Late Strikes by Chelsea’s Sterling and Jackson Seal 3-2 Victory against Forest Nottingham

Chelsea clinched a 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest thanks to late goals from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson. Despite Nottingham Forest coming close to securing their Premier League survival, they were unable to celebrate with Champagne.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea, currently positioned seventh in the table with two games left, saw Mykhailo Mudryk also contributing a goal. This boosts their aspirations for a European spot in the upcoming season.

Forest, currently sitting 17th in the table and with only one game left against Burnley, have a three-point lead over 18th-placed Luton Town. However, their significantly better goal difference should secure their position in the top flight. Forest midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi expressed cautious optimism, stating, “You never know in football. There’s one game left, but hopefully, we’re safe now and we can focus on Burnley next weekend.”

Chelsea, who have recently found form with three consecutive Premier League victories, face Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday before concluding their season with a home match against Bournemouth on May 19th.

Pochettino emphasized the importance of resilience, stating, “The best thing is the way that we always believe until the end, football is about fighting.” Reflecting on their season, he acknowledged their early struggles but highlighted their improvement, saying, “If we are honest, we were punished in our first 10 games… in the last 24 games, we are in the top four or five

.”Chelsea opened the scoring in the sixth minute as Cole Palmer delivered a through ball to Mudryk, who calmly slotted the ball into the far bottom corner. Palmer’s assist also tied him with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins for the most goal involvements in the league this season, totaling 31.

Despite strikes from Willy Boly in the 16th minute and Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 74th, creating a lively atmosphere at the City Ground, Forest only needed a draw to secure their survival after Luton’s loss to West Ham earlier in the day.

However, Raheem Sterling leveled the score in the 80th minute, followed by Nicolas Jackson’s goal just two minutes later, sealing the victory for Chelsea and silencing the Forest crowd.

Sterling equalized in the 80th minute, and then Jackson stunned the Forest crowd two minutes later, heading in a cross from skipper Reece James. James, who made his return after a five-month absence due to hamstring surgery, played a crucial role by delivering a cross for Jackson to head home from close range.

Reflecting on his return, James expressed his happiness, stating, “It’s been a long wait for me, so I’m happy to come back into the team.” He also emphasized the team’s progress, saying, “We’re still young but we are improving and we’re coming strong at the end of the season.”

Cole Palmer is praised for his skills, acknowledging his limited playing time at Manchester City but noting his impressive performance elsewhere. Palmer himself seemed modest about the compliment, expressing gratitude while emphasizing his focus on the upcoming matches. Meanwhile, Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo and his team showed appreciation for the home fans during their final home game of the season by applauding them around the pitch.