Only the success and inspiration of the Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga avoided defeat at the City Ground against Chelsea, who scored a point despite being inferior to the enthusiastic Nottingham Forest, who was closer to victory due to intensity and occasions.
It is a small prize for Chelsea who are far from what their competitive ambition dictates.. But in Nottingham, against a rival recently promoted to the Premier, he returned to his old ways, to the adverse markers that he seemed to have left behind when he beat Bournemouth last day to end a streak of five games without winning, the three last, lost
KNOW MORE: An incredible double against gives victory to Liverpool
Antonio Conte’s team is in a no-one’s zone; in eighth place, five points from Europe and seven from Manchester United, which marks the Champions League. But before Steve Cooper’s painting he gave the feeling of not giving up for more.
And that he had a hopeful start that put him ahead on the scoreboard after a quarter of an hour, after Brennan Johnson lined up the visitor’s goal and caused Kepa’s first good action.
Chelsea was right in a play by American Christian Pulisic whose center was intercepted by Willy Boly but went wide, towards the post. The rejection was caught by Raheem Sterling who scored an empty goal.
It was the only moment of joy for the blues that began to be surpassed by an opponent who intends to get out of relegation. He is about, at the border. In the penultimate place but with the same points as West Ham that marks salvation.
KNOW MORE:
Guardiola, confident that Haaland can continue to improve
Especially in the second half, Cooper’s team grew, cornering the London team. Taiwo Awoniyi put Kepa to the test again, who responded correctly again. And then, in minute 49, he saved the goal on a counterattack that Brennan Johnson carried out alone.
The clearest was just before the hour of play, in a powerful shot from outside the area by Morgan Gibbs White that crashed into the crossbar with the beaten Spanish goalkeeper.
But so much drive and tenacity had a prize. Kepa could not do anything in the equalizer that came from a corner that Willy Boly collected, with a header, and that fell towards Serge Aurier who had more success and brought the ball into the net to establish the tie.
The party stirred. Desperately, Graham Potter took out Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech and Conor Gallagher at the same time. He increased the pace and blue dominance but not enough to create clear scoring chances and achieve a victory that did not come.
