Nicolas Jackson headed home the winner eight minutes from time (Image: Getty)
Chelsea came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 on Saturday evening. Mykhaylo Mudryk put Chelsea ahead inside eight minutes and Willy Boly equalised shortly after, deflecting a header in via Conor Gallagher. Callum Hudson-Odoi cut in from the left to curl Forest in front in the second half but substitute Raheem Sterling did similar at the other end to level. Reece James came off the bench to set up Nicolas Jackson's winner with a brilliant cross from the right. Express Sport takes a look at the key talking points...
It was clear that Mauricio Pochettino was unhappy with the way his team were performing as he readied his substitutes much earlier than usual. The Argentine must have given his players a rocket at half-time, with the score at 1-1, but it had no impact and he called for Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku to come on the 52nd minute.
They didn't enter the fray until just before the hour mark because the ball remained in play, but it was a clear signal of his frustrations. Benoit Badiashile and Noni Madueke made way.
It was substitutes that turned the game on it's head as Sterling came off the bench to level and James, making his first appearance since December 10, assisted the winner.
Mykhaylo Mudryk put Chelsea 1-0 up early on (Image: Getty)
Hudson-Odoi sharper than Mudryk
Mudryk looked sharp from the off and gobbled up his first chance on the eighth minute. The Ukrainian was played through by Palmer, took one touch to cut in on his right before cooly slotting the ball into the far corner.
It is exactly the type of clinical edge Chelsea fans expected when the club signed him for £88.5million in January 2023.
The winger had not scored in his past 10 matches but was unable to add to his tally in the first half through no fault of his own. Chelsea were forced to defend deep and keep the scores level at the break.
Mudryk was wasteful with possession in the second period and pulled off early - unlike former Chelsea man Hudson-Odoi, who looked lively and rattled the crossbar 20 minutes from time.
He got a fully deserved goal shortly afterward, cutting in from the right and bending the ball into the far car. Pochettino must wish he still had the 23-year-old in his ranks.
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Forest safe
Nottingham Forest showed exactly why they will remain in the Premier League next season by going toe-to-toe with the Blues.
Burnley and Luton lost earlier in the day, meaning Forest were guaranteed to stay up, baring a 13-goal swing.
But they still didn't sit back and fight for a point that would have confirmed their safety. They kept pushing for a second goal when level at 1-1 and came close when skipper Ryan Yates hit the post. Hudson-Odoi hit the bar shortly before his goal.
Forest are not technically safe, but it would need a crazy goal swing on the final day