A tense match, with both teams knowing the outcome of this game would decide which European competition we would be playing in next season, resulted in few chances during the first 45 minutes. Pedro Neto and Chris Wood both volleyed over the bar from promising positions, but that was the closest either side came.

It didn't take long for the Blues to change that after half-time, though. Five minutes into the second half, Neto ruthlessly punished a poor attempt by Forest to clear their lines and rolled the ball across goal for Colwill to tap into the empty net.

We weathered a brief fightback from the home side, but were soon able to regroup. There was one late chance for Wood, but it sailed over the bar and Chelsea saw the game out with a professional performance, meaning the victory and Champions League qualification is ours.

The selection

The only change from the team which beat Manchester United was in attack, where Jadon Sancho came in for Tyrique George. That meant Pedro Neto filling the striker’s role, supported by Sancho, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke.

Elsewhere it was unchanged, Reece James captaining the Blues alongside Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella in defence, ahead of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez continue in midfield. Nottingham Forest were unchanged from the win away at West Ham United.

Big occasion

There was plenty riding on the outcome of this game for both these teams, and the others around the country hoping to book a place in next season’s Champions League.

That resulted in an even start to the game, but the first signs of threat came from Forest after a mix-up in midfield by Chelsea. That allowed Morgan Gibbs-White to get free on the left and drive across the edge of the box, but James intervened to avert the initial danger and then Cucurella stooped low to head clear.

The home side continued to look dangerous though, and it needed a good block by Colwill to prevent a low Ola Aina cross from reaching Chris Wood at the front post. Neto then charged forward on the counter, but nothing came of it.

Madueke lined one up from the edge of the box but it was blocked. Our biggest threat still seemed to be coming from Neto, running the channels from his position as the central striker this afternoon, but we weren’t able to convert it into a chance at goal.

Goalless around the grounds

As we got deeper into the first half, we had to withstand some steady pressure from Forest. With the games involving Aston Villa and Newcastle United also standing at 0-0, the onus was on the Nottingham side to break the deadlock in the five-way race for the three remaining Champions League spots.

Our longest spell of possession in the first half came around 30 minutes in. The first opportunity that provided was when Fernandez was dragged down in a dangerous position, but James’ free-kick was cleared.

A better chance presented itself to Neto, when a quick break forward by Madueke released Palmer on the right. His first-time cross found the gap between the defence and the goalkeeper, where it was met by our Portuguese forward, but he couldn’t get over the ball and the volley rose over the bar.

Wood then went close with an almost identical chance at the other end of the pitch, but he couldn’t find the target either. That left things goalless at the City Ground – as well as St James’ Park and Old Trafford – with 45 minutes of the Premier League season left to play.

Breakthrough arrives

However, it took just five minutes of the second half for Chelsea to change that. There was a bit of good fortune for the Blues in the build-up, as a cross was only partly cleared and when it was sent back towards the box, Neco Williams' header merely slowed it down enough for Neto to meet it.

In contrast, Neto's contribution was decisive, sliding the ball across goal beyond the reach of Matz Sels' outstretched arm, leaving the onrushing Colwill with the simplest of tap-ins from a few yards out. He promptly rolled into the empty net and rushed towards the Chelsea supporters behind that goal to celebrate. As things stood, that was the Blues above Newcastle to fourth in the table and on our way to the Champions League.

Forest tried to push back and a quickly taken free-kick presented Wood with a great chance one-on-one with Sanchez, but he fired the bouncing ball well over the bar and then the linesman's flag went up to show it wouldn't have counted anyway.

With our lead secured and the home side starting to throw more bodies forward, Enzo Maresca chose to introduce Romeo Lavia from the bench, in place of Sancho, to help sure things up a bit for the last 30 minutes.

We were also able to settle during a lengthy pause while Madueke and Nicolas Dominguez received treatment following a collision. When the game resumed, we had just over 20 minutes left to hold our lead, and Newcastle had gone behind to Everton, meaning the live table showed us with a three-point margin to the Magpies in sixth place.

Finishing the job

That chance to regroup seemed to do the trick, as Chelsea were able to close the game down, aided by more reinforcements incoming, in the form of Malo Gusto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. A professional ending to the game meant Forest were rarely able to trouble Sanchez's goal, and our win never really looked in doubt from that point on.

Urged on constantly by Maresca on the touchline, the only time Chelsea found ourselves under any real pressure was a scramble in the box following a Forest corner, but the Blues players put their bodies in the way to block the shots until the ball bounced into our keeper's arms.

Deep into injury time, there was one more chance for Wood, from a long ball into the box, but he missed the target again under heavy pressure from Tosin. And that was about it, as we made our way to the final whistle in relative comfort, considering the stakes.

What it means

Chelsea end the Premier League season in fourth place, meaning Champions League football will be back at Stamford Bridge for 2025/26!

What is next

The domestic season is now complete, but there is still one more match to look forward to in Chelsea's campaign. We take on Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final at 8pm on Wednesday in the Polish city of Wroclaw.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James (c), Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke (Dewsbury-Hall 87), Palmer, Sancho (Lavia 62); Neto (Gusto 78)
Unused subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, Chalobah, George, Guiu
Scorer: Colwill 50
Booked: Caicedo 56, Tosin 81

Nottingham Forest (4-3-1-2): Sels; Aina (Silva 83), Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Dominguez (Yates 68), Sangare (Hudson-Odoi 57), Anderson; Gibbs-White (c); Elanga, Wood
Unused subs: Miguel, Boly, Morato, Toffolo, Danilo, Sosa
Booked: Anderson 32, Aina 79

Referee: Anthony Taylor

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