The Blues trailed to a Taiwo Awoniyi header during the early stages of a frustrating first half. We came roaring back after the interval, though, Sterling netting a brace in the space of seven minutes. His first was a close-range effort after a cross wasn’t cleared, his second a finish of real quality on the angle.

But we could not hold on to that lead for long as Awoniyi scored another header from close range, and despite the best efforts of both sides – Chelsea the more threatening without forcing Keylor Navas into a save of note – it finished 2-2, at least ending our run of consecutive home defeats.

The selection

Lampard made five changes to the side that won at Bournemouth, two of them enforced, with fresh faces selected in goal, defence, midfield and attack.

Edouard Mendy played for the first time since before the World Cup, and Lewis Hall came in for the injured Ben Chilwell at left-back. Mateo Kovacic replaced N’Golo Kante, who missed out with a groin problem sustained in training yesterday.

Joao Felix and Sterling were back in attack, with Mykhailo Mudryk and Kai Havertz making way.

Forest strike first

The pattern of the game was set early, with Forest content to let us have the ball in front of them and play on the counter when they could. That strategy paid off on 12 minutes when we lost possession in midfield and Renan Lodi had space to deliver a cross that Awoniyi beat Mendy and both centre-backs to.

In response, Sterling had a left-footed shot bravely blocked by Joe Worrall after Enzo had found a gap in Forest’s defence. Hall was denied in similar fashion, again a red-shirted defender throwing themselves in the line of fire.

Trying to hit back

It would not be until after the half-hour mark that we next truly threatened Navas’s goal. Hall did excellently to get free down the left and send in a cross Joao Felix stooped to guide goalwards, but the experienced Costa Rican was equal to our first on-target attempt of the afternoon.

Shortly before the interval, Mateo Kovacic limped off and had to be replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The visitors started the second half on top and very nearly doubled their lead through the stretching Moussa Niakhate, who volleyed wide from a couple of yards out after Felipe had won the first header from a corner.

Success for Sterling

Forest were instantly punished for that miss. Trevoh Chalobah and Madueke exchanged passes down the right allowing the former to fire a low cross into the box that fell at the feet of Sterling. His shot looked goalbound anyway but a deflection off the prone Ryan Yates made sure as it looped up into the net at the Matthew Harding end of the ground.

Joao Felix had a header from a deep Hall free-kick inadvertently blocked by his own team-mate Benoit Badiashile as Chelsea upped the ante on the hunt for a quick second. The Portuguese whipped a long-ranger onto the roof of the net shortly afterwards.

The goals keep coming

The wait to complete the turnaround would not be much longer! Loftus-Cheek strode forward from inside our half, for once several Forest players caught ahead of the ball. He released Sterling, who calmly cut inside the sliding Worrall before bending a picture-perfect shot into the far corner. For the second time in seven minutes, the Bridge erupted!

However it was the away fans celebrating next, the dust barely settled on our advantage. Orel Mangala helped the ball back into the box from a cleared corner and there was Awoniyi in the right place at the right time to power a header past Mendy from six yards out.

Lodi fizzed a shot a foot wide as the momentum swung back in Forest’s favour. With 20 minutes left, Lampard freshened up his attack, Havertz and Hakim Ziyech replacing Joao Felix and Madueke.

The Blues pushed hard in the final stages but Forest defended deep and with diligence, happy to take a point in their fight against relegation.

What’s next?

Chelsea travel to the champions Manchester City next Sunday for our penultimate away fixture this season. Kick-off at the Etihad is at 4pm.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Mendy; Chalobah, Thiago Silva (c), Badiashile, Hall; Gallagher, Enzo, Kovacic (Loftus-Cheek 45+1): Madueke (Ziyech 73), Joao Felix (Havertz 73), Sterling.
Unused subs Kepa, Azpilicueta, W.Fofana, Mudryk, Pulisic, D.Fofana
Scorer Sterling 51, 58
Booked Joao Felix 69, Thiago Silva 73, Gallagher 79

Nottingham Forest (3-5-2): Navas; Worrall (c), Felipe, Niakhate; Aurier, Yates, Mangala, Danilo, Lodi; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi (Johnson 82).
Unused subs Hennessey, Lingard, Toffolo, Surridge, Kouyate, Freuler, Boly, Ayew
Scorer Awoniyi 13, 62
Booked Lodi 83

Referee Paul Tierney
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