Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after three second-half goals secured Chelsea’s Premier League victory at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, extending Forest’s winless run to eight games.
Defender Josh Acheampong and winger Pedro Neto scored just after half-time, prompting chants of “you don’t know what you are doing” from the home supporters after Postecoglou reacted by immediately bringing on Callum Hudson-Odoi, before captain Reece James sealed victory in a 3-0 win for Chelsea.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis left the directors’ box after 66 minutes, with Postecoglou’s future understood to be under scrutiny.
Postecoglou will bemoan Forest’s failure to capitalise on a dominant first half, when striker Taiwo Awoniyi, on his first start since a serious abdominal injury left him in a coma last season, missed an early chance. Morgan Gibbs-White also missed two first-half chances.
Chelsea struggled with a makeshift midfield, missing the injured Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez, while Moises Caicedo started on the bench.
However, three half-time changes by manager Enzo Maresca, including the introduction of star midfielder Caicedo, helped turn the game.
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Acheampong, 19, was unmarked when he headed home Neto’s cross from close range four minutes after the interval. Neto curled a free-kick past Forest’s wall and goalkeeper Matz Sels three minutes later.
James volleyed in a third a poor Sels clearance and Chelsea defender Malo Gusto was sent off for a second yellow card in a hectic last few moments of the match.
Postecoglou was seen shaking his head minutes earlier after defender Neco Williams volleyed over when unmarked. Substitute striker Igor Jesus then hit the post and bar as poor finishing cost Forest.
The result also cost Postecoglou his job with six defeats with two draws in his first eight matches since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo in September.
BBC