Noni Madueke's heroics save Chelsea from defeat against 10-man Forest

LONDON – Noni Madueke's late equaliser salvaged a point for Chelsea in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with 10-man Nottingham Forest, halting the Blues' impressive five-game winning streak in the English Premier League on Oct 6.

Enzo Maresca’s side fell behind to Chris Wood’s strike early in the second half at Stamford Bridge.

England winger Madueke hauled Chelsea level but the hosts could not find a winner despite their numerical advantage in the closing stages.

“They are a stubborn side. We went into the game with the intention to take three points but we couldn’t get over the line and it’s frustrating,” said Madueke.

“They were defending pretty much the whole game and sometimes it just doesn’t fall. We go into the international break and come back prepared for Liverpool.

“Credit to them, they are resilient with a lot of players behind the ball. They know if you give us space we are dangerous, having said that we could have scored three, four or five, but its one of those games.”

Forest had to play the last 12 minutes with 10 men after James Ward-Prowse was sent off.

Chelsea had won their previous three league games – and five in all competitions – to raise hopes that Maresca is the man to lift the west Londoners out of their long malaise.

Being held by Forest was a setback but the Blues still go into the international break in fourth place.

Maresca had insisted Chelsea are not ready to compete with Manchester City and Arsenal for the title, but they have established themselves as candidates for a top-four finish.

The Italian demonstrated Chelsea’s enviable strength in depth by fielding an entirely changed starting line-up for the 4-2 Europa Conference League win over Gent in midweek.

Once again, he made a host of changes but with less success this time.

The home side were fortunate not to fall behind when Murillo’s stinging shot was palmed away by Robert Sanchez.

It took Maresca’s men until three minutes before half-time before they finally tested Forest keeper Matz Sels.

Madueke’s effort was pushed away by Sels, who scrambled to his feet to save Enzo Fernandez’s shot from the rebound.

Sels repelled Cole Palmer’s low shot moments later, alertly grabbing the loose ball before it could roll over the line.

But Chelsea’s flurry of jabs late in the first half were followed by a smack in the mouth just four minutes after the interval.

Nikola Milenkovic flicked a Forest free kick towards Wood and the New Zealand striker prodded home from close-range for his fourth goal this season.

The Blues punched back in the 57th minute, with Madueke surging onto Palmer’s pass in the Forest area before planting a fine finish past Sels.

Palmer was twice denied by Sels in the closing minutes and Joao Felix squandered a golden opportunity in 13 minutes of stoppage-time, heading wide from Pedro Neto’s cross.

“The full game was a very good game with both teams trying. We played and created,” said Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

“The second half was very good for the spectators. We controlled the game well. There is no other way to play against big teams, if you don’t unite then it’s difficult.” AFP