Chelsea player ratings vs Nottingham Forest: 'exceptional' 8/10 but plenty 'ball watching' 6s in gutsy win

Chelsea showed character and mental strength to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 and go the same points as Newcastle in the race for Europa League football next season.

Chelsea had the perfect start, Mykhailo Mudryk who has struggled amongst the front three in the last three weeks reminded everyone of his qualities, first running off to receive a pass from the exceptional Cole Palmer before finishing off brilliantly to give his side the lead.

Chelsea were one of the most in-form teams in the league coming into this one but their lead at the City Ground lasted only for eight minutes, Willy Boly rising above everyone to head home a terrific Morgan Gibbs-White ball.

The goal gave Forest a spring in their step. They came closest to getting the second goal with former Chelsea academy graduate Callum Hudson Odoi tormenting Trevoh Chalobah playing as a fullback.

Sensing that the game was getting away from him, Pochettino made two changes, bringing on Malo Gusto and French forward Christopher Nkunku, who both made an immediate impact on the game.

Forcing the hosts back and taking control of the game with Palmer seeing more of the ball and hurting the Forest backline. But as fate would have it, Callum Odoi who carried a threat on him all game easily beat Gusto before curling home to give his side the lead. He made it look like the entire Chelsea backline were ball-watching.

Raheem Sterling who had come on to try and rescue the game was then allowed to take on his man and cut in, the result was the equalising goal to deny Forest what would have been a memorable win.

Seventy seconds later Reece James announced his return from injury with a brilliant assist for Nicolas Jackson to score and put Chelsea 3-2 up.

Here is how we rated the Chelsea players out there.