Chelsea banished their away-day blues by beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground to return to the Champions League and consign their hosts to the Conference League.
Chelsea knew that, regardless of the results earned by their Champions League rivals Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa, they would finish in a qualification place for the first time since the 2021/22 season with victory over Forest.
Their shocking record of one win in their last 10 away games did not inspire confidence, nor did the fact they had already lost at every other top-seven side this season.
But Levi Colwill - whose own-goal for Huddersfield in the Championship play-off final promoted Forest to the top flight three years ago - struck shortly after half-time to put Chelsea in front.
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Levi Colwill puts Chelsea ahead against Nottingham Forest
Defeats for Newcastle and Villa meant Chelsea could afford to draw and still find themselves in the top five, but their focus rarely wavered as they kept Forest's blunt attack at bay with a determined defensive display.
On the two occasions Chelsea's defence was breached, the usually reliable Chris Wood was unable to convert the chances that fell his way. Had he done so, Forest would have taken their visitors' place in the Champions League.
Conference League qualification is still a remarkable achievement for a Forest side that narrowly avoided relegation last season. But it is Chelsea who will play on Europe's biggest stage next term.
_More to follow..._
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