Nottingham Forest

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

There was a carnival atmosphere inside the City Ground as news of Luton's defeat to West Ham filtered through before Nottingham Forest's final home game of the season to Chelsea.

It meant Forest required one point to confirm a third successive season in the Premier League.

For six minutes it looked like they might confirm their survival in style as Callum Hudson-Odoi sent Forest into a 2-1 lead in the 74th-minute before Chelsea hit back with two late goals to seal a 3-2 win.

It will still require an unlikely set of circumstances to deny Forest a place in the Premier League next season.

They head into the final day with a three point lead over Luton, who also require a 12-goal swing to stay up.

But there was a sense of opportunity missed and instead of securing their safety with a game to spare, Nuno Espirito Santo's side head to relegated Burnley on 19 May knowing they have work to do.

Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Nottingham Forest's defeat to Chelsea: "It was a good match to watch. I'm disappointed after we bounced back to 2-1. We were dominant and controlled the game but the match went away from us because of our own mistakes. We allowed Chelsea to score.

"We knew it was in our hands to achieve the main objective to stay in the Premier League. It's not yet done but the way the players stuck to their task, we are positive for the next one to finally finish the job.

"The fans show us what it means. They have been so supportive. We are disappointed we are set to let them down today because they deserve a moment of happiness. We try for the next one but thank you for the support.

"It was not to be. I'm proud of the boys, the way they've been working on a daily basis. It's been hard for the boys with all of the noise around the football club. It's almost there.

"We have a good foundation as a football club to build a future. There is a lot of hard work ahead of us."

• Since Boxing Day 2023, only three teams have picked up more points than Chelsea (35) in the Premier League (Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool). They’ve lost just three of their 18 games in this period (W10 D5), with only Man City (0) suffering fewer defeats.

• Nottingham Forest suffered their ninth home defeat of the Premier League season, their joint-most in a 20-team campaign (also nine in 1998-99).

• Chelsea have conceded in each of their past 15 away games in the Premier League, their longest ever run within a season. Their last clean sheet on the road in the league was at Fulham back in October (a 2-0 win), while they’ve shipped 33 goals in their 15 away trips since then.

• Morgan Gibbs-White recorded his 10th assist of the Premier League campaign, with only Ollie Watkins (12) making more in 2023-24. He’s just the third Nottingham Forest player to hit double figures for assists in a season, after Bryan Roy in 1994-95 (11) and Ian Woan in 1995-96 (10).

• Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (21 goals, 10 assists) is just the fourth player in Premier League history to score 20+ goals and provide 10+ assists in his debut season for a specific club, after Andrew Cole with Newcastle in 1993-94 (34G & 13A), Jürgen Klinsmann with Spurs in 1994-95 (20G & 10A) and Mohamed Salah with Liverpool in 2017-18 (32G & 10A).

• Callum Hudson-Odoi has scored eight goals for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this season; the most by an English player for the club since both Ian Woan and Jason Lee in 1995-96 (8).

Nottingham Forest missed the chance to secure Premier League safety after losing to Chelsea in a five-goal thriller at the City Ground.

A resurgent Chelsea took the lead through their first attack when Mykhailo Mudryk swept home in the eighth minute after a beautifully crafted pass by Cole Palmer.

But after Willy Boly headed Forest level, former Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi sent Forest into a 74th-minute lead with a curling finish from 15 yards.

In an entertaining encounter, substitute Raheem Sterling made it 2-2 before Nicolas Jackson struck an 82nd-minute winner.

Luton's defeat at West Ham earlier on Saturday meant Forest required one point to confirm a third successive season in the Premier League.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have 29 points from 37 games, three more than 18th-placed Luton who also have one match left.

However, Forest also have a superior goal difference, with Luton requiring a 12-goal swing to stay up.

The Reds go to relegated Burnley on the final day on 19 May, while Luton host Fulham.

Were you at the ground or following along from home?

Reds fans, give us your thoughts on the game.

Tell us what you made of the performance, Chelsea supporters.

Follow all the reaction here

There are eight Premier League games taking place today, and you can stay updated with all of them via our live page.

Keep up with all the action and reaction here.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's matches, he takes on Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

By the time this game kicks off, Nottingham Forest will know how Luton and Burnley have done. They could be as good as safe... or under a lot of pressure.

Chelsea have hit a bit of form and Mauricio Pochettino is showing why he always deserved to get time with this team, because they have found more consistency the longer the season has gone on.

But Forest have got some good players and I can see them getting a point out of this, which might be enough to make it absolutely certain they are staying up.

Serge's prediction: 0-1

I know Chelsea have been playing well in their past few games but they are a funny team.

Read all of the predictions here

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Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina says he is looking forward to the Reds' game against Chelsea at the City Ground on Saturday.

