That’s all for this blog but Barry Glendenning will have any further reaction (and dozens of goalflashes) on our Saturday clockwatch. Thanks for your company, bye.
Enzo Maresca's reaction
I feel very sorry [for Ange Postecoglou]. It’s always a shame, but we’ve said many times that unfortunately it’s a business where you need to win games.
I thought they were very good in the first half. In the second half were much better and we deserved to win the game.
TNT Sports’ Jules Breach says Ange Postecoglou was called in for a short meeting, then headed to the car park with a bag on his back. The players have apparently been summoned to the boardroom. Oh, football.
Updated
We reluctantly interrupt the news cycle to remind you that it’s Saturday, 3pm, and some actual football is taking place.
And here’s Ben Fisher’s updated report
Here’s more on the news that Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Nottingham Forest
Updated
Forest sack Ange Postecoglou
Eight games, 40 days – the shortest reign in Premier League history.
Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) October 18, 2025
The Club will make no further comment at this time.
Updated
Ben Fisher’s report is here
Chelsea reaction
Reece James
We’ve always found it tough after the international break so it’s great to win. In the second half we came alive and got the three points. Forest made it tough for us but as the game went on we got into our rhythm.
[On Josh Acheampong] He’s showing the world how good he is and what he’s capable of. He’s an amazing boy and an amazing player. Long may it continue.
Josh Acheampong
[On scoring his first goal for Chelsea] It was quite a surreal experience. It’s a proud moment for me and my family so I just want to thank God.
[On Reece James] It’s such an inspiration to know you can come through the academy and play for the first team.
Postecoglou stands in the middle of the pitch, applauding the fans left in the ground with a slight grimace on his face. We can speculate about what he’s thinking but well, who knows.
Updated
Full time: Nottm Forest 0-3 Chelsea
The final whistle brings a chorus of boos from the Forest fans left in the ground. After a tight, goalless first half, Forest were picked off by an increasingly ruthless Chelsea. It could be the end, already, for Ange Postecoglou.
Updated
90+5 min I thought Sanchez was booked for timewasting earlier. I was wrong because he has just been shown a yellow card, for timewasting in the 95th minute with his team 3-0 up.
90+3 min This win takes Chelsea to 14 points from eight games – not the perfect start but solid enough, particularly given their injury problems and the admittedly self-inflicted red cards against Man Utd and Brighton.
90 min Five minutes of added time. After six weeks, they could well be Ange Postecoglou’s last five minutes as Forest manager.
We’ve all gone mad.
89 min Estevao is flagged offside, kicks the ball away and is booked.
88 min This is Ange Postecoglou’s eighth game as Forest manager. His record is P8 W0 D2 L6 F7 A18.
87 min: Gusto sent off
Chelsea are down to 10 men after a needless red card for Malo Gusto. He lunged at Williams near the halfway line, missed the ball and was given a second yellow by Chris Kavanagh. No complaints from anyone on the Chelsea side as far as I could see.
Updated
86 min “You’re getting sacked in the morning” is ringing round the City Ground, though it’s not clear which part it’s coming from. Apparently that’s the fifth goal Forest have conceded from a set-piece in Postecoglou’s short reign.
GOAL! Nottm Forest 0-3 Chelsea (James 84)
The corner is punched away by Sels but only as far as James, who sweeps a volley through the legs of Morato and into the net from 12 yards.
The home fans are leaving en masse.
Updated
83 min Cucurella reacts quickly to win the ball on the edge of the Forest area and find Estevao. His shot is deflected into the side netting. Corner to Chelsea, from which…
82 min Sangare, booked a moment ago from something or other, blocks Estevao’s shot.
I missed a Chelsea substitution a moment ago: Tosin Adarabioyo for the very impressive Josh Acheampong.
80 min Estevao came on with a folded sheet of A4, presumably containing tactical instructions rather than a Jackie Treehorn-style drawing.
Eventually somebody throws it on the floor. But then the environmentally conscious Reece James picks it up and puts it in his sock.
78 min: Chelsea substitution Estevao replaces the (probable) matchwinner Pedro Neto.
77 min Sanchez farts around over a goalkick and is booked for taking too long.
76 min Hudson-Odoi cuts inside before playing a neat reverse pass to Anderson in the area. His cross is half cleared to Sangare, who blooters high and wide from distance.
Forest haven’t gone under, which looked a possibility in the immedate aftermath of the second goal, but it still looks a long way back for them – and not just in this game.
74 min: Double substitution for Forest Nicolo Savono and Chris Wood replace Oleksandr Zinchenko and Murillo.
