Jackson strikes late as Chelsea recover to edge past Forest

Chelsea stayed in the hunt for European football with a late second-half comeback to beat Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Nicolas Jackson headed in the 82nd-minute winner from a cross by substitute Reece James, just two minutes after Raheem Sterling had curled in the equaliser.

The visitors had taken the lead after just eight minutes, when Mykhailo Mudryk drilled in a low shot after a superb pass from Cole Palmer.

Willy Boly headed in a free-kick to equalise just eight minutes later. In a frenetic second half, a nicely taken goal by Callum Hudson-Odoi looked like it might give Forest the win, until Chelsea’s two late strikes changed everything.

Results earlier in the day had all but secured Forest’s place in the Premier League next season, with Burnley and Luton both losing their games.

Forest’s goal difference is superior to Luton’s by 13, meaning a huge and unlikely swing is required on the final day to send them down.

That’s three wins in a row now for Chelsea, who have been one of the form teams in the final third of the season. One reason for their freshness might lie in the absence of what they are currently chasing.

After all the investment of the last few years, back-to-back seasons without European football would seem unthinkable at Stamford Bridge. Until their recent late charge it was looking like a reality, but Mauricio Pochettino’s team are bang in form and now level on points with Newcastle, who stay ahead of them on goal difference.

What positions secure European football and in which competitions still needs to be decided, but Chelsea have elbowed their way into the argument with two games to go. It’s Brighton first on Wednesday, and then Bournemouth at home to finish; two massive games for the future of this young team.

Whether from behind the front three or from wide on the left, Palmer was a constant menace to Forest and set up a superb opening goal for Mudryk. He looks certain to be voted the Young Player of the Year, and be integral to Chelsea long term. Given the form he is in, he may well force his way into Gareth Southgate’s England team in Germany this summer.

Nottingham Forest: Sels 6; Montiel 6, Boly 7, Murillo 6, Niakhate 6, Aina 6; Gibbs-White 7, Yates 6, Danilo 6, Hudson-Odoi 7; Wood 5

SUBS: Awoniyi 6, Toffolo 6, Dominguez 6, Elanga 6

Chelsea: Petrovic 6; Chalobah 6, Thiago Silva 7, Badiashile 6, Cucurella 6; Caicedo 6, Gallagher 6, Palmer 8; Madueke 5, Jackson 7, Mudryk 7

SUBS: Gusto 7, James 7, Sterling 7, Nkunku 6

8′ GOAL! NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0 CHELSEA 1 (MUDRYK 8) Chelsea come out of hiding, and open the scoring with a beauty. Palmer daggers a ball through the inside-left channel that releases Mudryk into the Forest area. Mudryk cuts onto his right foot, and glides a low shot past Sels.

16′ GOAL! NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 (BOLY 16) CHELSEA 1 This is so simple! Gibbs-White lofts the free-kick to the back post, where Boly is completely unmarked. He plants a header at goal and it catches a slight nick off Gallagher before flying in at the near post. It’s VAR checked for an age, but Boly was onside and it stands.

74′ GOAL! NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 (HUDSON-ODOI 74) CHELSEA 1 It’s been coming. Gibbs-White finds Hudson-Odoi near the left corner of the area. Hudson-Odoi cuts inside, across Gusto, and curls a glorious shot into the bottom corner. It’s his signature move, and it’s so hard to stop.

80′ GOAL! NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 CHELSEA 2 (STERLING 80) We’re level! Chelsea work the ball to Sterling on the left of the Forest area. He cuts in, and past Aina, before drilling a low curler of his own into the bottom corner!

82′ GOAL! NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 CHELSEA 3 (JACKSON 82) Oh I say, Chelsea lead! It’s a lovely move, with Gusto releasing James into acres down the right. The cross from James is perfect; first time, on the run, and on the half-volley to the back post. Jackson meets it, and plants his header into the net.