Chelsea player ratings: Cole Palmer pulls the strings as always but Benoit Badiashile suffers a bad day at the office
CHELSEA proved to be too strong for Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The Blues took the lead after just eight minutes with a Mykhailo Mudryk goal.
However, they were pegged back just eight minutes later when Wily Boly scored with a header.
Forest thought they might have won it with Callum Hudson-Odoi’s 74th minute strike.
However, Chelsea had other ideas. Raheem Sterling levelled things up in the 80th minute, and just two minutes later Nicolas Jackson scored the winner.
Here’s how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated the Blues.
DJORDJE PETROVIC – 6
Had to be on his toes to prevent Chris Wood lobbing him to save Chelsea early on. Flapped at a few set-piece deliveries but in truth had very little opportunity to shine.
TREVOH CHALOBAH – 7
Enjoyed a ding-dong battle with Forest’s in-form Callum Hudson-Odoi which he just about survived. Moved to centre half to partner Thiago Silva when Badiashile was subbed off.
THIAGO SILVA – 8
Made the game look easy as always. In his penultimate game for Chelsea he was always in the right place at the right time. Almost bowed out with a rare goal in his final away game but his header bounced off the post. He’ll be a huge miss when he departs this summer.
BENOIT BADIASHILE – 5
Caught napping by Chris Wood at the start but was bailed out by Petrovic who denied the Kiwi striker. Booked for conceding the foul which led to Willy Boly’s equaliser – then played Boly just onside. Taken off after 58 minutes – tough day at the office.
MARC CUCURELLA – 6
Displayed a lot of intelligence, switching from his usual left-back role to a holding midfielder when Chelsea were in possession. Struggled defending balls to the back post at times.
MOISES CAICEDO – 7
Held his ground in the middle of the park and was solid enough. Grabbed an assist for setting up Sterling’s equaliser, then his late crossfield pass set Reece James scampering clear to set up Jackson’s winner.
CONOR GALLAGHER – 7
Picked up a yellow card for man-handling Callum Hudson-Odoi to stop a promising Forest break. Put in his usual hard shift.
NONI MADUEKE – 5
Had a rare old battle with Ola Aina but can’t claim to have come out on top. No surprise when he was hooked just before the hour.
COLE PALMER – 8
Provided the killer pass which sliced Forest apart for Mudryk’s opener and would have had a second assist if Nicolas Jackson hadn’t fluffed his lines. Also provided the free kick which Thiago Silva almost scored from. Chelsea’s creative spark.
MYKHAILO MUDRYK – 7
Finally managed to score outside West London with his fifth Premier goal of the season. Gave Argentina’s World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel a torrid afternoon down the left.
NICOLAS JACKSON – 7
Missed a snip when sent through on goal by Palmer. Then lost Boly at Forest’s set-piece goal. But answered his many critics when he pounced to head home Chelsea’s late winner.
SUBS
RAHEEM STERLING – 8
Came on to cries of: ‘What a waste of money,’ when he replaced Mudryk after 73 minutes. But silenced Forest fans with a brilliant cut inside and curler into the far corner to pull Chelsea level with only his second goal since November 25.
REECE JAMES – 8
Replaced Conor Gallagher after 79 minutes and within three minutes of coming on Chelsea scored TWICE! His inch-perfect cross took out Forest ‘keeper Matz Sels to lay the winner on a plate for Nic Jackson.
MALO GUSTO – 5
Sent on after 59 minutes for Benoit Badiashile and probably wishes he hadn’t. Fronted up by Callum Hudson-Odoi who used him as a shield to bend the ball beyond the unsighted Djordje Petrovic.
CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU – 5
Poked a finish over the crossbar after coming on for Madueke just before the hour mark.
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