Chelsea 2-0 Nottingham Forest (FA Cup Round Three) 05.01.20

A much changed Forest team gave a good account of themselves against a strong Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge this afternoon but Frank Lampard’s blues were largely too strong for a young reds outfit seeing off a gallant display to secure a 2-0 passage into round four of the FA Cup.

Forest were behind in just six minutes when Hudson-Odoi found space at the back post to cut inside following Pedro’s pass and fire through the legs of the defender Ribeiro and home past Smith hard and low to the keepers left.

The home side wearing blue and yellow in commemoration of their 1970 FA Cup winning team 50 years ago looked comfortable in possession but Forest looked to break their Premier League opponents and were awarded a penalty when the lively Mighten was brought down by Tomori just before the half hour stage only to suffer the consequence of VAR after a lengthy delay when the young striker was finally adjudged to have been called offside.

Following that decision from Stockley Park things got immediately worse for the Reds shortly after as Barkley tapped home a second goal after a parried save by Smith following Hudson-Odoi again cutting in this time shooting powerfully to the goalkeepers left.

That gave Chelsea a cushion with the home side playing confidently before the half time interval in particularly getting joy down the right where James and Hudson-Odoi proved a nuisance. Forest youngster Mighten providing a half chance for the away side as he whisked a centre across the face of the goal but Caballero in the blues goal was otherwise untroubled.

In the second half Chelsea continued to press but on 55 Carvalho warmed the palms of Caballero with a tame long-range effort that was Forest’s first on target. A minute later however Smith was forced into action at the other end palming out a James cross before Kovacic blazed over from 25 yards.

Chelsea hit the post on 58 when Barkley headed past a sprawling Smith but Forest attacked back and on 67 Yates was adjudged to have been centimetres offside as he headed in a left wing free kick for what he thought was a goal. VAR again settling the debate after a lengthy pause but credit to the linesman in this instance for making a quick decision and getting it right.

Moments after Forest’s goal was chalked off it might have been all over for Sabri Lamouchi’s men as Batshuayi should have done better to control a left wing centre with just the keeper to beat but it mattered not as the home side finished off comfortably in charge as both teams made substitutions late on which included reds debuts for academy graduates Fornah and En Neyeh with the home team confidently playing out the match and securing their place in round four of the competition which they first won 50 years ago.

For Forest it’s now back to league action as focus draws towards their playoff push with a trip to Reading in the Championship on Saturday.

Chelsea: Caballero, James, Christensen, Tomori, Emerson, Barkley, Jorginho, Kovacic (Mount 69), Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi, Pedro (Lamptey 76).

Nottingham Forest: Smith, Jenkinson, Dawson, Figueiredo (Benalouane 46), Ribeiro, Adomah, Yates, Semedo (Fornah 69), Carvalho, Mighten, Johnson (En Neyah 81).

Venue: Stamford Bridge (40,492)

*Main image @NFFC Mighten fouled by Tomori before VAR overruled.