Chelsea endured the worst possible bank holiday at Stamford Bridge with two serious head injuries taking place during their home game against Nottingham Forest
Robert Sanchez suffered a head injury against Nottingham Forest(Image: Sky)
Robert Sanchez was left bloodied after he became the second Chelsea player to be forced off due to a head injury against Nottingham Forest. With the Blues trailing 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, a long ball was pumped forward for Morgan Gibbs-White to chase.
Somewhat belatedly, Sanchez charged out of his line and dived head first to clear the bouncing ball away. However, he collided into Gibbs-White into the process, which left both players on the floor clutching their heads.
Sanchez’s head was busted open and he required bandaging by Chelsea medics on the pitch. In the end, both he and Gibbs-White had to leave the field, around an hour after Blues debutant Jesse Derry and Zach Abbott of Forest were both taken off after clashing heads on the stroke of half time.
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Fortunately, Sanchez and Gibbs-White were both able to walk off the pitch themselves. The same could not be said for the earlier challenge between Abbott and Derry.
While Abbot was able to leave the pitch unaided, Derry had to be stretchered off after their sickening collision. The 18-year-old was given oxygen on the pitch before he was carried away from the field.
Later on, a statement was read out over the commentary during the match, stating: “Jesse Derry has been taken to hospital for precautionary checks, following that clash of heads with Zach Abbott in the first half.”
Derry was brought off for Liam Delap while Abbott made way for Neco Williams. The Chelsea teenager did manage to win his side a penalty with his brave attempt of getting the ball.
However, after a wait of around 12 minutes as a result of Derry receiving treatment, Cole Palmer saw his penalty saved by Matz Sels, who guessed correctly and clawed it out from the corner. The west Londoners were trailing Vitor Pereira’s side 2-0 at the time.
Taiwo Awoniyi had headed Forest into the lead after 98 seconds, capitalising on poor marking in the Chelsea penalty area. He was also at the heart of Forest’s second goal, as Malo Gusto tugged his shirt at the back post, resulting in Forest being given a penalty, after referee Anthony Taylor consulted VAR.
After Palmer’s missed penalty, only got worse for Calum McFarlane’s side. Forest started the period quickly and found a third with Awoniyi claiming the goalscoring touch again.
He tapped in Gibbs-White’s low cross from close range to put Forest 3-0 ahead. It was another huge setback, particularly after the promising display against Leeds United at Wembley Stadium.
Joao Pedro did manage to get a consolation goal back for the Blues in style, converting an overhead kick in stoppage time to end Chelsea’s long-running goal drought.
But it was too little, too late as the Blues suffered their sixth-straight defeat in the Premier League, with Pedro’s goal their only strike during that run.
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