In yet another resilient and battling display, Nottingham Forest maintained their unbeaten away record in the Premier League as they drew 1-1 at Chelsea, with Chris Wood scoring again and Matz Sels taking centre stage. George Edwards was at the match
Three years back in the Premier League. Three visits to Stamford Bridge for Nottingham Forest. You’d probably assume that’s three defeats. No. Instead, Forest have taken five points, winning last year, in three contrasting performances that perfectly illustrate their progress since promotion.
A 2-2 draw in May 2023 showed the togetherness and fighting spirit the side had under Steve Cooper, coming from behind and determined they would leave Stamford Bridge with something. Last year’s victory emphasised that Forest had found a way to grind out results in the league, with bodies on the line and ruthless forward play.
Although Forest didn’t win this time around, their performance felt like one. They showed they could create chances in many ways, defend with impeccable discipline and adapt effortlessly when adversity struck. Rather than just survive, Forest imposed, forcing Robert Sanchez into impressive saves and continuing to attack deep into 13 minutes of stoppage time with 10 men.
It was a game that had it all, with the second half in particular showing why the Premier League is the blockbuster occasion that it is. End to end, flowing football, a red card and both sides nearly nicking it — true cinema.
Unfortunately for Forest, the chances just seemed to fall to the wrong man. Ryan Yates with a couple in the first half or Neco Williams with the golden chance right at the end, it just wouldn’t go in.
When the right man was there, he did what he does: Chris Wood’s 16th goal since Nuno Espírito Santo took charge, only Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer have scored more in that time. Emphatically finessing into the far corner, it wasn’t an easy chance by any means, and taking the lead at Chelsea once again gave the visiting supporters yet another cherished moment.
At the other end, Matz Sels deserves all of the plaudits. Seven saves, seven crucial saves, in what surely was his best display as Forest’s number one. The double save to keep out Palmer and the incredible claw to keep out Christian Nkunku’s late header spring to mind — not bad for a rushed through deadline day signing.
He’s been rightly criticised in the past but got his deserved appreciation at full time. Sels was the last to make his way over to the celebrating Reds, lauding up their love and appreciation and loving every second of it.
Sels aside, there were tremendous displays all around.
Nikola Milenkovic has steadied the ship and is the force behind Forest’s steadfast defence, now the second best in the league. On a day where Murillo struggled, the Serbian relished, winning duels, making blocks and conducting the back four with magnificent leadership.
Plus, an assist to cap it off, towering above Malo Gusto to nod into Wood’s path, showing that with his height and James Ward-Prowse’s delivery, Forest are now truly a threat from set plays.
Ryan Yates exhibited why he is club captain and why every manager selects him. He’s a monster and a thorn in every opponent, always there just when you think he’s been evaded. Constantly talking to his teammates about the little things: when to play it quick or take a few seconds, where to plant a goal kick, how to manage injury time — he knows all the tricks and looks truly at home at this level.
He’ll never be what some supporters want him to be, but he always takes advantage of his many strengths and games like this are exactly when his physical nature and quick turnover of possession are needed.
Despite the positivity, there were some sour notes that ultimately stopped Forest from imposing themselves in the way Nuno would have wanted, with defensive substitutions needed to marshal the point home.
Firstly, Ward-Prowse’s ridiculous red, with two avoidable tactical fouls equating to an early bath. His first yellow was for hacking down Palmer, running with pace at the Forest defence. Right to take the yellow, but Palmer was in acres of space in a position Ward-Prowse ought to have been covering, which he had been doing tremendously to that point.
His second needs no elaboration, an honest mistake leading to a moment of madness, but one that you could argue was worth doing.
Just two minutes earlier, star man Morgan Gibbs-White had hobbled off, visibly upset with an England call-up hanging in the balance. Fulham showed how integral he is to the Reds, with Forest yet to pick up a point in the Premier League without him featuring since their returning win against West Ham in 2022.
Furthermore, the Reds will likely be meeting with the FA on disciplinary grounds again as tempers flared, that incident showing referee Chris Kavanagh had completely lost control of the game long before.
The mood can only be positive from this one, however. Tenth in the table after matching what was the best attacking side in the league while also maintaining that unbeaten away record. What a time it is to be a Red.
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