Early goal and an eternity of torture: Chelsea grind out a point despite being the second-best team in Nottingham

Ivorian defender Serge Aurier scored for Nottingham Forest on New Year's Day to deny an early Raheem Sterling opener to give his team an encouraging draw and cast a dark shadow over Chelsea's season.

Despite taking an early lead, Chelsea once again failed to control a Premier League match and cost their supporters lots of nerves. Graham Potter and his players continue to test Chelsea supporters' patience.

The early exchanges resulted in a deserved opening goal for the Blues. Sterling finished well after Willy Boly deflected a cross onto his crossbar. After Potter's team beat Bournemouth 2-0 a few days ago, it finally seemed like the London club will be able to make it back to back wins for the first time since mid-October. Also, making it two easy wins would be a welcome bonus.

However, a combination of Forest's resolve and Chelsea's lack of form meant that Potter's men would go back to the sadly familiar routine - struggling to assert their dominance and build on their lead.

Once again, Kai Havertz proved to be Chelsea's most influential man. His impact played a big part in the opening goal as well as a half-chance that came shortly afterwards. However, one man cannot do it all by himself. Buoyed by the loud home crowd at the City Ground, Steve Cooper's team squeezed the noose around the visitors, determined not to let the match slip.

Ten minutes after the restart, Morgan Gibbs-White was very unlucky not to draw his team level with what would have been a spectacular strike. The ball fell for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder, who struck it with a sweet volley. However, it was just a fraction too high. The ball rattled the crossbar and bounced on the wrong side of the line.

Forest continued to push forward and were rewarded with an equaliser. Ivorian right-back Serge Aurier did well to chest down a poorly cleared corner and squeeze the ball between Kepa Arrizabalaga's legs shortly after the hour mark.

It should have been a wake-up call for Chelsea, but they didn't respond to it. Ultimately, they could count themselves lucky not to let another goal in. Potter's substitutes did little to help the team, with only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang getting a sight of goal late on.

The second-half performance from Nottingham will give them hope of mounting a genuine bid to avoid relegation. On the other hand, Chelsea looks like a squad of players who only met each other last week. It doesn't bode well for their season. If Potter isn't feeling the pressure - then he really should.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - Matchday 18

Friday

West Ham - Brentford 0-2 (0-2)

/Toney 18, Dasilva 43/

Liverpool - Leicester 2-1 (2-1)

/Faes 38 og, 45 og - Dewsbury-Hall 4/

Saturday

Wolverhampton - Man.Utd 0-1 (0-0)

/Rashford 76/

Man City - Everton 1-1 (1-0)

/Haaland 27 - Gray 64/

Newcastle - Leeds 0-0

Fulham - Southampton 2-1 (1-0)

/Ward-Prowse 32 og, Palhinha 88 - Ward-Prowse 66/

Bournemouth - Crystal Palace 0-2 (0-2)

/Ayew 19, Eze 36/

Brighton - Arsenal 2-4 (0-2)

/Mitoma 65, Ferguson 77 - Saka 2, Odegaard 39, Nketiah 47, Martinelli 71/

Sunday

Tottenham - Aston Villa 0-2 (0-0)

/Buendia 50, Douglas Luiz 74/

Nottingham Forest - Chelsea 1-1 (0-1)

/Aurier 63 - Sterling 15/