Premier League
2:00 p.mMay 4, 2026
Regular season – 35
Stamford Bridge
Referee: Anthony Taylor, England
Chelsea
Nottingham Forest
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
1.93
Expected Goals (xG)
2.07
Passing by
591 (91%)
Accurate passes
259 (80%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
26
G
Matz Sels
7.9
25
d
Luca Netz
6.9
d
purple
10′ Holding
23
d
Jairus
6.9
44
d
Zach Abbott
6.5
24
M
James McAtee
6.3
16
M
Nicolas DomÃnguez
7.0
22
M
Ryan Yates (C)
6.9
M
Dylan Bakwa
2′ F
Taiwo Awoniyi
2′
52′
Premier League Ranking – Premier League
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – Champions League (League phase)
- Promotion – Europa League (League phase)
- Promotion – Conference League (Play Offs)
- Relegation – Championship
Nottingham Forest stunned Chelsea with a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge, with Taiwo Awoniyi scoring twice to secure a crucial victory that keeps the visitors’ top-flight hopes alive.
Chelsea dominated possession but paid the price for poor defensive discipline. Nottingham Forest arrived at Stamford Bridge sitting 16th in the table, while the home side were 9th. Chelsea’s recent form saw five defeats in a row, making this game crucial to both teams’ seasons.
Nottingham Forest struck with devastating speed. Taiwo Awoniyi opened the scoring just two minutes later, catching the Chelsea defense completely off guard. The opening goal sent shockwaves through the stadium and set the tone for an unexpected afternoon.
Forest extended their lead in the 15th minute as Igor Jesus converted from the penalty spot after a Chelsea foul in the area. The visitors had suddenly raced into a two-goal lead before many fans had settled into their seats.
Chelsea finally responded before the break. Cole Palmer stepped up to take a penalty in the 45th minute and fired past Matz Sels. The goal gave the home side hope heading into the break, although their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed.
The second half started with Chelsea going forward aggressively. They controlled possession and created chances, but Forest’s clinical finishing proved decisive. Awoniyi struck again in the 52nd minute, scoring his second goal to restore Forest’s two-goal lead.
Chelsea pressed hard in search of a comeback. The home team had 21 total shots and dominated possession with 68 percent possession. However, the Forest keeper Sels made four crucial saves to keep the visitors ahead.
João Pedro added a fourth goal in the 90th minute, sealing Forest’s impressive win. The late strike came after Chelsea had sent on more desperate strikers. Forest’s counter-attack proved too dangerous for Chelsea’s weak defence.
The statistics told the story of a mismatch in efficiency. Chelsea generated 1.93 expected goals, but managed just one. Forest created just 2.07 expected goals but converted three, showing superior clinical finishing.
Awoniyi got the outstanding performance of the match with a score of 8.7. The forward completed two shots on goal and scored twice, proving the difference. Sels also impressed for Forest, making four saves in a dominant display.
This result has major implications for both teams’ seasons. Nottingham Forest climbed to 39 points and improved their form significantly. Chelsea remained on 48 points, but their position was further weakened by this disappointing home defeat.
