Nottingham Forest’s Serge Aurier ties Chelsea to a valuable point | Premier League

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The final whistle was greeted with jubilation around the city’s lively ground as Serge Aurier’s equalizer enabled Nottingham Forest to climb to 17th place, but Chelsea’s status under Graham Potter remains moot after they let Raheem Sterling’s lead in the opener.

Chelsea won only once, against Bournemouth, on Tuesday, in seven league matches, as it enters a crucial week in which it faces Manchester City twice. Overtaking Brighton to level on points with seventh-placed Fulham wasn’t, perhaps, what Chelsea co-owner Todd Boyle had in mind when he appointed Potter from the former to replace Thomas Tuchel as head coach in September. Next Sunday’s visit to the Etihad in the third round of the FA Cup might represent a better route to success this season than Thursday’s Premier League clash at home against the champions.

Chelsea managing just one goal – off target – in the second half is a stern indictment of an attacking array of talent against a Forest side who deserved their point of view for a bloody, tenacious mentality as much as anything else. If Morgan Gibbs-White’s second-half shot bounced against the crossbar over the line, Steve Cooper’s side arguably deserved the win as they extended their unbeaten run at home to six matches.

Potter admitted: “Our level of play wasn’t good enough to get the three points. We didn’t move the ball fast enough, [there was] Not enough movement.

Tottenham’s defeat at home to Aston Villa was a catalyst for Chelsea before kick-off, even if the top four remain seven points away. With France defender Benoit Badiachel awaiting a medical before confirming his £32.7m move from Monaco, no one could accuse Chelsea of ​​resting on their laurels and after just a quarter of an hour they were ahead and looking in control.

Christian Pulisic played a brilliant two-footer with Mason Mount down the left flank before dropping back to his right foot. He fired in a devilish position towards Kai Havertz at the near post as Willy Boly inadvertently backheeled the ball into the far end of the crossbar.

Quick guide Nottingham Forest fans’ homophobic chant

Nottingham Forest are investigating reports of homophobic chants by some of their fans during Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea.

Chelsea’s official LGBTQ+ supporter group tweeted at the end of the first half to “totally condemn the cheering” that it said could be heard at the City Ground, during a match shown live on Sky Sports.

In a statement shortly after full-time, Forest said: “The club is aware of reports of targeted chants targeting Chelsea supporters from minority supporters this evening and does not condone any type of discriminatory or aggressive behaviour. The matter will be investigated.”

Chelsea Pride’s earlier tweet read: “We totally condemn the Chelsea chant that can be heard at the City Ground. It’s time to call this game live on @SkySportsPL. This is now classified as a hate crime.”

LGBTQ+ group Forest said it was embarrassed and ashamed of the mistreatment and apologized on behalf of those responsible. A tweet from LGBTQ+ Trickies read: “From all true #NFFC fans, please accept our apologies, not only do we hope @NottPolFootball does its best to take action, we hope @NFFC issues a statement condoning [sic] This and take the necessary action. We feel embarrassed and ashamed.” PA Media

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With Dean Henderson looking to make up ground, Sterling received the easiest invitation to relax and slam the ball into the net. It was his ninth goal in 12 away matches against promoted teams and, more importantly, his first goal for Potter in the Premier League.

Forest, who were poor in their 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on Tuesday, had just 20% possession in the first half but had plenty of passion as they sought to get back into the game. Even before conceding, Gibbs-White, returning from a calf injury, Brennan Johnson played through the middle and Kepa Arrizabalaga felt relieved to save a left-footed shot as well as rebound.

Chelsea responded to Reece James’ injury setback by calling up Cesar Azpilicueta at right-back, and Denis Zakaria kept his place in central midfield after making his Premier League debut against Bournemouth. With Chelsea bidding to sign World Cup winner Enzo Fernandes from Benfica, this was an opportunity for the Swiss midfielder to make his mark.

He almost did, patting Ryan Yates on the forehead, as the pair pointed and taunted each other during the first half. The vice captain of the jungle was booked for pulling his man to the ground but Zacharias was lucky to escape punishment as he clawed his fists at Yeats and ripped off the heads.

Raheem Sterling gives Chelsea the lead in the first half. Photograph: Carl Reisen/Reuters

The City Ground became more of a bear pit in the second half as Forest found their belts. Gibbs-White showed his poise and vision as he sprinted to Uriel Mangala’s short pass and played the perfect canal ball behind Azpilicueta for Johnson to run towards goal and push Arrizabalaga well.

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When Yeats pulled a ball back for Gibbs-White to curl a shot from the edge of the penalty area onto the underside of the crossbar, decibel levels rose to 11. Sure enough, an equalizer followed, shortly after Potter had been replaced by Zacharias for Mateo. Kovacic, sensing that the momentum of the game was starting to slip away from him.

From Gibbs White’s corner kick to the near post, Havertz’s weak header was converted by Bouley for Aurier to chip in and volley in for his first goal for Forest. If this was a goal conceived in Ivory Coast, it was forged in the furnace of a forest fire.

Cooper recognized the importance of the home crowd at Forest. “They’re great,” he said. “We feel it every week. We will not take it for granted. We have to continue to win that support.”

Potter worked to stem the flood with a triple change, introducing Conor Gallagher, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and these new legs certainly slowed Forest down. It was felt that this was a good point for the Cooper team.

Nine minutes from time, Aubameyang should have done a better job of diving – drop is probably a better word – to nod wide at inside center Ziyech from inside the six-yard box. For Chelsea, this looked like losing two points.

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