Vitor Pereira fancies ‘fantastic’ finish for Forest after fine win at Chelsea

The Reds made wholesale changes but won with room to spare at Stamford Bridge to pull six points clear of the relegation zone.

Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira said his team can finish the season “in a fantastic way” after they won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to condemn Chelsea to a sixth consecutive Premier League defeat.

Pereira had an eye on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa and made eight changes to his side, with the seven incoming outfield players showing only 11 league appearances this season between them.

Taiwo Awoniyi headed Forest in front after 98 seconds, Igor Jesus’s penalty made it two before half-time before Awoniyi scored a third early in the second half.

Chelsea lost teenage debutant Jesse Derry to a serious head injury late in the first half, the 18-year-old leaving the field on a stretcher with an oxygen mask after colliding with Zach Abbott.

The club confirmed later that Derry was conscious in hospital.

Cole Palmer missed a penalty on an awful day for Chelsea, who at least finally broke their two-month scoring drought in the league when Joao Pedro smashed in a stoppage-time overhead kick.

Forest though were magnificent, taking a huge step nearer survival and teeing up perfectly Thursday’s European second leg.

“This is the spirit of this group,” said Pereira, who was appointed as Forest’s fourth boss of the season in February.

“I said to them, you are a special group because you work with four different managers, different ways to think football, different methodologies.

And you faced a difficult season.

“Now you are in a moment of the season that you keep the friendship, you take care of yourselves, you are resilient, you are confident, you have the belief and ambition.

The moment of the season we decide everything.

“We can finish the season in a fantastic way.”
There were further head injuries in the second half when Morgan Gibbs-White and Robert Sanchez both went off after colliding.

Pereira said he was hopeful of Gibbs-White being available at Villa Park.

“He has a deep cut.

We’ll see.

He’s a fighter, he has a strong mentality.

I hope our medical department can do magic to put him in condition,” the Portuguese said.

“I had a conversation with him.

He’s speaking normally, he remembers everything.”
Gibbs-White posted a picture of a nasty-looking wound just above his eye on an Instagram Story on Monday evening, along with the words: “Thanks for the messages.

What a win.

Congrats T @awoniyi18.”
Pereira added: “Zach, I spoke with in the dressing room.

He’s OK.”
Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane said the news on Derry’s injury was positive.

The teenager was making his debut after late injuries to Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho.

“We’re hearing positive signs from Jesse and Rob,” said McFarlane.

“I’m pleased for Jesse, he performed well while he was on the pitch but there’s more important things to think about right now.”
The result ended whatever faint hope remained of Chelsea qualifying for a Champions League via a top-five finish, as they dropped to ninth.

“Really disappointed with the performance and result,” said McFarlane.

“I don’t think we got to our level today that I know we’re capable of.

“I know the group.

They are driven, they want what’s best for themselves and what’s best for the club.

We’re going to try and win every single game until the end of the season.”