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This was significant for Chelsea – further proof that they can win without Cole Palmer in their squad or even Moises Caicedo in their starting line-up.
But it was sullied slightly by how they received their fifth red card in their last six games.
Manchester United: Robert Sanchez, five minutes. Brighton: Trevoh Chalobah, 53. Benfica: Joao Pedro, 90+6. Liverpool: Enzo Maresca: 90+6.
Here it was the turn of Malo Gusto, sliding in like a numpty in the 87th minute when already on a yellow card.
Averaging 23 years and 345 days old, Chelsea’s starting line-up was the youngest named by any Premier League side this season, and this naivety needs eradicating, even if their supporters felt comfortable enough to sing ‘red card again, ole, ole’ because they were already leading 3-0.
Maresca may like to tell us reporters that he is not concerned by their ill discipline but in the long run, it can only hold them back.
Despite their impressive win, Enzo Maresca may be concerned by his side picking up their fifth red card in six games
It was the turn of Malo Gusto on Saturday, sliding in in the 87th minute when already on a yellow card
BLUES CAN WIN WITHOUT PALMER... BUT NOT CAICEDO?
Chelsea can win without Palmer. We know that. Benfica know that, having lost 1-0 in the Champions League a few weeks back.
Liverpool know that, as 2-1 losers in the Premier League before the international break. While Chelsea would rather have Palmer available than not, the one player whose absence can make them feel as if they have lost a limb is Caicedo.
Chelsea had not won a Premier League game without Caicedo in the starting line-up since he signed for a British record £115million in August 2023.
They lost to West Ham, Newcastle and Wolves without him starting, and drew at Bournemouth, all away from home. It was a remarkable statistic but one which ended here after he was brought on at half-time.
Maresca has been accused of waiting too long to make substitutions but he did not wait to respond after an abysmal first half. He brought on Caicedo, Chelsea suddenly conquered the midfield, and with that, won the game.
Enzo Maresca rought on Caicedo, Chelsea suddenly conquered the midfield, and with that, won the game
MARESCA'S HALF-TIME MASTERSTROKE
Maresca’s other half-time change was to bring on an actual striker in Marc Guiu, and his presence alone was enough to attract two Nottingham Forest defenders towards him for Pedro Neto's cross.
That included pulling Murillo away from the position he was in, leaving Josh Acheampong on his own to head home the opener and his first senior goal for the Blues.
Maresca’s other half-time change was to bring on an actual striker in Marc Guiu, and his presence led to Forest's opener
Morgan Gibbs-White was one of a several Forest players who failed to make the most of Chelsea's defensive errors
FOREST FAIL TO CAPITALISE ON BLUES GIFTS
With Maresca sat in the City Ground’s directors’ box, due to his touchline ban, a note with instructions was sent on to the field.
Caicedo had it and Acheampong read it before Reece James scrunched it up and tucked it into his sock. It was hiding in there when the club captain scored to make it 3-0.
Before half-time, few of us saw this scoreline coming as Chelsea had struggled for any control. Now, I’m no tactician. I don’t have a UEFA licence of any description.
Never coached my nephew’s team. Don’t own a magnetic tactics board. But here’s an idea: try not to pass to the opposition by your own box.
It was a lesson that Chelsea’s defenders nearly learned the hard way in that first half as they repeatedly gave the ball to Forest’s forwards, such as Taiwo Awoniyi and Morgan Gibbs-White, who never capitalised on those gifts.
According to Opta's live statistics, Chelsea committed more errors leading to opposition shots in the opening 25 minutes here than in any other game played in the Premier League this season. They lived dangerously, but got away with it.
