Raheem Sterling put Chelsea forward in the primary half at the City Ground on Sunday. But Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier levelled after the break and Chelsea had been lucky to flee with out an embarrassing defeat after Forest dominated for lengthy spells in the second half.
Nottingham Forest defender Serge Aurier (C) celebrates after scoring their first aim throughout the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on 1 January 2023. Picture: Paul ELLIS/AFP
NOTTINGHAM – Graham Potter admitted Chelsea’s disappointing 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest underlined the dearth of consistency that threatens to shatter their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
Raheem Sterling put Chelsea forward in the primary half at the City Ground on Sunday.
But Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier levelled after the break and Chelsea had been lucky to flee with out an embarrassing defeat after Forest dominated for lengthy spells in the second half.
Chelsea are languishing in eighth place after failing to win for the sixth time in their final seven league video games.
The Blues are seven factors adrift of fourth positioned Manchester United in the race to qualify for the Champions League by way of a prime 4 end.
“We need to be more consistent. It would help to get players back, the key ones and then you can build consistency in key places,” Potter mentioned.
“It’s always tough because you have a lot of big teams with lots of top players and coaches.
“We have a protracted option to go so it might be a mistake to consider what may occur in 5 months time.”
Just months after replacing the sacked Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea boss Potter is starting to come under fire as the early optimism after his move from Brighton begins to fade.
Chelsea’s 2-0 win against Bournemouth on Boxing Day was supposed to offer hope of a brighter period in 2023.
But while it is surely too early for Potter to be worried about losing the first high-pressure job of his career, the 47-year-old needs an uptick in results in the new year to avoid putting Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly in an awkward position.
“Our efficiency degree wasn’t adequate to take the three factors. We did not transfer the ball quick sufficient,” Potter said.
“Forest performed a superb recreation however we’re disenchanted with our efficiency and anxious we did not deserve the win. It was general beneath par for us.”
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta added to the gloom when he said: “Since the start of the season now we have misplaced too many factors and we’re actually removed from the place we need to be.
“We need to have a very good second half of the season if we want to play in the Champions League next season.”
Forest are third backside having received simply three video games all season, however boss Steve Cooper will take coronary heart from the best way his crew rattled Chelsea in the second half.
The solely darkish cloud for Forest was the alleged homophobic chanting from residence supporters that earned condemnation from LGBTQ teams.
Brennan Johnson threatened an early aim for Forest when he sprinted away from Marc Cucurella and Thiago Silva, however Kepa Arrizabalaga spared his team-mates’ blushes with a superb save.
FOREST FIGHTBACK
If that was a fortunate break for Chelsea, Potter’s facet loved an excellent larger stroke of excellent fortune as they took the lead in the sixteenth minute.
Christian Pulisic’s cross in direction of Kai Havertz was deflected by Forest defender Willy Boly’s out-stretched foot, with the ball looping onto the crossbar and bouncing down completely for the unmarked Sterling to slam residence from close-range.
It was Sterling’s first league aim since August and solely the sixth in all competitions for the England ahead since his close-season transfer from Manchester City.
But Chelsea’s first half superiority rapidly light after the interval.
Kepa got here to Chelsea’s rescue with an outstanding save after Johnson accelerated onto Morgan Gibbs-White’s go and unleashed a stinging shot.
Chelsea had been on the ropes and Gibbs-White was inches away from an equaliser when he met Ryan Yates’ go with a sweetly-timed strike that cannoned off the bar and bounced to security.
With Chelsea surprisingly subdued in the second half, Forest’s stress paid off in the 63rd minute.
Boly out-jumped Pulisic to go a nook in direction of Aurier, who deftly managed on his chest earlier than volleying by means of Kepa’s legs from 5 yards.