Taiwo Awoniyi broke the deadlock inside the opening two minutes for the visitors, and then earned a penalty that Igor Jesus confidently scored.

A first-half spot-kick of our own, won bravely by Jesse Derry, who had to leave the pitch on a stretcher due to a head injury, was taken by Cole Palmer but saved by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.

While there was a positive sight at the start of the second half as Levi Colwill made his return from injury, Awoniyi struck a third for Forest. And while Joao Pedro did score a wonderful overhead kick in stoppage time, it didn't change the final outcome.

Behind early

With Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto ruled out through injury, two changes were made to our starting XI by Calum McFarlane. Palmer returned to the attack and Derry was handed his first Chelsea side on the opposite flank.

The first meaningful attack of the game resulted in the opening goal. Unfortunately, it went to Forest. Good work down the left flank by Dilane Bakwa enabled him to cross to the back post, where Awoniyi was able to guide his header into the corner. Two minutes were on the clock.

There was plenty of time for the Blues to respond, and we came inches away from doing so when nice work from Derry and Joao Pedro allowed Fernandez to guide an attempt toward the far corner. However, his shot rebounded off the post and away from danger.

Our task became harder on the quarter-hour mark. Bakwa delivered another cross to the back post in the direction of Awoniyi, who went down under pressure from Malo Gusto. Following a VAR review, Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty, which Igor Jesus converted.

The Blues controlled much of the remainder of the half, but were largely at arm's length by the visitors. Palmer curled an effort narrowly wide and Derry acrobatically volleyed over. The young winger also forced Sels into a save with a low drive.

Forest had a couple of further opportunities. Sanchez denied Igor Jesus and James McAtee came very close to a third with a shot that deflected narrowly wide.

Spot-kick opportunity

On the stroke of half time, we earned a corner. Fernandez's delivery found Derry at the back post, whose touch looped the ball into the air. He challenged Forest defender Zach Abbott, but the two clashed heads. A penalty was awarded to the Blues, but there was immediate concern for the 18-year-old.

Derry needed more than ten minutes of treatment before leaving the field on a stretcher. It was confirmed after the game that he had been taken to hospital as a precaution, but was conscious, talking and undergoing precautionary checks.

When Palmer eventually stepped up to take the spot-kick, his low drive to Sels right was saved. We went into the break two goals behind.

Levi returns

There was a positive for the Blues at the start of the second period as Colwill made his return from the knee injury he sustained in pre-season. It was a welcome return for the Academy graduate, who replaced Tosin in our defence.

Early pressure from the Blues after the restart didn't result in a clear opportunity; a Cucurella drive that comfortably cleared the crossbar was all we had to show for our efforts.

It proved something of a false dawn in terms of a comeback as, seven minutes into the second half, Forest added a third. Half-time substitutes Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White combined to tee up Awoniyi, who was left with an easy finish.

Another significant stoppage occured soon after as Sanchez and Gibbs-White collided when chasing down a pass forward. Both left the field with bloodied and bandaged. Filip Jorgensen was brought on for the Blues to replace the Spaniard.

The Blues continued to search for a route back into the game and seemingly had one when Joao Pedro headed home from close range after previously being denied by Sels. Yet after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside.

As time ticked down, Delap came close with a shot that narrowly cleared the crossbar and Palmer forced Sels into a good reaction stop with a low, right-footed drive.

Late consolation

There did prove to be a late consolation for the Blues, as Joao Pedro registered his 20th goal of the campaign in the 93rd minute.

It was a fine strike from the Brazilian, who chested up a header from Cucurella and produced an excellent overhead-kick, which flew into the far corner.

A stunning strike, but one that proved only a footnote in a disappointing result for the Blues.

What comes next...

We're on the road next weekend for our penultimate away game of the Premier League season, as we take on Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday 9 May. Kick off is at 12.30pm.

The teams

Chelsea: Sanchez (Jorgensen 66); Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin (Colwill 46), Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia (Andrey Santos 58); Palmer, Fernandez, Derry (Delap 45+9); Joao Pedro
Chelsea substitutes: Jorgensen, James, Acheampong, Fofana, Hato, Essugo
Goalscorers: Joao Pedro 90+3
Booked: Gusto 14, Caicedo 78, Delap 78

Nottingham Forest: Sels, Abbott (Williams 45+5), Morato, Jair Cunha (Milenkovic 46), Netz, Yates, McAtee, Dominguez (Anderson 46), Bakwa, Igor Jesus (Gibbs-White 46, Wood 67), Awoniyi
Nottingham Forest substitutes: Ortega, Moreira, Hutchinson, Lucca
Goalscorers: Awoniyi 2, Igor Jesus pen 15,
Booked: Morato 10

Attendance: 39,605