Aina signed for the Blues at under-11 level, and left the club permanently in 2019 after loan moves to Hull City and Torino.

Aina will be looking to help the Reds do the double over Chelsea after their 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in September.

"I don't know if this is going to get me in trouble, but I am a Chelsea fan." Aina told BBC East Midlands Today. "It's a fixture I've been looking forward to and I'm excited to be involved in it to see what happens."

On the Blues' recent form, Aina added: "It's football really. Sometimes you're high and sometimes you're low. It's just about trying to get a balance and stay consistent. That's what I've been trying to do.

"I don't think there's any point to prove. I don't hold grudges or anything - whatever happened in the past happened. There's no animosity there. It's just the career of a footballer.

"I only have fond moments of being at Chelsea. It's a chapter that closed and [I've] moved on, just how anyone else would."

Listen to full match commentary of Nottingham Forest v Chelsea on BBC Radio 5 Live at 17:30 BST on Saturday

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Brazilian defender Murillo has made a "promise" to Nottingham Forest supporters that the club "will stay in the Premier League", in his first English interview since joining the Reds in August 2023.

Murillo left Corinthians to join Forest under former manager Steve Cooper, signing a five-year deal after the two clubs agreed a fee of around £15m.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, the 21-year-old explained his decision to move to England: "For me, it is my dream.

"I have always dreamed about playing in Europe, but playing in the Premier League was my big dream. Today, I am playing in the Premier League.

"Nottingham Forest are the best group and the best team with a big history. We need to stay in the Premier League.

"We need the fans to stay calm because my promise is that we are going to stay in the Premier League."

On helping the team to a 3-1 win over already relegated Sheffield United last time out, Murillo said: "It was a big win. The team needed the win, but the next two games are very important.

"We need two wins to stay in the Premier League and we will do what we can.

"The next game will be very difficult against Chelsea, but we will be playing at home. It will still be a very difficult game because they are a big team.

"This week we have been working very hard to arrive on Saturday prepared for this next game to make the fans very happy."

Listen to Murillo's full interview on BBC Sounds

With the news this week on their failed points deduction appeal, I think Nottingham Forest will go all out for these remaining games and be more confident in what they have to do.

If results go in a way that takes it to the final game of the season, then the match against Burnley could be a real humdinger on the last day.

Luton are going to have to get at least four points you would think to have a chance and then they face West Ham next in what could be another massive game with David Moyes' last home match in charge.

The issue with Forest is that they have got a lot of players, had a big turnaround in a short space of time, have had financial restrictions and a manager change. They have great ability in the squad and I didn't think they would be in this situation, I thought they would be away from it. If those points don't get taken off and the tension doesn't set in then they probably would have performed better because the points return has not been great.

It is difficult to say what Nuno Espirito Santo has done since he has come in. He has tried to change the style and use the squad as best as he can. They found form early on but then fell away and struggled. At the City Ground, however, you always feel like you are going to be in a game against them.

I thought Steve Cooper was doing an amazing job before he was sacked, so I was saying at the time to stick with it. I'm sure it wouldn't have made that much of a difference to where they currently are. Nuno has done OK. He will want to get better and better, but there is still some mixed, mixed results with the squad that they currently have.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has told the BBC he has big "dreams" for the club despite a "stressful" season at the club.

Marinakis was speaking on a night he described as "very emotional" as the Olympiakos side he also owns saw off Aston Villa to reach the Europa Conference League semi-final.

The owner celebrated how his side had upset the odds to knock out a club pushing to be in the Champions League in England, before talk turned to a tumultuous season at Nottingham Forest.

Marinakis, who bought Forest in 2017, said: "I think that what I have done so far for Forest, the investment, the time, I think we have achieved great things and now you will see we want to build a big stadium, a new training centre. It’s a great team, it inspires us and we want to do more and you will see in the years to come that we have big dreams for Forest."

The club's owner has faced scrutiny in recent weeks.

Forest were docked four points for breaching Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules this season and have failed in their appeal against the sanction.

They also drew criticism for their use of social media to question Video Assistant Referee Stuart Attwell in the aftermath of a defeat against Everton, during which they had three penalty claims turned down.

Asked about the points deduction, Marinakis said: "It’s not fair, but as I said very soon I will be speaking about it. It's not fair what was happened so far. Referee decisions have cost us points and this is something that has been repeated and repeated and what we expect for the Premier League and referees is to correct these mistakes.

"I think that for me, speaking about it and having a great appetite to correct it doesn’t damage the sport. What damages the sport are these unfair decisions, in my opinion. But I have lived my life to deal with difficult decisions and I enjoy it, I enjoy the uphill and I think that forest will stay in the division and for the years to come, we will do a lot of good things and you will see a great future ahead of us."

Nottingham Forest will be looking to increase the gap between themselves and the Premier League's bottom three when they face Chelsea at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.

