Nuno delivers warning as Nottingham Forest not mathematically safe after Chelsea defeat
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo stressed it is not quite job done for Nottingham Forest as they threw away the chance to mathematically guarantee survival at the City Ground.
It was something of a damp squib in the Reds’ final home game of the season as they lost 3-2 to Chelsea. They had come from behind to lead 2-1 courtesy of goals from Willy Boly and Callum Hudson-Odoi, but the visitors turned the match on its head to claim all three points.
Defeats for Luton Town and Burnley in the 3pm kick-offs meant Forest needed just a point to get over the line, with the loss confirming the Clarets’ relegation. As it is, Nuno’s side remain three points above the 18th-placed Hatters heading into the final day, but they have a -19 goal difference to their rivals’ -31.
READ MORE: How the Reds rated against Chelsea
READ MORE: How the action unfolded at the City Ground
“Of course we are disappointed to lose the game and not be able to give what we wanted to to our fans at the City Ground, which was a victory,” Nuno said. “That is especially what frustrates and disappoints us the most.
“It is not over. It is virtually. But maybe I am the only person who has seen too many things in football to allow our players to relax. We are going to prepare properly for the next one to finish the season on a high - a season that has been so hard on all of us as a club.
“With the results before, our task was tough - mainly because of the opponent we had in front of us and their quality. Chelsea are a very good team.
“But it was the same pressure we always have. The advantage was in our hands to dictate and finish the job of our main goal, which was to stay in the Premier League.
“The first half was hard, but we reacted and we started the second half good. We created so many good chances to score. And then we switched off. In two minutes the game went away. A lot of lessons that we should learn.”