Substitute Anthony Elanga scored his first Nottingham Forest goal to secure a hard-fought Premier League victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
2023/2024 Premier League
0-1
Summer signing Elanga, introduced in first-half added time following an injury to Danilo, struck shortly after the break when he raced on to Taiwo Awoniyi's pass and slotted home.
Nicolas Jackson missed a glorious opportunity to equalise inside the final 10 minutes, firing over from inside the six-yard box after being teed up by Raheem Sterling.
Jackson had earlier been denied by a last-ditch block by Willy Boly, while £40m deadline day signing Cole Palmer was introduced by boss Mauricio Pochettino, as Chelsea chased a response.
But despite dominating possession, territory and chances, the hosts were punished for failing to take their opportunities by a resolute Forest.
A second victory from four games lifted Steve Cooper's visitors to ninth in the table, while Chelsea fell to 11th in the early standings.
Match Events
14' CLOSE! Jackson misses a good chance
16' CHANCE! Gallagher's long shot wide out
31' Yellow Card! Chilwell booked
35' CLOSE! Enzo's long shot over the bar
43' Yellow Card! Conor Gallagher booked
48' GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Anthony Elanga)
62' Sub! Cole Palmer replaces Gallagher
69' OFFSIDE! Jackson goes down in the box
83' Unbelievable! What a miss from Jackson
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Thiago Silva, Sterling, Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Robert Sánchez, Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto, Nicolas Jackson
Subs: Marc Cucurella, Djordje Petrovic, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Maatsen, Lucas Bergström, L. Ugochukwu, Deivid Washington·De Souza Eugenio
Nottingham Forest XI: Aurier, Boly, Aina, Scott McKenna, Taiwo Awoniyi, Mangala, Matt Turner, Joe Worrall, Gibbs-White, Ryan Yates, Danilo
Subs: Kouyate, Wood, Felipe, Horvath, Niakhate, Gonzalo Montiel, Nuno Tavares, Brandon Aguilera, Anthony Elanga