Big-spending Chelsea humbled in 1-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest

Anthony Elanga, the Nottingham Forest forward, openly acknowledged that their 1-0 triumph over Chelsea on Saturday stands as a testament to their recent commendable performances on the road.

This victory at Stamford Bridge marks their first conquest at Chelsea since January 1995 and only the second Premier League win away from home since their promotion from the Championship in 2022.

Nonetheless, Forest’s success at Chelsea didn’t emerge entirely unexpectedly. Their two previous away outings this season exhibited substantial improvements compared to the prior campaign, with narrow defeats at Arsenal and Manchester United.

Following his pivotal goal, Elanga pointed out that Forest had come agonizingly close to securing results in those matches, demonstrating progress after their struggles away from the City Ground in the 2022/23 season.

“It’s of significant importance,” he expressed to Sky Sports. “In the last three Premier League games, it felt like we were on the brink of victory.

“Take, for instance, the Arsenal match—within the final ten minutes, and the Sheffield game, where we emerged victorious. Even against United, we were leading 2-0. It feels like we’re building something, and today’s away result is something we’ve been eagerly awaiting—a facet of our game we’re eager to refine.”

When queried about whether his goal could serve as a foundation for further success, the Swedish player added, “I need consistent playing time to nurture that confidence, something I didn’t have much of at United. However, now that I’m here, I sense the manager’s trust in me, having provided these opportunities. Hopefully, these chances will translate into more starting roles, goals, and assists.”