CHELSEA were made to pay for a poor second-half display by Nottingham Forest.
The Blues were pegged back after the break to draw 1-1 after initially going ahead through Raheem Sterling.
Forest dominated after the break to threaten throughout, but Chelsea were kept in the game by the brilliant Thiago Silva.
The defender was superb at the back again, but was let down by his misfiring forwards.
Kai Havertz struggled after his goalscoring exploits against Bournemouth, and didn’t ever look like a threat, with Mason Mount also failing to have any influence on the game.
Here’s how SunSport’s Giacomo Pisa rated the Blues.
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Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
Good save low to his right early on to stop Brennan Johnson putting Forest ahead, with the Blues scoring just moments later.
Saved well from Johnson again five minutes into the second half, getting two strong hands to the effort to beat away from the danger zone.
Nutmegged by Serge Aurier for the equaliser, which he will be disappointed by.
Cesar Azpilicueta – 5
Nowhere near as good going forward as the crocked Reece James, but did all of his defensive duties well.
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Excellent block to deny Morgan Gibbs-White 15 minutes in.
Kalidou Koulibaly – 4
Caught out a couple of times at the back, where he struggled to deal with the strength of Taiwo Awoniyi.
Looks like he will have competition for his position with the imminent arrival of Benoit Badiashile, because there is no way Thiago Silva is getting dropped.
Thiago Silva – 7
Assured again in the heart of defence, making everything look easy.
Superb performance typified with a brilliant sliding tackle on Gibbs-White on 37 minutes as the Forest man was bearing down on goal.
Marc Cucurella – 4
Brennan Johnson got the better of him for the majority of the game, and could have drawn Forest level early in the second half when getting in down the right.
The Spaniard failed to do anything going forward either.
Denis Zakaria – 5
Guilty of the odd stray pass, but a lively performance again in the middle of the park on his second consecutive start.
Perhaps unlucky to be taken off for Mateo Kovacic on the hour mark, with Jorginho failing to impress alongside him.
Jorginho – 5
Didn’t control the game in the way he usually tries to, especially after the break when Forest got on top.
Hooked with just under 20 minutes left of the game for the energetic Conor Gallagher.
Mason Mount – 4
Not as lively as he was against Bournemouth, and struggled to have a real impact on the game.
Taken off for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after a day to forget, with the ex-Derby County loanee repeatedly taunted by the Forest faithful.
Raheem Sterling – 6
Initially picked up where he left off against Bournemouth with an excellent first-half display.
Faded after the break when the home side grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.
In the right place at the right time to fire home after the ball hit Willy Boly and rebounded off the bar.
Christian Pulisic – 6
A bright performance from the American, who often dropped deep in an effort to pick up the ball and run at Forest.
It was his dangerous ball into the box that deflected off Boly before falling for Sterling after hitting the bar.
Kai Havertz – 4
Was a passenger at the City Ground after a goal and assist against Bournemouth last time out.
It was his poor defensive header that led to Forest’s equaliser.
Substitutes
Mateo Kovacic (on for Zakaria, 60 mins) – 5
Came on just a matter of minutes before the Blues conceded.
His introduction didn’t have the desired effect, with the Croatian caught out in possession on one occasion when Chelsea were on the attack.
Conor Gallagher (on for Jorginho, 72 mins) – 5
Looked far livelier than the man he replaced when he came on.
Didn’t have enough time to really settle though, and was booked for a rash challenge on Sam Surridge.
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Hakim Ziyech (on for Jorginho, 72 mins) – 6
Made things happen when he came on, including a stunning delivery that Aubameyang should have scored from.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (on for Mount, 72 mins) – 5
Had a golden chance to score the winner ten minutes before the end but missed a header from six yards with the goal at his mercy.
Carney Chukwuemeka (on for Pulisic, 86 mins) – N/A
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