As the Reds prepare for their penultimate game of the season, BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray has been previewing their "tough" final two games on the Shut Up and Show More Football podcast: "Burnley's best chance of launching a challenge was probably in their last two home games, but obviously last week they got thumped at home by Newcastle.

"I think you've got to say that you fancy Tottenham to beat Burnley still. Albeit, they aren't in a good run of form under Ange Postecoglou at the moment.

"I think it will be a tough one for Forest at the weekend against Chelsea, who are hitting form and momentum. They are starting to deliver on some of their promise - they have got a lot of young players and they have waited all season for it to gel - a little like Forest I think.

"I think it's a difficult one for Forest, just the same as it was against Arsenal a year ago. Forest will need to raise their game, just as they did against Arsenal a year ago, if they are going to get the job done at the City Ground.

"I'm not too sure they have the momentum behind them this year, which they had last year, to be able to do that. I hope I'm wrong - but you can almost see it, because of the season that it has been, being the sort of season where it does go down to the last day.

"If it does go to the last day, Forest will be in a similar position to what they are now. They will be in a strong position with that much better goal difference. Hopefully it will even be a good enough goal difference to avoid a Stoke-esque swing on the final day - which would be absolutely horrific.

"They are in a strong position after the win against Sheffield United - no question about it - but the worst thing they can possibly think is that they have already got it done.

"If they have any sense of that attitude, Chelsea are in the kind of form where they can absolutely take Forest to the cleaners.

"So it is very much stacked in Forest's favour at the moment but, with the kind of season it has been, you just cannot rest for a second."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport Senior Football News Reporter

Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Nottingham Forest’s game with Chelsea on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the rejection of Forest’s appeal on Tuesday against their four-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules: “We were all disappointed. We had the hope and the belief that they (the independent appeal board) could give us points back. But the decision is over, so there is no point speaking on this issue.”

• On how he addressed the issue with the players: “We spoke about it with the players, about how this is the reality, this is what we have, this is what we have to face. Let’s focus on ourselves because it is in our hands.

• He continued: “Since the beginning, when there was the possibility of a points deduction, we have always faced it the same way - that what we have to focus on is ourselves and on our job. It’s in our hands. We have already moved on.”

• Asked if Forest place any focus on relegation rivals Luton and Burnley, Nuno said: "The message is that we don’t have to get distracted on what is happening in other stadiums. We have to focus on ourselves, this is the main message and this is what we want, let’s focus on ourselves and play a good game. We are ready to go.”

• On Chelsea and what Mauricio Pochettino faces at Stamford Bridge: “Everyone can see what Mauricio is trying to do. It’s a new team, new players, he is trying to put them together and for them to gel. They are in a good moment. It will require a lot from us, to win individual duels and try to win the game. I always have a good feeling. A good feeling and a good spirit is what keeps you going.”

• On his hardest season in management: “Yes, it’s been hard but I’m repeating myself. Since day one we embraced the challenge. There were a lot of things we were not expecting but we dealt with them in the proper moment and in the right way. With the right attitude and working together we can overcome the obstacles and we have had a lot.”

• Neco Williams remains out with a hamstring injury and is yet to return to training.

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

A lot of teams play their penultimate Premier League game of the season this weekend.

Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have qualified for the Champions League. Aston Villa can finish no lower than fifth so will be in the Europa League at worst. Liverpool’s Europa Conference League place for winning the Carabao Cup reverts to the league and Sheffield United have been relegated.

But much is still to be decided.

Despite nobody being able to win the title just yet, here is what could happen...

Aston Villa can clinch the fourth and final Champions League place despite not playing until Monday:

• If Tottenham lose on Saturday, Villa qualify without kicking a ball;

• If Tottenham draw, Villa qualify if they draw with Liverpool on Monday;

• If Tottenham win, Villa qualify if they beat Liverpool.

Tottenham can ensure a top-five finish:

• If they win, Newcastle United lose and Chelsea and Manchester United both fail to win.

Failing that, Spurs can ensure a top-six finish - Europa Conference League at worst:

• If they win AND Chelsea and Manchester United both fail to win;

• If they win AND Newcastle lose AND one of Chelsea and Manchester United fail to win;

• If they draw AND Chelsea and Manchester United both lose.

The other two relegation places could also be settled this weekend.

Burnley will be relegated:

• If they fail to win at Tottenham on Saturday, whatever happens elsewhere;

• If Nottingham Forest win against Chelsea.

If Burnley win and Forest draw, the Clarets will be teetering and will need a huge swing in goal difference on the final day of the season when the two sides meet.

Luton Town are slightly better off than Burnley, but will be relegated:

• If they lose at West Ham AND Nottingham Forest avoid defeat;

• If they lose AND Burnley win, even if Forest lose;

• If they draw AND Forest win.

