A three-minute Chelsea’s blitzkrieg might cost Postecoglou his job

Since the start of 2023-24, no manager has seen his teams concede more Premier League goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half of matches than Ange Postecoglou (16). Who is collecting data like this? Whoever it is, he was on spot when it comes to Nottingham Forest coach. His team finally played well, created chances and just as the fans sat on their seats in the 46thminute waiting for that opening goal to finally arrive, a meltdown happened. Two quick goals between 49th and 52nd minute sealed Forest’s fate as Chelsea, looking weaker than ever won the game 3-0 and possible gave Postecoglou a sack. The final score is certainly not a fair one, but football is not fair anyway.

The former Tottenham manager is still looking for his first win in Nottingham and weakened Chelsea was a perfect opportunity. The Blues are injury crippled and were without Enzo Fernandez (knee), Levi Colwill (knee), Benoit Badiashile (muscle), Cole Palmer (groin), Liam Delap (thigh), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspended) and Dario Essugo (thigh) while Moises Caicedo also didn’t start for the first time since 2023. The London press were obsessed with his absence and pointed out numerous times that Chelsea won none of their five games without him in the XI since the start of 2023-24 but that data was totally irrelevant. They suffered without Caicedo and Fernandes today, but it was mainly Nottingham who missed numerous chances before and after Chelsea’s goals and they are to be blamed for this defeat which should have not happened.

Dylane Bakwa, James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson and Arnaud Kalimuendo, which were bought for a combined 130 million pounds were all left on the bench as Postecoglou was quite brave and even started with Awoniyi up front ahead of Jesus and Wood and played good even without them, but missed chances really hurt his team. In the end, the Australian managed kept his head between his hands in desperation for most of the match. Anderson started the series of chances by tripping on the ball, before Gibbs-White missed two big opportunities after mistakes by Chelsea players. Chelsea were awful but Andrey Santos missed a sitter in the 39th minute.

And then a meltdown. Pedro Neto, Chelsea’s best player since the start of the season broke from the left and found Acheampong for a shocking lead. Just three minutes later Forest players made a terrible wall, players moved and created the gap and Neto’s shot passed through and Sels also reacted poorly 2-0 in the 53rd minute. But Forest still didn’t give up and had three huge chances to equalize but just couldn’t find the net. Williams was all alone from five meters away after a great Zinchenko cross but fired over on the volley. Sanchez finally made a save after a powerful header from Milenkovic at a Forest corner. Igor Jesus’s shot miraculously went off the bar and the post in the 70th minute and after such an unfortunate miss, the home team managed only to concede a third goal (Reece James) and finished the game with another defeat.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 8

Saturday

Nottingham Forest - Chelsea 0-3 (0-0)

/Acheampong 49, Neto 52, James 84/

17.00: (2.65) Brighton (3.20) Newcastle (2.75)

17.00: (3.25) Burnley (3.25) Leeds (2.30)

17.00: (2.25) Crystal Palace (3.40) Bournemouth (3.20)

17.00: (1.40) Manchester City (4.60) Everton (8.00)

17.00: (2.50) Sunderland (3.10) Wolverhampton (3.05)

19.30: (6.00) Fulham (3.90) Arsenal (1.58)

Sunday

16.00: (2.15) Tottenham (3.45) Aston Villa (3.35)

18.30: (1.63) Liverpool (4.00) Manchester Utd. (5.30)

Monday

22.00: (2.55) West Ham (3.30) Brentford (2.80)

***odds are subject to change***