Key occasions
6 min: Elanga appears to be in a decided temper. Now he swings a go in from his flank. Dominguez prepares to fulfill it on the some distance publish, however Cucurella stoops to go transparent. A pleasant breezy begin to this sport.
5 min: Elanga comes once more and wins Forest’s first nook down the fitting. He takes it himself and fails to overcome the primary guy. He’s were given the great grace to apologise to his team-mates.
4 min: Gibbs-White barges his manner down the inside-left channel … however James makes up flooring and barges him off the ball. Elanga alternatives up the unfastened ball and tries to stay issues going however Cucurella will get within the street and places a forestall to his gallop.
2 min: Chelsea are at the entrance foot briefly, although, and Palmer wins a nook down the left. It’s performed brief earlier than being swung in, and it reasons no threat to the hosts. What an environment, although!
A handy guide a rough blast of Mull of Kintyre … a banner of a road-sign that issues the right way to Destination: Europe … any other with a Forest van heading in that route … the taking of the knee, as a result of this game and our love is for everybody … then Forest get the ball rolling. What an environment!
The groups are out! The City Ground roaring. Some setting. Cloughie could be proud. Forest in Garibaldi purple, Chelsea in royal blue. Now there’s a distinction of worldviews. We’ll be off in a few mins!
Nuno Espírito Santo additionally speaks to Sky Sports. “We are determined to play a good game … enjoy but competing well, that’s the priority … be a good team … compact … brave … dominant … a team that plays good! … it will be very hard [not to follow other results] but that would be perfect … stick to the task … ignore what is going on outside … that is not the reality so we have to try to shield the team … the energy of the crowd … put it onto the pitch so we can together enjoy the game.”
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca talks to Sky Sports. “The focus on us has to be the main target … it depends on us … play the game … do the things we have done all season … try to win the game … at this stage we have the privilege that it depends on us … we do not need to watch the other ones … nobody on the bench with a mobile … [qualification for the Champions League] would be a huge boost … we have been there all season … hopefully we can have a nice day.”
The equation is discreet for Nottingham Forest. They must win in the event that they’re to have any probability of competing for Old Big Ears for the primary time because the days of Old Big ‘Ead. Even then, they’ll require both Newcastle United or Aston Villa to fail to win. A draw may well be sufficient for Chelsea, however they’d be banking on Newcastle dropping at house to Everton or Villa failing to win at Manchester United. A win will see Chelsea proper it doesn’t matter what, due to their awesome objective distinction over Villa (until Unai Emery’s aspect smash their club-record win of 13-0 in opposition to Wednesdbury Old Athletic within the first spherical of the FA Cup in 1886, however let’s go that bridge once we come to it). Defeat for Chelsea and they’re jiggered.
Nottingham Forest are in If It Ain’t Broke Mode. They received their remaining sport 2-1 at West Ham United, so identify precisely the similar beginning XI.
Chelsea received their remaining sport too, 1-0 at house to Manchester United. They make one trade, although, Jadon Sancho returning on the expense of Tyrique George, who drops to the bench.
The groups
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Dominguez, Sangare, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Wood, Elanga.
Subs: Carlos Miguel, Morato, Hudson-Odoi, Toffolo, Jota Silva, Yates, Sosa, Danilo, Boly.
Chelsea: Sanchez, James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Pedro Neto.
Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Dewsbury-Hall, Chalobah, Gusto, George, Acheampong, Guiu, Lavia.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Preamble
Kick off is at 4pm BST. It’s on!