If Forest match Luton's result, the Hatters will be on the brink as they would need a big swing in goal difference on the final day.

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea in the Premier League.

• Following their 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in September - Nottingham Forest are looking to complete their first league double over Chelsea since 1978-79, when they were reigning top-flight champions under Brian Clough.

• Chelsea have won just two of their past 10 away league games against Nottingham Forest, in November 1994 and February 1999.

• Following their 3-1 win at Sheffield United last weekend, Nottingham Forest are looking to win consecutive Premier League games for only the third time since their promotion in 2022 (previously January 2023 v Southampton and Leicester and December 2023 v Newcastle and Man Utd).

• Even though they have lost just one of their past 12 Premier League games, Chelsea are winless in their past five away from home. The Blues have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their past 14 Premier League away games - since a 2-0 win at Fulham in October.

• Chris Wood has scored more goals than any other Nottingham Forest player in the Premier League this season (12). However, Chelsea are the side he has faced most often without scoring in the competition (11).

• Finally, Cole Palmer has been involved in 30 Premier League goals this season - scoring 21 and assisting nine. The most recent Chelsea player to be involved in more was Eden Hazard in 2018-19 (31 – 16 goals and 15 assists). Not since 2009-10 has a Blues player scored more in a league campaign (Didier Drogba 29, Frank Lampard 22).

Listen to full commentary of Nottingham Forest v Chelsea from 17:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina spoke to BBC East Midlands Today about the appeal for the Reds' points deduction being rejected:

"I'm not really bothered about it to be honest. We've always been focussing on what we want to do, which is going into games and getting points anyway.

"You could say it's helpful [getting clarity before the end of the season] but the energy around the club was like it has been forgotten about anyway, especially among the players. We didn't really talk or think about it - we were just thinking about getting points as we normally would.

"It feels good that it's in our hands. We can take control of that. I don't think [it is nervy], I think the boys enjoy the task. I really enjoy going out there and having to get something. That's the joy of football.

"It would be fantastic [to secure Premier League survival] and I do think we'll do it. It will be fantastic to have that bit of relief, whether that's this week or next week."

Saveena Johal
Fan writer

Our appeal to regain some of the deducted points fell flat. Shocking? Hardly. Unfair? Slightly.

The timing is slightly suspect, as a loss against Sheffield United may have led to a different outcome.

While a successful appeal would have been well received, I personally didn't place high hopes on it happening. It hasn't dampened my spirits - we have still got some fight left in us on the pitch.

The single positive to come from this, with it dragging on for so long, is that it is final. We can now look ahead and turn our focus to the remaining fixtures. Hopefully this news can act as motivation as we face Chelsea in our bid to stay up.

While getting a couple of points back would have impacted our survival chances, it is still very much in our hands.

Rather than mulling over what could have been, I would much rather prefer to put my energy into supporting the team in a very crucial period.

If the team play their hearts out, that will see us through and cancel out any points deduction. Come the end of the season, this will all hold little relevance.

Saveena Johal can be found at Punjabi Forest, external

We asked for your thoughts on Nottingham Forest's failed appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: We should not have appealed in the first place. We should have just taken it on the chin and got on with it, demonstrating more dignity and integrity. All appealing achieved was more uncertainty.

Michael: It could have been worse - we could have had another point taken off. It is in our hands now, as it has always been.

ES: Relieved it is over. This outcome was a distinct possibility so no-one will feel like the rug has been pulled from under them. Time for the good performances to turn into points and for the luck of the season to even itself out. To the footballing gods we pray!

Colin: It is the right decision. As much as I do not like the current regulations (too much benefit for the top four), anything else would have been another display of randomness. The Premier League must now take action against Manchester City if they are guilty. The team know where they stand and what they need to accomplish.

Kevin: Forest should have taken the decision on the chin and knuckled down to win back the forfeited points. Appealing against that decision, and the subsequent complaining about VAR and refereeing performances, had made them a laughing stock. I am embarrassed to be a fan who has followed the club for nearly 60 years.

Tom: Realistically, we were never going to get any points back. Survival is in our hands now and we need to make it stick. Hopefully Luton Town and Burnley drop points this weekend - then we can play Chelsea with freedom and look to focus on strengthening the team for next season.

John: The rules and system are flawed but we broke the rules. We are where we are because we did not win enough games. If we get it right against Chelsea and Burnley, we will stay up. Then we need to spend wisely instead of supermarket sweep.

Nottingham Forest have failed with an appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

This means that Nuno Espirito Santo's side remain on 29 points with two games remaining - three clear of Luton Town, who are in the relegation zone.

How are you feeling, Forest fans? Are you are annoyed at the outcome, happy it is over or worried about top-flight survival?

Let us know your thoughts here