73 min “One of my girlfriends many years ago had a dog which she named ‘Gusto’,” says Jeremy Boyce*. “‘I’m just off for a walk with Gusto” always sounded like a good work out. Gusto had a great engine and a big appetite for the ball but his first touch always let him down. Presumably Malo has mastered that vital third element.
“I also worked for some French people who had a dog called ‘Nooqui’ (pronounced “Nookie”), it took me a while to explain why they should never take their dog to an English open space and have to call him back.”
* Come on, with an opener like ‘One of my girlfriends’, it was never going to be Mac Millings was it.
70 min: Igor Jesus hits the bar and post!
Hudson-Odoi, on the left of the side, clips a delicious cross that is met on the volley by the stretching Igor Jesus. His shot goes into the ground, bounces up to hit the underside of the bar and then ricochets onto the inside of the post. When it’s not your day/month/year…
Updated
69 min Neto, back on the right, teases Zinchenko and curls a good cross that is headed wide at the far post by Guiu. He did well to get anything on the ball really as a Forest defender, possibly Milenkovic, was all over him.
It’s worth reiterating that Guiu has been really impressive since his half-time introduction.
67 min The camera cuts to an plush, leather, strikingly empty seat in the stands; the same seat that was occupied by Evangelos Marinakis until a few moments ago.
Updated
65 min: Good save by Sanchez!
Forest are at least threatening a comeback. Milenkovic’s header from a corner is pushed away by Sanchez, diving low to his right; the ball runs loose to Sangare, whose shot on the turn takes a slight touch off Caicedo and flies over the bar.
63 min Pedro Neto’s goal, his second of the season, means he has officially* joined the race for the golden boot.
62 min Gusto stabs a good pass into the area for Guiu, who makes a sharp run off Milenkovic and has hit shot blocked by the outrushing Sels.
Guiu has been a constant pain in Forest’s defensive derriere since coming on.
61 min: Big chance for Forest!
That could have changed things. Zinchenko curls a lovely cross towards the far post, where his vellow wing-back Williams is completely unmarked. He runs round the ball but sidefoots a volley over the bar.
Actually, it was a tougher chance than it looked at first because of the curl and dip on the ball. Still Forest’s best opportunity in a while though.
Updated
59 min Joao Pedro drags a shot just wide of the near post after nicking the ball high up the field. Forest were competitive in the first half but their heads have dropped and this could get very ugly. Enzo Maresca deserves a lot of credit though; Chelsea have been a different team, literally and figuratively, since half-time.
58 min The team news for today’s 3pm games should land any minute now. Barry Glendenning is on clockwatch duty.
55 min “It’s hard to explain,” says Matt Dony, who may be about to go off on a Strokes riff, “but it still feels ‘wrong’ seeing Neto in a Chelsea shirt. He just has the air of one of those players who are undoubtedly tremendously talented, but somehow never get a chance at a ‘big’ team. The sort of player who will definitely end up at West Ham at some point.”
I’m sure that last sentence will trigger plenty of fan mail from West Ham supporters; I’ll be sure to forward it on.
Updated
54 min Gusto is booked for a high tackle on Milenkovic.
53 min: Forest substitution Callum Hudson-Odoi replaces Douglas Luiz to the sound of at least some boos at the City Ground. It’s turning ugly again.
GOAL! Nottm Forest 0-2 Chelsea (Neto 52)
Pedro Neto made the first; now he’s scored the second! The free-kick was touched off to him and he whipped a shot that went through the wall and was pushed into his own net by the unsighted Sels. He must have seen it late because he’d usually save that, though it was far from a howler.
Updated
51 min Morato, on a yellow card, fouls Guiu just outside the D. All the positivity of the first half has evaporated at the start of the second half.
Pedro Neto, on the left, dummied to cross before scurrying past Williams to create a better angle. His eventual cross was superb and Acheampong, who had been upfield for a set-piece, was totally unmarked and headed past Sels from six yards. A lovely moment for a highly promising young defender.
Updated
GOAL! Nottm Forest 0-1 Chelsea (Acheampong 49)
The teenager Josh Acheampong heads Chelsea in front!
46 min An early Chelsea corner eventually leads to a header from Acheampong that is saved comfortably by Sels. A tough chance from a tight angle.
Chelsea make triple substitution at half-time
Enzo Maresca’s feelings are pretty clear. Marc Guiu, Moises Caicedo and Jamie Gittens are coming on for Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos and Alejandro Garnacho.
Forest have brought on Igor Jesus for Taiwo Awoniyi.
Half-time reading
Very interesting piece, this, from Jacob Steinberg.
