Nicolas Jackson wins thriller for Chelsea to rain on Nottingham Forest’s parade

A points deduction, the owner leaving the stands to remonstrate with the referee, that post on X and even a cameo from Gladiators’ very own Mark Clattenburg. Nottingham Forest is the most entertaining show in town and they are – almost certainly – coming back for another compelling season hosted by the Premier League.

The latest episode was a five‑goal thriller. Needing only a point to confirm their top-flight status, Forest were set to earn all three until Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson changed the direction of the match in Chelsea’s favour to earn a third straight win, to slightly dampen spirits on the banks of the Trent.

Forest would need to lose on the final day at relegated Burnley and Luton defeat Fulham, with the minor issue of a 12-goal swing required to help the Hatters leapfrog to safety. There is, frankly, next to no chance of that happening. There was a degree of deflation at the final whistle inside the City Ground but they know the job is as good as done. Home fans crowded around televisions to learn the fate of their rivals before kick-off. Defeats for Burnley and Luton turned what had been a nervous afternoon into a carnival.

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“We are disappointed to lose the game and not give what we wanted to our fans,” Nuno Espírito Santo said. “It is not over, it’s virtually over but maybe I am the only person [who does not think Forest are safe]. I have seen too many things in football to relax and want to finish the season on a high after a very difficult season for the club.”

Forest were reminded of the ruthless nature of the Premier League, and that there is still plenty to do in order to match the elite teams on a weekly basis. Cole Palmer was a constant threat in possession, spotting the passes no one else could see and using his trickery to repeatedly evade opponents.

It was Palmer’s precision that instigated proceedings, threading the ball between full-back and centre-back for Mykhailo Mudryk to latch on to and slot into the bottom corner beyond Matz Sels. It was a clever run and cool finish from the Ukrainian who has been the subject of much criticism since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk but it was a further glimpse of what he can offer going forward.

Forest were unfortunate to go behind, having been the better team in the opening stages, looking more energetic than Chelsea. Willy Boly grabbed a deserved equaliser when he headed home a Morgan Gibbs-White free-kick, via Conor Gallagher’s foot, to reignite the party in the stands.

In the second half Callum Hudson-Odoi, with a point to prove against his former team, produced one of his trademark runs, cutting in from the left and taking aim for the far corner. The ball rippled the back of the net and there was no chance he would be showing respect to his boyhood club with a muted celebration, lapping up the adulation in the corner. There were 16 minutes to go at the point and Forest thought they had guaranteed a repeat fixture next season.

Sterling had a different idea, replicating Hudson-Odoi’s goal to level things, before Reece James, on his return after five months out with a hamstring injury, crossed for Jackson to head the winner to tighten Chelsea’s grip on seventh.

Only three teams – Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool – have picked up more points since Boxing Day, indicating the recent improvement after a poor start to the season. “We were punished because of the first 10 games,” Mauricio Pochettino said. “I think if we earned eight or 10 points more, we would be in a much better position – we would be in the top four or five.”

The manager played down talk he might leave the club in the summer. “I never said I am not happy,” Pochettino said. “I have one year more in my contract, like I said yesterday [Friday], I am always thinking about the long term, thinking I am going to be here for life. I am trying to make the owners and staff happy that we are in charge, and make the fans happy.”

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There are reasons to be optimistic for both teams as they close on achieving their objectives for the season. Forest and Chelsea, however, might want to plot a calmer course next season.