Ange Postecoglou’s wait for a first win as Nottingham Forest boss continued after his side fell to a 3–0 home defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground on Saturday. The result, which was earlier predicted by Softfootball in the match preview to be a 2-1 win in Chelsea’s favour, leaves Forest rooted near the bottom and piles further pressure on the Australian, whose team has now gone eight league games without victory.
For Chelsea, the win marked a turning point in a campaign hampered by injuries, with several key players—including Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández—still sidelined. As reported by Softfootball, Palmer’s absence will extend for at least six weeks, forcing Enzo Maresca to rely on emerging talents like Josh Acheampong and Andrey Santos, both of whom impressed in Nottingham.
Forest began brightly, pressing high and forcing mistakes from Chelsea’s makeshift midfield. Elliot Anderson squandered a glorious early chance, opting to cut inside instead of shooting, while Morgan Gibbs-White volleyed over from close range after Douglas Luiz nodded across goal.
Despite the early pressure, Chelsea slowly grew into the contest and nearly stole the lead before halftime when João Pedro lofted a clever ball to Santos, who dragged his effort just wide.
With Maresca serving a touchline ban after his red card against Liverpool, Chelsea’s halftime adjustments were crucial. The Blues emerged transformed and struck twice in quick succession. Pedro Neto charged down the left to set up Josh Acheampong for the opener on 49 minutes before firing in a sublime free kick three minutes later to double the advantage.
Forest’s response was tame, summed up by Igor Jesus hitting both the bar and post in the same move. Reece James then sealed the result with a thumping volley from a late corner, capping a performance full of discipline and energy. Malo Gusto’s late red card for a reckless tackle did little to dampen Chelsea’s mood, as Maresca’s men celebrated just their fourth away league win in 15 matches.
Chelsea’s recent post on their official X account celebrates their 3-0 victory, marking their third consecutive Premier League win, a turnaround driven by new manager Enzo Maresca’s tactical shift to a possession-based style.
For Postecoglou, though, the future looks uncertain, especially after Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen leaving his seat early, perhaps signalling more trouble ahead.
