Chelsea’s five-match winning streak came to an end on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. Noni Madueke’s equalizer rescued a point for the Blues after Chris Wood had given Forest an early second-half lead.
Despite fielding a changed starting lineup, Chelsea struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Forest, on the other hand, looked dangerous on the counterattack and took the lead through Wood’s close-range finish.
Chelsea responded well to the setback and equalized through Madueke’s fine strike in the 57th minute. The hosts pushed for a winner but were unable to break down a resolute Forest defense.
Forest’s task became even more difficult when James Ward-Prowse was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 78th minute. However, Chelsea failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage and were frustrated by a series of missed chances.
The draw leaves Chelsea in fourth place in the Premier League, but it is a setback in their hopes of challenging for the title. Forest, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone but will take heart from their performance against one of the league’s top teams.
