Chelsea’s 3-1 hammering highlighted many problems, but defensively, it is nothing new as Nottingham Forest scored two of their three goals from crosses. Shaun Wright-Phillips wasn’t impressed.
By half-time, Chelsea were 2-0 down after Taiwo Awoniyi had put Forest ahead via a Dilane Bakwa cross. Igor Jesus made it two shortly after Forest’s opener, before Awoniyi scored shortly after the restart.
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Another dismal result for Chelsea, ending any slim Champions League hopes. A sixth straight loss in the Premier League, with Joao Pedro’s glorious overhead kick the only brief moment of delight for fans.
This season, Chelsea have been dismal defensively. Under Liam Rosenior, the Blues managed just four clean sheets in 23 games and now, they are the Premier League’s worst side at defending from crosses.
Shaun Wright-Phillips fuming with ‘terrible Chelsea’
Chelsea needed to win the game. Before the match, Paul Merson said it was likely Chelsea could still get Champions League football by finishing sixth with Villa expected to go and win the Europa League.
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But Forest have possibly ended those hopes, in two ways. They beat Villa in their Europa League semi-final first leg, 1-0. Then, on Sunday, they smashed Chelsea as the Blues succumbed to a sixth straight loss.
On Premier League Productions, former Chelsea star Wright-Phillips was not impressed. He described Chelsea’s defending as “terrible” having watched his old side fall apart against Vitor Pereira’s Forest.
“That pass from Elliot Anderson there, and then the ball there from Morgan Gibbs-White was excellent. But I still think the way Chelsea are defending is absolutely terrible”, Wright-Phillips said, and he’s right.
Chelsea are now the league’s worst side defending from crosses
For a while now, Trevoh Chalobah has been getting away with it defensively. But for the entire season, no Chelsea centre-back has been able to take charge and defend crosses coming into the penalty area.
Trevoh Chalobah has been getting away it for too long 😑
This is alarming!
The likes of Wesley Fofana, Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo are simply not getting it right. Perhaps a lack of communication, a lack of leadership is limiting their ability to organise and defend balls into the box.
Chelsea have now conceded a whopping 15 goals from crosses in open play this season, following the two against Forest. It is official, Chelsea are the worst at defending from crosses in the entire league.
Given Burnley and Wolves are joint second-worst on 14 goals, it says everything. They are the two sides already relegated, and Chelsea are worse. It is something that simply cannot happen next season.
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