Chelsea welcomed Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon as Frank Lampard looked to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since March.
Chelsea Starting XI: Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Badiashile, Hall; Gallagher, Enzo, Kovacic, Madueke, Félix and Sterling.
Nottingham Forest Starting XI: Navas, Aurier, Worrall, Felipe, Niakhaté, Lodi, Yates, Mangala, Danilo, Gibbs-White and Awoniyi.
Frank Lampard had only won a game since he returned to the club and he was looking to build from the win in their last game to try and finish what has been a disastrous season off strongly.
Chelsea picked up a much-needed three points last weekend at Bournemouth but face a different kind of challenge this time around against Forest, who are still fighting for their Premier League status next season.
This matchup was to be an eagerly anticipated match for Forest, as they are battling to steer clear of the drop zone.
The reverse fixture between these two teams also ended in a draw, a 1-1 stalemate, courtesy of goals from Aurier and Sterling.
Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest secured a precious point at Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, thanks to a brace from Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi.
Forest earned the early advantage when Renan Lodi lofted a ball into the Chelsea area in the 13th minute. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who had not played since getting injured playing for Senegal at the World Cup, was quick to come off his line but misjudged the flight and Awoniyi rose between two Chelsea defenders to head home.
Lampard must have been rueing the decision to start the Senegalese.
A Raheem Sterling quickfire double ensued. Sterling scored Chelsea's 51st-minute equalizer with a simple close-range shot from a perfectly weighted cross by defender Trevoh Chalobah.
The goal buoyed the home side and gave them the confidence that has been so lacking in recent games and Sterling doubled his account for the day in the 58th minute with a fine curling shot after a marauding run and pass from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
But hardly four minutes later, Forest were back on equal terms. Awoniyi grabbed his brace with a close-range header from a set-piece situation.
Thiago Silva could have won the game for Chelsea in the 81st minute but he sent his header over the bar.
Few more chances came in the additional minutes of the second half but they were destined to finish the game with a draw.
A point apiece for both sides does neither of them any good in terms of ranking on the table.
Chelsea, who have nothing to play for but to finish the season on a high, remain 11th level on points with Crystal Palace below them.
Nottingham Forest misused the opportunity to steer five points clear of the bottom three, but they however extend the gap above Leeds by three points.
Chelsea have a tough fixture away at League leaders Man City to play next while Forest will welcome title hopefuls Arsenal at The City Ground as they look to battle for three points to steadily steer clear of the drop zone.
Match Highlights Below:
Chelsea Starting XI: Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Badiashile, Hall; Gallagher, Enzo, Kovacic, Madueke, Félix and Sterling.
Nottingham Forest Starting XI: Navas, Aurier, Worrall, Felipe, Niakhaté, Lodi, Yates, Mangala, Danilo, Gibbs-White and Awoniyi.
Frank Lampard had only won a game since he returned to the club and he was looking to build from the win in their last game to try and finish what has been a disastrous season off strongly.
Chelsea picked up a much-needed three points last weekend at Bournemouth but face a different kind of challenge this time around against Forest, who are still fighting for their Premier League status next season.
This matchup was to be an eagerly anticipated match for Forest, as they are battling to steer clear of the drop zone.
The reverse fixture between these two teams also ended in a draw, a 1-1 stalemate, courtesy of goals from Aurier and Sterling.
Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest secured a precious point at Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, thanks to a brace from Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi.
Forest earned the early advantage when Renan Lodi lofted a ball into the Chelsea area in the 13th minute. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who had not played since getting injured playing for Senegal at the World Cup, was quick to come off his line but misjudged the flight and Awoniyi rose between two Chelsea defenders to head home.
Lampard must have been rueing the decision to start the Senegalese.
A Raheem Sterling quickfire double ensued. Sterling scored Chelsea's 51st-minute equalizer with a simple close-range shot from a perfectly weighted cross by defender Trevoh Chalobah.
The goal buoyed the home side and gave them the confidence that has been so lacking in recent games and Sterling doubled his account for the day in the 58th minute with a fine curling shot after a marauding run and pass from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
But hardly four minutes later, Forest were back on equal terms. Awoniyi grabbed his brace with a close-range header from a set-piece situation.
Thiago Silva could have won the game for Chelsea in the 81st minute but he sent his header over the bar.
Few more chances came in the additional minutes of the second half but they were destined to finish the game with a draw.
A point apiece for both sides does neither of them any good in terms of ranking on the table.
Chelsea, who have nothing to play for but to finish the season on a high, remain 11th level on points with Crystal Palace below them.
Nottingham Forest misused the opportunity to steer five points clear of the bottom three, but they however extend the gap above Leeds by three points.
Chelsea have a tough fixture away at League leaders Man City to play next while Forest will welcome title hopefuls Arsenal at The City Ground as they look to battle for three points to steadily steer clear of the drop zone.
Match Highlights Below:
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