Agency :
Late goals from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson lifted Chelsea to a 3-2 victory at Nottingham Forest, who edged within a whisker of securing their Premier League survival on Saturday without being able to pop the Champagne corks.
Mykhailo Mudryk also scored for Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea, who are seventh in the table with two games remaining, fuellng their hopes in the race for a European spot next season.
With a game remaining at already relegated Burnley, Forest are 17th and three points clear of 18th-placed Luton Town, but with a vastly-superior goal difference should ensure their top flight status.
“You never know in football,” Forest midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi told Premier League Productions. “There’s one game left but hopefully we’re safe now and we can focus on Burnley next weekend.” Chelsea, who have won their last three Premier League games after an inconsistent campaign, head to Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday then host Bournemouth to close the season on May 19. Chelsea got on the scoreboard in the sixth minute when Cole Palmer sent a through ball to Mudryk, who swept a shot into the far bottom corner. With the assist Palmer, joined Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins with the most goal involvements in the league this season with 31.
Strikes from Willy Boly in the 16th minute and Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 74th made for a carnival atmosphere at the City Ground, with Forest needing only a single point from the match to guarantee their survival after Luton’s defeat to West Ham earlier on Saturday.