Half time: Nottm Forest 0-0 Chelsea
An intriguing, largely even first half ends goalless. Morgan Gibbs-White and Andrey Santos missed the best chances, though neither could be described as a sitter. We’ll be back in 15 minutes for the second half.
45 min Neto arrows a shot over the bar from 25 yards. Not a bad effort but Sels had it covered.
Just one minute of added time.
44 min Cucurella leaves a bit on Williams and is told off by the referee. No yellow card yet.
42 min: Good chance for Chelsea
Joao Pedro drops deep to receive possession, rolls Sangare expertly – just like Tony Woodcock used to on his ground – and lifts an inviting pass over the Forest defence. Gusto allows the ball to bounce across to Andrey Santos, who drags his shot just wide from the edge of the area. That’s Chelsea’s best chance so far.
Updated
41 min Morato is booked for a foul on Joao Pedro. That particular foul was relatively harmless but he was fortunate earlier on so it has evened itself out. Always does.
39 min A better spell for Chelsea, who are starting to hog possession again as they did in the first 15 minutes. Neto chips a clever ball into the Forest area towards Joao Pedro, who heads it back towards Andrey Santos on the edge of the area. The ball takes a while to sit down and he hooks a shot over the bar. Good effort tough.
35 min Chelsea have plenty of attacking options on the bench, including Estevao and Tyrique George. We may see changes as early as half-time because Chelsea have been poor, though who we shouldn’t forget they’re without almost a full team of senior players.
32 min Neto smashes a cross-shot from a very tight angle that Sels saves comfortably.
31 min Garnacho, who was excellent against Liverpool a fortnight ago, has been kept very quiet so far. A poor outside-of-the-boot cross, straight into the hands of Sels, sums up his game so far.
30 min That James free-kick was Chelsea’s first attempt at goal.
29 min James hits a free-kick from a long way out, 30 yards or more. Sels saves comfortably.
27 min Douglas Luiz’s free-kick from the right almost falls for Awoniyi and then does reach Murillo beyond the far post. He knocks it back across goal from a tight angle and Sanchez pushes the ball away.
Forest have been the better team so far.
Updated
24 min Forest are having more of the ball now, as shown by an slick end-to-end move that only ends when Williams’ sharp cutback is cleared.
Updated
20 min A tougher chance for Gibbs-White, who volleys over acrobatically from a tight angle after Forest again win the ball high up the field. They’ve done that excellently in the first 20 minutes.
Updated
19 min: Chance for Gibbs-White!
Chalobah allows Acheampong’s square pass to run under his foot and reach Awoniyi. He feeds an early through to Gibbs-White, who whips a first-time effort just wide from the edge of the area.
File under ‘for a player of his quality, that’s a decent chance’.
Updated
18 min Gibbs-White keeps the ball in on the left and plays it back to Zinchenko. His deflected cross is headed away but Forest regain possession. Eventually Murillo threads an imaginative, but slightly overhit, pass inside Neto towards Zinchenko. Goalkick to Chelsea.
14 min A short-range cross on the turn from Gibbs-White is cleared by Chalobah. No hint of a chance but Gibbs-White looks lively; that’s always good news for Forest.
Updated
12 min Possession percentage: Forest 26-74 Chelsea.
9 min: Chance for Forest Plenty of possession for Chelsea, as you’d expect, but Forest look good on the break and have just created the first good opportunity. Gibbs-White led a quick counter-attack and played a crisp angled pass to Anderson on the left side of the area. He tried to chop back inside Acheampong to create a clear shooting chance but left the ball slightly behind and then slipped over as he tried to retrieve it.
Updated
6 min Joao Pedro rolls Morato expertly and is pulled back, a brazen foul for which he probably should have been booked.
Updated
5 min Neto beats Zinchenko too easily just outside the area and finds Gusto on the outside. His fast first-time cross ricochets around the penalty area until Murillo’s clearance rebounds off the noggin of Andrey Santos and behind for a corner.
3 min Forest have started in a 3-5-2 formation, with Gibbs-White right up front alongside Awoniyi. Chelsea’s formation is the same as usual.
48 seconds Awoniyi collects a loose pass from Gusto, runs to the edge of the D and mishits a left-foot shot well wide. A positive start for him and Forest.
Updated
1 min After the players take a knee, Morgan Gibbs-White gets the match under way on a dank, drizzly afternoon in Nottingham.
A bit of news from elsewhere. Crystal Palace have confirmed their captain Marc Guehi will leave the club in the summer after rejecting the offer of a new contract.
