Date: Monday 4th May
2026
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Well, we somehow managed to sneak past Leeds and book ourselves a
spot in the FA Cup final – cue the celebrations and awkward attempts at looking
confident. To be fair, we were less hopeless than usual, but let’s not pretend
we were cruising.
This afternoon, we’re back at Stamford Bridge, rolling out the
blue carpet for Nottingham Forest. Let’s hope the only thing we host is three
points, not another nervous breakdown!
We kick off
today sitting pretty in 9th place — yes, still clinging to single
digits like a toddler with a teddy bear — but our slide down the table is
starting to look like a theme park attraction. Forest have found some form and pulled
away from relegation while we’re stuck in a no-win zone and our Premier League
goals have gone missing – last seen somewhere around February if anyone fancies
checking lost property. As for Europe? Well, it’s still technically possible,
but unless we discover a stash of goals and some divine intervention, get ready
for midweek evenings spent binge-watching TV instead of continental football.
Four games left, including today — if anyone’s got Mystic Meg’s number, now’s
the time!
Yes,
Chelsea beat Forest 0-3 away back in October — but here’s the plot twist: since
Forest rejoined the Premier League in 2022, they haven’t managed to lose at
Stamford Bridge. So, if you fancy a punt on breaking records (or hearts),
today’s your moment. Otherwise, grab your stress balls, brace yourself for
ninety minutes of tension, questionable defending, and — fingers crossed — the
reappearance of those long-lost goals.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going
into today’s game, Calum McFarlane says “The mood within the squad] is
really positive. Football is a results business, and when you’re losing, it
feels like everything is the worst thing in the world. And when you win, it
feels amazing. So, the mood has lifted after breaking the recent run of losses.
I thought we performed really well against Leeds at times, which is another
positive. We showed different elements of our game that we were really happy
with, and we need to try to continue that and stick to the processes that
brought that performance.
I
watched [Forest] last night and I’ve watched many of their games. They’re a
really, really good side in really good form, and they have several top-quality
players, some real threats that we have to be aware of. It’s another massive
game, another big challenge, as every game in the Premier League is. But we’ll
be ready and prepared for the game.”
Nottingham
Forest manager, Vitor Pereira, meanwhile, says “When you start in the middle
of a season, it is because something is missing. Maybe it’s not about the
previous coaches because they are top coaches, top managers. Sometimes it’s
about, or most of the time, in my opinion, it’s about the energy. We need to
recharge the energy of the team. Tactically, I try my ideas. We have our ideas
and we try to, if they buy the idea, if they feel that we are trying to make
them comfortable in the roles, try to give them confidence to play, to express
themselves and in the end to connect everybody. This is the most important for
me, to connect everybody in the club. With the supporters, the team, between
the players, between the staff and the players and trying to create something
that we are fighting together.
I
will try to think just about the Chelsea game because it’s our Champions
League. It’s very important for us. And we will try to go there to compete with
the players. I prefer a fit player without injury problems, than someone that
goes inside the pitch with problems, because with problems, we cannot give 100%
and in this moment we need to run and fight.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Jamie Gittens (thigh), Filip
Jorgensen (groin) and Estevao Willian (hamstring) are all injured, whilst Mykhaylo
Mudryk is serving a 4-year ban pending appeal. Reece James (thigh) and Levi
Colwill (ACL) may make the squad but are unlikely to play a part.
For Nottingham Forest, Nicolo Savona
(knee), Callum Hudson-Odoi (thigh), John Victor (knee) and Willy Boly (knee)
are all out. Dan Ndoye (unspecified), Ibrahim Sangare (unspecified), Jair Cunha
(shoulder) and Murillo (thigh), are all doubtful. Ola Aina (knock) is expected
to be available.
TEAMS
CHELSEA
(Possible line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella;
Fernandez, Caicedo; Santos, Palmer, Neto; Pedro
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (Possible line-up): Sels;
Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; McAtee, Anderson, Dominguez, Gibbs-White;
Jesus, Lucca
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham
Forest (6th October 2024)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: WLLLLL
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: DDWDWW
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea
have only done the league double over Nottingham Forest once before (1998/99)
- Nottingham
Forest are unbeaten in all 3 visits to Stamford Bridge since their return to
the Premier League
- Nottingham
Forest are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games
- Chelsea
have lost their last 5 Premier League games
- Nottingham
Forest have lost just 2 of their 8 Premier League away games against Chelsea
- Chelsea
have failed to score in their last five games in the Premier League
- Nottingham
Forest have scored 3+ goals in three of their last four games in the Premier
League
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Nottingham Forest
