Nottingham Forest secured a valuable point in their relegation battle with a deserved draw against Chelsea, who fell to the Premier League’s top four.
Raheem Sterling flew five yards out for the visitors after Wily Boly threw a cross over his own bar.
Forest attacked with vigor in the second half and Morgan Gibbs-White netted a superb strike over the bar.
Serge Aurier showed good composure when he controlled the ball to his chest and equalized with a volley.
Chelsea, who have won consecutive league games under Graham Potter only once since their appointment on September 8, overtake Brighton in eighth place but are seven points behind Manchester United in fourth.
Forest, who scored a point for the first time this season after falling behind, overtake Wolverhampton Wanderers in 18th and are only behind fourth bottom West Ham United on goal difference.
The crowd drives the forest to draw
In the first half, Forest were keen to use Brennan Johnson’s pace behind the Chelsea defense and he closed in on the hosts in a one-on-one with Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Despite an early delay, the atmosphere at the City Ground built throughout half-time, inspired in part by the crowd growing frustrated with referee Peter Bankes’ performance.
Steve Cooper’s side then jumped blocks after the break, Johnson saving an effort before Gibbs-White rocked the underside of the bar with a magnificent strike.
Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi’s runs in the canals caused Chelsea problems throughout the game, but as has been the case throughout the season – they scored just 12 goals in 17 league appearances – they ran out of edge in the final third.
It took a superb finish from defender Aurier to earn them a point, but with signs of Cooper finding his best 11 and a vocal fan base that has helped them remain unbeaten in six home games in all competitions, they have a chance of survival.
Chelsea away day blues continue
Chelsea entered the game knowing nothing, but three points would leave them further behind the top four after wins for Manchester United and liverpool in the last 48 hours.
They started with good intentions and Mason Mount produced two threatening efforts before Sterling reacted quickest to smash Chelsea after Boly – who was under pressure from Kai Harvetz – inadvertently heeled a cross from Christian Pulisic on the rod.
From then on the visitors were lackluster and failed to shoot on target after the break despite Potter using all five substitutions in an attempt to change the game.
That said, one of them, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, should have perhaps won the game for Potter’s side, but he failed to make proper contact with a header after a poor cross from the replacing Hakim Ziyech.
That leaves Chelsea, who struggled to cope with the pace and intensity of Forest in the second half, with a win in their last five games in all competitions, and winless in five Premier League games in the second half. outside.
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