Forest, Chelsea draw
Nottingham Forest ........... 2 Chelsea .............................. 2 ONDON – Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest grabbed a precious point at Chelsea in the Premier League yesterday, thanks to two goals from Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi.
Steve Cooper’s battling side earned the early advantage when Brazilian defender Renan Lodi lofted a ball into the Chelsea area in the 13th minute.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who had not played since suffering an injury playing for Senegal at the World Cup last year, came off his line but misjudged the flight of the ball and Awoniyi rose between two defenders to head home.
Raheem Sterling, lively from the start of the match, scored Chelsea’s 51st-minute equaliser with a simple close-range shot from a pinpoint cross by defender Trevoh Chalobah.
The goal gave the home side the confidence that has been lacking in recent games.
Conor Gallagher, Joao Felix and Enzo Fernandez all had second-half efforts saved or blocked and Sterling doubled his tally in the 58th minute with a fine curling shot after a surging run and pass from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Chelsea, who have dropped into the second half of the table after a string of defeats, looked to be heading for their first home Premier League victory since a 1-0 win over Leeds on March 4. But barely four minutes later Forest were back level, Awoniyi grabbing his second with a close-range header after a long throw.
LManchester United ........ 2 Wolves ............................ 0
ONDON – Anthony Martial put Manchester United’s bid for a top four finish back on track as the French forward ended his goal drought in yesterday’s crucial 2-0 victory against Wolves.
Martial had gone eight games without scoring before he netted in the first half at Old Trafford.
United’s first win in three matches was wrapped up by Alejandro Garnacho’s stoppage-time goal.
After successive defeats at Brighton and West Ham threatened to ruin their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, Erik ten Hag’s
Lside restored order at Old Trafford.
Fourth-placed United, who sit behind Newcastle on goal difference, moved four points clear of Liverpool, who are fifth and play at struggling Leicester tomorrow. After that fixture, United will still have three matches left while Liverpool will have only two to play, leaving Ten Hag’s men in control of their top four destiny.
Ten Hag made three changes as Marcus Rashford was sidelined by a leg injury, while Wout Weghorst and Tyrell Malacia dropped to the bench, with Martial, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane coming in.
United had scored only six times in their previous nine games, offering Liverpool renewed hope after six successive wins for Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Wolves went close to snatching a shock lead when Craig Dawson fired just wide after Pedro Neto pulled the ball back to the defender inside the United area.
But Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick forced a save from Wolves’ rookie keeper Daniel Bentley as United’s pressure gradually mounted.
The chances kept coming for United as Christian Eriksen whistled his strike just wide from long-range before Antony headed wastefully over from six yards.
Martial finally delivered in the 32nd minute as the French striker scored only his second league goal in 2023.
Fernandes’ pass triggered Antony’s