Nottingham Forest sink Chelsea 3-1 to hurt their chances of UEFA Champions League qualification

Nottingham Forest boosted their chances of staying in the Premier League with a convincing 3-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday. The defeat badly hurt Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.Taiwo Awoniyi gave Forest the perfect start by scoring inside two minutes in his 100th appearance for the club. Soon after, Igor Jesus made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Chelsea defender Malo Gusto pulled Awoniyi’s shirt inside the box.Chelsea had a chance to get back into the game before halftime when they won a penalty after teenager Jesse Derry was fouled in a collision that forced him off with a head injury. But Cole Palmer saw his penalty brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Matz Sels as frustrated fans jeered from the stands.Forest continued to dominate after the break. In the 52nd minute, Morgan Gibbs-White set up Awoniyi for his second goal of the match, putting the result beyond doubt.The win was Forest’s third straight league victory and moved them six points clear of the relegation zone with only three matches remaining. Manager Vitor Pereira’s decision to rotate his squad ahead of their Europa League semifinal also paid off, with the team now unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions.Chelsea’s problems continue to pile up. The club has now lost six straight league games for the first time since 1993 and sits ninth in the table. They are 10 points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa with just three games left.Joao Pedro scored a stunning bicycle kick in stoppage time, but by then many fans had already left Stamford Bridge after another disappointing display.