Chris Wood and Noni Madueke were on the scoresheet as Chelsea and Nottingham Forest played out a tactical and intense 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Forest took the lead in the 49th minute when 32-year-old striker Wood slid the ball past Robert Sanchez following a well-executed set-piece routine involving James Ward-Prowse and Nikola Milenkovic.
Chelsea responded swiftly, with Madueke equalizing just eight minutes later. He cut in on his left foot and fired a shot past left-back Alex Moreno, after having already tested him multiple times.
In a setback for Forest, midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White was forced off with an injury in the second half, casting doubt on his availability for England’s upcoming matches, as he left the pitch visibly frustrated and in pain.
Referee Chris Kavanagh later sent off Forest’s James Ward-Prowse for deliberately handling the ball to stop a counter-attack by Nicolas Jackson, earning him a second yellow card after an earlier booking for a tactical foul on Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Madueke also appeared to pick up an injury during a scuffle initiated by Neco Williams, who shoved Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella into Blues manager Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea turned to their deep bench, bringing on Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Pedro Neto in search of a winner with their numerical advantage.
However, Palmer had two attempts saved by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels, and Felix missed a header in stoppage time.
The closing minutes saw both sides come close to a winner, with Sanchez saving a curling effort from Williams and Sels denying Nkunku’s diving header at close range.
Chelsea defenders Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana each received their fifth yellow cards of the season, ruling them out of the trip to Liverpool after the international break.
Controversy also erupted as footage surfaced showing Jackson pushing Forest defender Morato in the face during the on-field altercation. Chelsea are likely to face a Premier League fine for accumulating six yellow cards, and both clubs may be charged for failing to control their players after the heated scenes toward the end of the match.
Despite the draw, the match felt like a close contest between two in-form sides. Chelsea’s five-game winning streak came to an end, though they remain unbeaten in the league since the season opener.
Meanwhile, Forest extended their unbeaten away run to six matches, their longest streak on the road since 1995.
Injured England internationals create concern for Carsley
Two key players from interim England manager Lee Carsley’s under-21 squad suffered injuries at Stamford Bridge.
Concerns arose when Morgan Gibbs-White had to be substituted in the second half after his powerful shot was blocked by Malo Gusto. Shortly after, following a scuffle between the two teams, Noni Madueke was assisted off the pitch by goalkeeping coach Michele de Bernardin, unable to put weight on one leg.
It’s an unfortunate turn for Madueke, who had been Chelsea’s standout attacker, creating most of their chances with his power and skill before the chaotic ending in which Chelsea threw everything at Forest to secure a winner but also left themselves vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Madueke may now miss England’s upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and Finland, while Gibbs-White seems almost certain to withdraw, as he appeared in significant pain and visibly upset as he left the field, despite encouragement from the away fans who chanted his name.
Additionally, there are concerns over Levi Colwill’s fitness after he pointed to his hip before being substituted.