Joao Pedro has called for introspection after Chelsea suffered a chastening 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Monday, extending their losing run to six Premier League games for the first time since 1993.
Early Setback Proves Costly
Chelsea fell behind after just 98 seconds when Taiwo Awoniyi capitalised on a defensive error from a throw-in. The early goal set the tone for a miserable afternoon at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues unable to recover. Pedro admitted the early concession made the task nearly impossible.
"From the beginning we conceded too early which made it really difficult to turn the game around," said Pedro. "We need to find a way not to make these mistakes every game. This is the Premier League. If you concede very early, it's difficult to come back. Everyone needs to look at themselves, me included, to find a way to do better. I feel sorry for the fans. We need to see where we can improve."
Forest Dominate with Second String
Forest manager Vitor Pereira made eight changes with an eye on Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa, but his side were superior in every department. Igor Jesus converted a penalty after Malo Gusto fouled Awoniyi, then Awoniyi tapped in from Morgan Gibbs-White's cross in the second half to make it 3-0.
The defeat leaves Chelsea ninth in the table, with top-five finish now impossible, and even qualification for European competitions looks increasingly unlikely. Next up is a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.
Late Consolation and Injury Concern
Pedro smashed in an overhead kick in stoppage time to spare Chelsea the humiliation of a sixth consecutive loss without scoring, drawing ironic cheers from the few remaining fans. Cole Palmer also missed a penalty during the match.
There was further concern as teenage debutant Jesse Derry suffered a serious head injury, requiring oxygen on the pitch before being taken to hospital. Pedro emphasised the need for consistency: "We need to improve. Everyone needs to step up, me included. We always talk to each other to find a way to win games. Last week we beat Leeds, this week it didn't happen. We need to find a way to be consistent."
Awoniyi Eyes Europa League Success
Two-goal hero Awoniyi, ineligible for Thursday's match, backed his teammates to finish the job against Villa. Forest lead 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg. "When you look at the season and where we are now, the boys have been brilliant," said Awoniyi. "They have come through a lot and, with the way we are going, there are just a few more games. Next up we have Villa, another important game. We're taking each game as it comes and going into it with a three-point mentality. I believe we'll go there with that mentality against Villa."
