LONDON (AP) — Chelsea suffered a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Monday, dropping them to a sixth straight Premier League defeat and effectively ending their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice on either side, including converting a penalty from fellow striker Igor Jesus, to put Forest, who were heavily rotating, on the brink of a crisis. Forest were six points above the relegation zone with three matches remaining.
Joao Pedro’s overhead kick in stoppage time ended Chelsea’s nearly two-month run without scoring in the league, but it was just a consolation.
A humiliating day for the London club. temporary coach Callum MacFarlane and Cole Palmer saved penalties in the 14th minute of first-half stoppage time after 18-year-old Chelsea winger Jesse Derry, making his first Premier League start, required long-term treatment after a head-to-head collision with Forest’s Zac Abbott in a corner.
Both players had to leave the field and Derry was taken on a stretcher as Stamford Bridge fell silent and his team-mates looked worried.
Advance to FA Cup final Last week’s game failed to inspire Chelsea’s players, who were booed by their home fans at half-time and full-time as they dropped to ninth in the league and out of contention for a top-five finish.
Sixth place could still qualify for the Champions League, but only in certain scenarios where Aston Villa, who are currently fifth, finish in that position and also win the Europa League. Chelsea are four points behind sixth-placed Bournemouth.
Villa beat Forest 1-0 After the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals. With the second leg to be played at Villa Park on Thursday, Forest manager Vitor Pereira has effectively fielded a second-choice lineup that is still too much for Chelsea.
In-form playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White was one of Forest’s top players to start on the bench. He came on as a substitute and set up Awoniyi’s third goal in the 52nd minute, but he collided with Chelsea goalkeeper Roberto Sanchez and was sent off with a bandage on his head, who also had to be substituted.
Late on Monday, second-placed Manchester City visited Everton, needing a win to regain a three-point gap over Arsenal in the title race.
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