NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-3 CHELSEA: Goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James condemned Ange Postecoglou to yet another loss to pile the pressure on his position as manager
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Nottingham Forest, looks dejected after Pedro Neto of Chelsea (not pictured) scored the team's second goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at City Ground on October 18, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Ange Postecoglou tasted defeat for the sixth time in 36 days(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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Chelsea inflicted yet more pain on Ange Postecoglou, as his future as Nottingham Forest manager hangs by a thread. The Blues ran out 3-0 winners in Saturday's early kick-off, having got away with a below-par first half.
Enzo Maresca, who was sitting in the stands due to his touchline ban, made three substitutions at the break and one of them, Pedro Neto, almost single-handedly saved the day. His cross set up Josh Acheampong's goal before the Portuguese scored a free-kick three minutes later.
Forest had multiple chances to score both before and after Chelsea's quickfire double, but the ball simply wouldn't go in for the hosts, who were done and dusted after Reece James' goal in the 85th minute to prompt a mass exodus. Having been given the international break to try and find a winning formula, Postecoglou looks doomed amid reports that Sean Dyche is being lined up.
Here are five talking points from the City Ground.
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1. Double Enzo absence
When the team news dropped, Chelsea fans were left with one overriding question: "Where is Enzo Fernandez?"
The midfielder wasn't in the squad, having missed Argentina's second game during the international break, and his absence was especially felt with Moises Caicedo only fit enough for the bench. "It's not a big concern," Enzo Maresca told TNT Sport before kick-off. "He's out for injury. Hopefully he can be back very soon."
But there was another Enzo who wasn't where he should be when the game started. Maresca was serving a one-game touchline ban for his wild celebration against Liverpool last time out.
Chelsea's Argentinian assistant coach Willy Caballero shouts instructions to the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on October 18, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Willy Caballero was on the touchline for Chelsea
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2. First half full of missed chances
There were plenty of things to like about the first half. End-to-end football, a bit of needle and a lively crowd. But what wasn't so good was both sides' finishing.
Taiwo Awoniyi missed a golden chance inside two minutes after Malo Gusto gifted him an opportunity. Then it was Elliot Anderson's turn to get an opening, but the England international hesitated and Reece James got back in to make a vital interception.
Morgan Gibbs-White even had two opportunities within 60 seconds of each other, with Chelsea continuing to give the ball away. The Blues had made three errors leading to a shot after just 20 minutes, as their defence looked shaky.
But Chelsea had chances of their own, most notably when Andrey Santos flashed an effort wide of the post after being picked out superbly by Joao Pedro. Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels also had to make two saves to deny Maresca's men an opener to ensure that the two teams went in level at the break.
Nottingham Forest's English midfielder #10 Morgan Gibbs-White reacts after failing to score during the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on October 18, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Nottingham Forest failed to capitalise on Chelsea's mistakes
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3. Maresca's triple change makes instant impact
A triple sub at half-time is football's biggest red flag. Maresca raised it at half-time, hooking Santos, Romeo Lavia and Alejandro Garnacho after just 45 minutes. On came Caicedo, Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto.
Postecoglou made a change, too, subbing off Awoniyi for Igor Jesus, who was hungry for his first goal in a Forest shirt. But the first strike of the afternoon went Chelsea's way.
With nearly his first involvement, Neto was given too much space on the left to drive into and whipped in a teasing cross past the foot of the outstretched Neco Williams. On the end of it was Josh Acheampong, nodding home his first senior goal and prompting a shake of the head from Postecoglou.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Josh Acheampong of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates Marc Guiu and Malo Gusto during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at City Ground on October 18, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Josh Acheampong's header broke the deadlock
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4. Neto not done there
A goal and an assist within seven minutes of coming on? Not bad. Chelsea won a free-kick 20 yards from goal and up stepped Neto, producing a wonderful strike which kept low and whipped around the inside of the Forest wall.
Sels will've been disappointed to concede from such an angle, as suddenly it was double trouble for the home side. Postecoglou made a sub in response to Chelsea's second goal, bringing off Douglas Luiz for ex-Blue Callum Hudson-Odoi.
It prompted boos from the unhappy crowd, just as James' late clincher did. There was an ironic cheer when Gusto was shown a second yellow card for Chelsea in the dying embers.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Pedro Neto of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at City Ground on October 18, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Pedro Neto produced a super-sub performance(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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5. Postecoglou plunged back under pressure
Sean Dyche must be having a cut and a shave at this point. Postecoglou has now lost six of his eight games in charge without recording a single win. The Aussie-Greek boss survived the internationals but Thursday's Europa League clash with Porto looms large.
When Williams missed a gilt-edged chance to reduce the deficit just after the hour mark, the writing was on the wall. Owner Evangelos Marinakis looked down with disdain before leaving his seat.