Chelsea has hit a new low in an already disappointing second half of the season, suffering six consecutive league defeats for the first time in over 30 years.
Their latest setback came with a 3-1 loss at home against a reserve Nottingham Forest team, who have been thriving under Vitor Pereira as they push toward safety. This defeat marks the first time Chelsea has lost six league matches in a row since November 1993.
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Currently on the club’s worst streak since 1912, they at least managed to avoid marking their sixth match without scoring for the first time in history, thanks to a last-minute goal from Joao Pedro.
Taiwo Awoniyi got the scoring started within two minutes, followed by Igor Jesus converting a penalty after Malo Gusto fouled him in the box.
Awoniyi extended the lead to three in the 52nd minute after a low cross from Gibbs-White. Although Pedro thought he had narrowed the deficit for the hosts, VAR ruled out his goal for offside by mere inches.
Cole Palmer had a chance to score as he missed a penalty saved by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels after Zach Abbott was penalized for a foul on Jesse Derry, who had to be taken off on a stretcher and transported to hospital following a severe clash.
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Pedro did ultimately redeem himself with a stunning last-gasp goal, skillfully controlling a cross from Marc Cucurella before executing a spectacular bicycle kick, halting Chelsea’s nine-and-a-half-hour goal drought.
Currently without a manager following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, interim coach Calum McFarlane has seen the team fail to win in the Premier League since January.
The defeats have been devastating, and prior to Pedro’s late goal, it looked set to be their fourth 3-0 loss in five Premier League matches, a statistic they narrowly avoided.
This latest result leaves Chelsea in ninth place, ten points adrift of the Champions League spots, and at risk of slipping into the lower half of the table.
Teams like Fulham, Everton, Sunderland, and Newcastle trail closely behind, all within three points, while Forest sits comfortably six points clear of relegation and on a seven-game unbeaten streak.