Chelsea ease past Forest as Ange Postecoglou exits City Ground

Chelsea saw off Nottingham Forest with a 3-0 win at the City Ground in the first Premier League game after the international break.

Forest struggled to punish sloppy Chelsea’s defence as Gusto gave the ball away two minutes into the game, and Awoniyi could not find the back of the net in his first appearance of the season.

Minutes later, the Tricky Trees forced another Chelsea error as Morgan Gibbs-White went stretching from a Douglas Luiz headed cross, and his acrobatic effort went over the bar.

Santos went close to giving the visitors the lead twice, as his first shot went off target from a João Pedro header to set him up.

The second Brazilian effort was closer as he dragged his shot an inch wide after he was found brilliantly with a lofted ball over the top by João Pedro again.

Neto’s long-range off-target shot was the last action of the first half, as both teams were goalless at the break.

Maresca sat in the crowd serving a match touchline ban and made three substitutions, with Caicedo, Jamie Gittens and Marc Guiu all coming on for the Blues.

Postecoglou also made a change with Awoniyi coming off, replaced by Igor Jesus.

The visitors started the second half strong as Josh Acheampong headed in Neto’s inviting cross four minutes after the break, scoring his first senior goal for Chelsea.

Neto doubled the Blues’ advantage three minutes later from a free-kick won by substitute Guiu, whorolled the ball to the Portuguese, who launched a rocket too hot for Sels to handle.

The Tricky Trees went close to halving the deficit as Igor Jesus’ volley from a Callum Hudson-Odoi cross hit the crossbar and somehow stayed out.

In the 84th minute, James sealed the victory with a volley from a corner that was palmed away by Sels towards his path to score on his 200th appearance for the club.

With three minutes of normal time remaining, Gusto received a second yellow card of the afternoon and was sent off.

The Blues host Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday at the Bridge and then Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

This result makes it Postecoglou’s eighth game without a win at City Ground since his appointment 39 days ago, and he was relieved of his duties as head coach just 19 minutes after the match.