Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 this afternoon, despite a pretty sticky start from the Blues.
They were nervy as anything in the first half, particularly in defence where Josh Acheampong lined up alongside fellow academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah. Both improved in the second half, with Acheampong in particular showing his levels.
Acheampong impresses with goal and creative ability from the back
Josh Acheampong speaks to TNT Sport.
Acheampong was a real star in the second period, and not just because of the thumping header he nodded in to open the scoring.
“Acheampong has had another solid game. Every time I watch him I come away always impressed,” former Blue Jason Cundy said on the club’s official app during the game.
“He’s happy to stride over that halfway line and carry the ball. Technically very, very good. He’s an excellent young prospect. He’s never ever let Chelsea down.”
The youngsters stats shows he was worthy of that sort of praise. If you narrowed them down to second half only, he’d look even better:
Josh Acheampong Stat
Accurate Passes 48/52 (92%)
Chances Created 0
Expected Goals (xG) 0.51
Expected Goals on Target (xGOT) 1.04
xG + xA 0.51
Defensive Contributions 7
Attack
Shots on Target 2/2 (100%)
Touches 67
Touches in Opposition Box 2
Successful Dribbles 1/1 (100%)
Passes into Final Third 3
Accurate Long Balls 0/2 (0%)
Dispossessed 1
Non-penalty xG 0.51
Defence
Tackles 0
Blocks 0
Clearances 3
Headed Clearance 1
Interceptions 4
Recoveries 6
Dribbled Past 0
Duels
Ground Duels Won 3/5 (60%)
Aerial Duels Won 1/1 (100%)
Was Fouled 2
Fouls Committed 1
In other news…
Acheampong and Reece James spoke to TNT Sport at full time about their feeling having played a key part in the win over Nottingham Forest this afternoon.
Both could end up being needed next week at right back after Malo Gusto got a red card which will rule him out from the Sunderland game. You can see what Enzo Maresca had to say about that here.
More Stories about Josh Acheampong
Josh Acheampong scores his first Chelsea goal.
Josh Acheampong heads the ball in.