Awoniyi nets brace as Nottingham Forest edge closer to safety

Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice for Nottingham Forest as they played out a 2-2 draw away to Chelsea in their Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. The striker took his tally for the Reds this season to eight goals in the league as they edged closer to safety.

Chelsea came into the game on the back of a first win under Frank Lampard against Bournemouth, and they were up against a Nottingham Forest side that were only two points clear of the drop zone.

Awoniyi scored a brace in midweek as his side defeated Southampton, and he continued his fine run of form by scoring the opener with Nottingham Forest’s first sight of goal at Stamford Bridge. The striker got between both Chelsea centre-backs and goalkeeper to power a header into the back of the net in the 13th minute after an inviting cross from Renan Lodi.

Chelsea struggled to create any meaningful openings throughout the first half as they looked bereft of ideas. They found much more joy in the second half and equalised just six minutes into the half through Raheem Sterling. The experienced winger latched onto a cutback from Trevoh Chalobah before dispatching the ball into the back of the net from the middle of the box via a deflection.

Chelsea turned the game around in the 58th minute when Sterling scored his second of the game in vintage style. The former Manchester City man drove into the box from the left before beating one defender and curling an effort into the far corner of the net.

The Blues could not hold on to their lead and Awoniyi scored his second of the game only four minutes later. The striker headed home a ball into the box from Orel Mangala to equalise for the Reds.

Neither side managed to find a winner and they settled for one point apiece. Nottingham Forest have now moved three points clear of the drop zone with two games left in their season. They will look to avoid joining Southampton who have dropped into the Championship after an abysmal season.