CHELSEA v Nottingham Forest: Preview

Date: Monday 4th Could
2026

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Kick-off: 15:00 BST

Nicely, we one way or the other managed to sneak previous Leeds and e-book ourselves a
spot within the FA Cup closing – cue the celebrations and awkward makes an attempt at trying
assured. To be honest, we had been much less hopeless than ordinary, however let’s not fake
we had been cruising.

This afternoon, we’re again at Stamford Bridge, rolling out the
blue carpet for Nottingham Forest. Let’s hope the one factor we host is three
factors, not one other nervous breakdown!

We kick off
at the moment sitting fairly in ninth place — sure, nonetheless clinging to single
digits like a toddler with a teddy bear — however our slide down the desk is
beginning to appear like a theme park attraction. Forest have discovered some kind and pulled
away from relegation whereas we’re caught in a no-win zone and our Premier League
targets have gone lacking – final seen someplace round February if anybody fancies
checking misplaced property. As for Europe? Nicely, it’s nonetheless technically potential,
however until we uncover a stash of targets and a few divine intervention, prepare
for midweek evenings spent binge-watching TV as a substitute of continental soccer.
4 video games left, together with at the moment — if anybody’s received Mystic Meg’s quantity, now’s
the time!

Sure,
Chelsea beat Forest 0-3 away again in October — however right here’s the plot twist: since
Forest rejoined the Premier League in 2022, they haven’t managed to lose at
Stamford Bridge. So, should you fancy a punt on breaking data (or hearts),
at the moment’s your second. In any other case, seize your stress balls, brace your self for
ninety minutes of stress, questionable defending, and — fingers crossed — the
reappearance of these long-lost targets.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going
into at the moment’s sport, Calum McFarlane says “The temper inside the squad]is
actually optimistic. Soccer is a outcomes enterprise, and while you’re dropping, it
looks like every little thing is the worst factor on this planet. And while you win, it
feels superb. So, the temper has lifted after breaking the latest run of losses.
I believed we carried out rather well towards Leeds at instances, which is one other
optimistic. We confirmed completely different components of our sport that we had been actually glad
with, and we have to attempt to proceed that and follow the processes that
introduced that efficiency.

I
watched [Forest] final night time and I’ve watched a lot of their video games. They’re a
actually, actually good aspect in actually good kind, and so they have a number of top-quality
gamers, some actual threats that now we have to pay attention to. It’s one other large
sport, one other huge problem, as each sport within the Premier League is. However we’ll
be prepared and ready for the sport.”

Nottingham
Forest supervisor, Vitor Pereira, in the meantime, says “Whenever you begin within the center
of a season, it’s as a result of one thing is lacking. Possibly it’s not in regards to the
earlier coaches as a result of they’re prime coaches, prime managers. Generally it’s
about, or more often than not, for my part, it’s in regards to the power. We have to
recharge the power of the staff. Tactically, I attempt my concepts. Now we have our concepts
and we attempt to, in the event that they purchase the concept, in the event that they really feel that we are attempting to make
them comfy within the roles, attempt to give them confidence to play, to precise
themselves and in the long run to attach all people. That is crucial for
me, to attach all people within the membership. With the supporters, the staff, between
the gamers, between the employees and the gamers and making an attempt to create one thing
that we’re combating collectively.

I
will attempt to suppose simply in regards to the Chelsea sport as a result of it’s our Champions
League. It’s crucial for us. And we are going to attempt to go there to compete with
the gamers. I want a match participant with out damage issues, than somebody that
goes contained in the pitch with issues, as a result of with issues, we can’t give 100%
and on this second we have to run and struggle.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Chelsea, Jamie Gittens (thigh), Filip
Jorgensen (groin) and Estevao Willian (hamstring) are all injured, while Mykhaylo
Mudryk is serving a 4-year ban pending enchantment. Reece James (thigh) and Levi
Colwill (ACL) could make the squad however are unlikely to play an element.

For Nottingham Forest, Nicolo Savona
(knee), Callum Hudson-Odoi (thigh), John Victor (knee) and Willy Boly (knee)
are all out. Dan Ndoye (unspecified), Ibrahim Sangare (unspecified), Jair Cunha
(shoulder) and Murillo (thigh), are all uncertain. Ola Aina (knock) is predicted
to be accessible.

TEAMS

CHELSEA (Attainable line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Santos, Palmer, Neto; Peter

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (Attainable line-up): Sels;
Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; McAtee, Anderson, Dominguez, Gibbs-White;
Jesus, Lucca

LAST SEASON

Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham
Forest (sixth October 2024)

CURRENT FORM (PL)

CHELSEA: WLLLLL

NOTTINGHAM FOREST: DDWDWW

OTHER STUFF

Chelsea
have solely achieved the league double over Nottingham Forest as soon as earlier than (1998/99)Nottingham
Forest are unbeaten in all 3 visits to Stamford Bridge since their return to
the Premier LeagueNottingham
Forest are unbeaten of their final six Premier League gamesChelsea
have misplaced their final 5 Premier League gamesNottingham
Forest have misplaced simply 2 of their 8 Premier League away video games towards ChelseaChelsea
have failed to attain of their final 5 video games within the Premier LeagueNottingham
Forest have scored 3+ targets in three of their final 4 video games within the Premier
League

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest