Raheem Sterling scored twice to turn the game around but Chelsea had to settle for a point at the end of an entertaining encounter at Stamford Bridge. The Blues trailed to a Taiwo Awoniyi header during the early stages of a frustrating first half. We came roaring back after the interval, though, Sterling netting a brace in the space of seven minutes. His first was a close-range effort after a cross wasn’t cleared, his second a finish of real quality on the angle.

Forest strike first

The pattern of the game was set early, with Forest content to let us have the ball in front of them and play on the counter when they could. That strategy paid off in 12 minutes when we lost possession in midfield and Renan Lodi had space to deliver a cross that Awoniyi beat Mendy and both center-backs to. The visitors were ahead and Chelsea needed to find a response quickly.

Trying to hit back

In response, Sterling had a left-footed shot bravely blocked by Joe Worrall after Enzo had found a gap in Forest’s defence. Hall was denied in a similar fashion, again a red-shirted defender throwing themselves in the line of fire. Chelsea tried to create more chances but it would not be until after the half-hour mark that we next truly threatened Navas’s goal. Hall did excellently to get free down the left and send in a cross Joao Felix stooped to guide goalwards, but the experienced Costa Rican was equal to our first on-target attempt of the afternoon.

The selection

Lampard made five changes to the side that won at Bournemouth, two of them enforced, with fresh faces selected in goal, defence, midfield, and attack. Edouard Mendy played for the first time since before the World Cup, and Lewis Hall came in for the injured Ben Chilwell at left-back. Mateo Kovacic replaced N’Golo Kante, who missed out with a groin problem sustained in training yesterday. Joao Felix and Sterling were back in attack, with Mykhailo Mudryk and Kai Havertz making way.

Success for Sterling

The second half started with Forest on top, and they nearly doubled their lead through Moussa Niakhate, who volleyed wide from a couple of yards out after Felipe had won the first header from a corner. However, Forest was instantly punished for that miss. Trevoh Chalobah and Madueke exchanged passes down the right, allowing the former to fire a low cross into the box that fell at the feet of Sterling. His shot looked goalbound anyway but a deflection off the prone Ryan Yates made sure as it looped up into the net at the Matthew Harding end of the ground.