Nottingham Forest did not know whether to celebrate the comeback or rue the wastefulness. A point gained or two dropped? It was their seventh on the road this season and, given this game could have run away from them after Chelsea found a sudden burst of energy at the start of the second half, the optimists in the away end were entitled to feel positive when the host’s hopes of a second consecutive win were ended by Taiwo Awoniyi heading in his fourth goal of a productive week.
There was character from Forest, resilience when they trailed, and this draw could be vital in the final reckoning. Yet if there was a worry for Steve Cooper, it will be his side’s failure to secure their second away win of the campaign. Forest, who had led after Awoniyi punished an error from Édouard Mendy, could have moved five points clear of the bottom three with two games left; indeed they probably would have done if Moussa Niakhaté had put them 2-0 up shortly after half-time.
