Awoniyi strikes as Nottingham Forest stun Chelsea 3-1 to ease relegation fears

Key facts

• Nottingham Forest won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on May 4, 2026.
• Chelsea have lost six consecutive Premier League matches.
• Forest moved six points above the relegation zone with 39 points.
• Chelsea remain eighth on 48 points, 10 behind fifth-placed Aston Villa.
• Taiwo Awoniyi scored for Forest; Chelsea's goal came from a set-piece.
• Forest's last win at Stamford Bridge was a 1-0 victory in September 2023.
• Chelsea's previous home league win against Forest was in September 1998.

Forest deliver knockout blow at the Bridge

Nottingham Forest secured a 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday, a result that significantly bolsters their Premier League survival campaign. The win, powered by a goal from Taiwo Awoniyi, lifts Forest six points clear of the relegation zone with four matches remaining. For Chelsea, the defeat marks a sixth consecutive league loss, deepening a crisis that has seen them slide to eighth place. The Blues now trail fifth-placed Aston Villa by 10 points, effectively ending their hopes of European qualification through league position.

Awoniyi leads Forest's clinical attack

Awoniyi opened the scoring in the first half, capitalising on a defensive lapse from Chelsea. Forest doubled their lead shortly after the interval through a well-worked set-piece, a recurring strength: four of their seven Premier League goals against Chelsea since 2022 have come from dead-ball situations. Chelsea pulled one back midway through the second half, but Forest restored their two-goal cushion within minutes. The visitors' attacking efficiency proved decisive, as they converted three of their five shots on target.

Chelsea's losing streak reaches six

Chelsea's slide continued unabated, with the team now having lost six league games in a row — their worst run since 1993. Manager Enzo Maresca faces mounting pressure as the season enters its final weeks. Key players were absent due to injury: Estevão (hamstring, out until mid-May), Jamie Gittens (hamstring, doubtful), Ibrahim Sangaré (physical discomfort, doubtful), and Dan Ndoye (physical discomfort, doubtful). Their absence has exposed a lack of depth in the squad.

Forest's survival hopes revived

Nottingham Forest's head coach Vitor Pereira saw his side climb to 16th place, five points above the relegation zone. The victory was only their second away win against Chelsea in the Premier League era, following a 1-0 triumph in September 2023. Forest's defensive organisation frustrated Chelsea throughout, with Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams earning solid ratings. Midfielder Andrey Santos, on loan from Chelsea, played a key role in disrupting his parent club's rhythm.

Historical context: a rare Chelsea home defeat

Chelsea's last home league win over Nottingham Forest dates back to September 1998, when Gianluca Vialli's side won 2-1 through goals from Gianfranco Zola and Gustavo Poyet. Since Forest's return to the top flight in 2022, Chelsea have failed to win at Stamford Bridge against them, recording two draws and two defeats. The reverse fixture at the City Ground in October 2024 ended in a 3-0 Chelsea victory, with goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto, and Reece James. That match led to the sacking of Forest's then-head coach Ange Postecoglou 19 minutes after the final whistle.

What lies ahead for both sides

Chelsea have two remaining home fixtures, including their penultimate match of the season, but face an uphill battle to salvage any European ambition. With 48 points and a goal difference that has worsened, they are now closer to 12th place than to fifth. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, have four games to secure their top-flight status. Their six-point cushion offers breathing room, but the margin for error remains slim. Pereira's side will need to replicate the defensive solidity and counter-attacking sharpness shown at Stamford Bridge.

A turning point in the relegation battle

The result reshapes the relegation picture, with Forest gaining crucial momentum while Chelsea's season disintegrates. For the Blues, the question is no longer about European qualification but about how to arrest a collapse that has seen them lose 10 of their last 14 league matches. Forest's performance, by contrast, demonstrated the resilience and tactical discipline that could keep them in the Premier League. As the season enters its final stretch, Monday's victory may prove the defining moment of their campaign.

The bottom line

• Nottingham Forest won 3-1 at Chelsea, moving six points clear of relegation.
• Chelsea lost their sixth straight Premier League game, falling to eighth place.
• Taiwo Awoniyi scored for Forest, who excelled from set-pieces.
• Chelsea's last home league win over Forest was in 1998.
• Forest's victory was only their second away win against Chelsea in the Premier League.
• Injuries to key Chelsea players (Estevão, Gittens, Sangaré, Ndoye) weakened the squad.