Chelsea player ratings vs Nottingham Forest: Super-subs Reece James and Raheem Sterling turn the tide
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Chelsea won a thrilling encounter with Nottingham Forest to strengthen their push for a European place further.
Mykhailo Mudryk opened the scoring with an impressive early finish after latching onto Cole Palmer’s through ball. Willy Boly equalised when heading in a free-kick just eight minutes later.
Former Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi scored a spectacular curl and finish, but substitute Raheem Sterling equalised with a similarly impressive effort.
Reece James was decisive from the bench and set up Nicolas Jackson to win the match just minutes later.
Nizaar Kinsella was at the City Ground witnessing the action
Djordje Petrovic - 6
Petrovic saved his team in the first minute while Chris Wood bared down on goal in a one-on-one.
Trevoh Chalobah - 6
An interesting duel against one of his best friends Hudson-Odoi, which the Forest winger edged.
Thiago Silva - 5
The 39-year-old struggled to cope with Forest’s aerial bombardment.
Benoit Badiashile - 4
The Frenchman gave away a poor free-kick for Forest’s opener and he was substituted before the 60th minute.
Marc Cucurella - 6
Not quite as good as his transformative displays in recent weeks.
Moises Caicedo - 8
The Ecuadorian broke up play a lot on a very busy evening.
Conor Gallagher - 5
The England midfield was lucky not to be sent off for a last man foul on his former teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Noni Madueke - 5
The in-form winger lost his battle against former Blues defender Ola Aina. He was substituted before the half-hour mark.
Cole Palmer - 8
The Chelsea talisman produced an inch-perfect through ball to create Mudryk’s opener, replicating the pass later for Jackson.
Mykhailo Mudryk - 7
The Ukrainian has struggled despite Chelsea’s form in recent weeks but took his goal very well on his right foot. He needed that.
Nicolas Jackson - 7
The Senegal international wasted a one-on-one in the first half but won the match with a good far-post header late on.
Substitutes
Malo Gusto - 7
The right-back made an instant impact and, with his overlapping runs, gave dominant duo Hudson-Odoi and Aina something to think about.
Christopher Nkunku - 6
The France international linked well with his teammates.
Reece James - 9
Every touch was perfect. The captain was like an animal caged for five months and transformed the match, being involved in Sterling's goal and getting an assist for Jackson's winner.
Raheem Sterling - 9
Within minutes of coming onto the pitch, Sterling scored a sumptuous equaliser by curling the ball past Matz Sels.
Unused subs: Bettinelli; Colwill, Disasi; Casadei, Ugochukwu
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