisive. The Portuguese winger assisted 18-year-old Josh Acheampong for the opener — a well-timed header that broke Forest’s resistance. Minutes later, Neto doubled Chelsea’s lead with a superb curling free-kick that left goalkeeper Matt Turner stranded.

Forest’s hopes of a comeback were dashed when Igor Jesus saw his effort hit both the crossbar and post, and Reece James put the result beyond doubt with a thunderous strike from distance.

Also read: Chelsea’s Maresca Handed One-Match Ban After Wild Celebration

However, Chelsea’s joy was short-lived as Malo Gusto was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge late in the match, the team’s fifth red card in their last six games, highlighting a growing disciplinary concern under Maresca.

The result handed Chelsea their fourth away win in 15 matches, offering some relief after an inconsistent run of form. But for Nottingham Forest, whose owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen leaving the stadium before full-time, the loss may signal the end of Postecoglou’s tenure.

Taiwo Awoniyi, meanwhile, struggled to make an impact and was substituted midway through the second half, ending a disappointing night for both him and his team.