The players are about to take the field. These players, to be precise.
Nottm Forest (possible 3-5-1-1) Sels; Milenkovic, Morato, Murillo; Williams, Sangare, Douglas Luiz, Anderson; Gibbs-White; Awoniyi.
Substitutes: John, Hudson-Odoi, Wood, Ndoye, Dominguez, I. Jesus, Yates, Jair Cunha, Savona.
Chelsea (possible 4-3-3) Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Gusto, Lavia, Andrey Santos; Neto, Joao Pedro, Garnacho.
Substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin, Hato, Caicedo, Buonanotte, Estevao, Gittens, George, Guiu.
Referee Chris Kavanagh.
Updated
Ange Postecoglou talks to TNT Sports
It’s great to get [Murillo, Zinchenko etc] back. We’ve had a good couple of weeks with a lot of those guys and done some really good work with them.
[On the precedent of the Betis 2-2 draw, when a number of those players were involved and Forest were excellent in the first half especially] Yeah, that’s our way forward. We dominated the ball and created chances against a very good side; that’s what we want to do. We’ve had elements of that in every game but not enough.
[On yesterday’s press conference monologue] At some point you’ve gotta stand up for yourself. It’s not something I’ve done regularly but if you believe in something, and you want to stand up for yourself, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact I preach it all the time to my family, to my kids. Don’t let the bullies get you.
More importantly I just wanted to make sure people are clear. Hopefully the main message I got out yesterday is that I’m still very excited about what we’re doing here and I see a way forward where we have success.
We need to start the game well, get some energy in the stadium and hopefully the fans respond to that because they can play a big part in the result.
Some pre-match stats from Opta
Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last eight Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D3 L4), a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in September 2023.
Chelsea have won three of their last four Premier League away games against Nottingham Forest (D1), including both of their last two in a row. The Blues have never before won three successive away league games against the Tricky Trees.
Nottingham Forest have lost four of their last five Premier League games (D1), failing to score in each defeat. The Tricky Trees could fail to score in three consecutive matches in the top-flight for the first time since April 1999.
Chelsea have won just three of their last 14 away games in the Premier League (D4 L7). Indeed, in 2025, just 27% of their points have come away from home (12/45) – the lowest ratio of any ever-present side in the top-flight.
Nottingham Forest have lost five of their last seven Premier League home games (W1 D1), as many as their previous 22 at the City Ground beforehand (W11 D6). The Tricky Trees could lose three successive home league games for the first time since December 2023 (a run of 4).
Chelsea team news: Enzo not in the squad
Enzo Maresca makes three changes to the Chelsea team that beat Liverpool a fortnight ago.
Trevoh Chalobah, Romeo Lavia and Andrey Santos replace Benoit Badiashile, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Caicedo is on the bench; the others are absent.
Chelsea (possible 4-3-3) Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Gusto, Lavia, Andrey Santos; Neto, Joao Pedro, Garnacho.
Substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin, Hato, Caicedo, Buonanotte, Estevao, Gittens, George, Guiu.
Updated
Nottm Forest team news: Awoniyi and Murillo start
Taiwo Awoniyi, who hasn’t played for Forest since suffering a ruptured intestine against Leicester in May, goes straight into the starting XI. Murillo also returns from injury in defence. Overall there are five changes from the XI that started the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle before the international break. Ibrahim Sangare, Douglas Luiz and Oleksandr Zinchenko also come into the net; the men dropping out are Jair Cunha, Ryan Yates, Dan Ndoye, Nicolo Savona and Chris Wood.
Nottm Forest (possible 3-5-1-1) Sels; Milenkovic, Morato, Murillo; Williams, Sangare, Douglas Luiz, Anderson; Gibbs-White; Awoniyi.
Substitutes: John, Hudson-Odoi, Wood, Ndoye, Dominguez, I. Jesus, Yates, Jair Cunha, Savona
Updated
Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer today, and for the next six weeks.
Ange Postecoglou’s pre-match defence
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea at City Ground. It’s our professional duty to remind you that Ange Postecoglou, who was appointed Forest manager on 9 September 2025, is reportedly fighting for his job, however ludicrous and depressing that might be.
Ange’s future – and his monologue at yesterday’s press confererence – is the dominant context before today’s game against Chelsea, who themselves will hope to pick off where they left off before the international break.
Chelsea’s thrilling victory over Liverpool relieved some of the (ludicrous, depressing) scrutiny on their manager Enzo Maresca, though his celebration of their winning goal means he will be banned from the touchline for today’s game. Mind the laundry baskets.
Kick-off: 12.30pm BST.
