Nottingham Forest showed remarkable determination with Taiwo Awoniyi playing a pivotal role, although their overall energy visibly waned following his early exit from the pitch.
Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi made his season debut in the Premier League during Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea at the City Ground, as reported by Soccernet.ng.
In a strategic move, manager Ange Postecoglou opted to introduce Awoniyi for his first Premier League appearance of the campaign during the weekend clash against Chelsea.
Postecoglou, who has encountered scrutiny amid a tough beginning with the Tricky Trees, was seeking a commanding display against a Chelsea squad also struggling for consistency.
Awoniyi came close to making an immediate mark by exploiting a defensive lapse from Chelsea, breaking through on goal, though his effort narrowly missed the frame.
During the opening 20 minutes, Chelsea struggled to fashion clear scoring chances, while Forest created several promising opportunities but failed to capitalize.
Beyond that early chance, Awoniyi put in a solid first-half performance, persistently challenging Chelsea’s defense and showcasing excellent ball control. Despite his determination, the half ended goalless.
Further updates will follow…