Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea: Two quick-fire second-half goals earn Blues narrow win over Forest

Late goals from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson lifted Chelsea to a 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, who came close to securing Premier League survival on Saturday but were unable to pop the Champagne corks.

Mykhailo Mudryk also scored for Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea, who are seventh in the table with two games remaining, adding to their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.

With one game remaining at already relegated Burnley, Forest are 17th and three points ahead of 18th-placed Luton Town, but their vastly superior goal difference should ensure their top-flight status.

Chelsea, who have won their last three Premier League games following an inconsistent season, travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday before hosting Bournemouth to finish the season on May 19.

Chelsea scored in the sixth minute when Cole Palmer passed the ball to Mudryk, who swept a shot into the far bottom corner. Palmer's assist brought him level with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins for the most goal involvements in the league this season, 31.

Willy Boly scored in the 16th minute and Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 74th, creating a carnival atmosphere at the City Ground, with Forest needing only one point to ensure their survival following Luton's defeat to West Ham earlier on Saturday.

But Sterling equalised in the 80th minute, and Jackson silenced the Forest crowd two minutes later by heading in a cross from skipper Reece James, who was playing his first game in five months after hamstring surgery. James ran onto a ball over the top before lifting a cross to Jackson, who headed home from five yards away.

"It's been a long wait for me so I'm happy to come back into the team," James told Sky Sports. "We're still young but we are improving and we're coming strong at the end of the season.

"Cole Palmer is one of the best in the world, I think personally. At (Manchester) City he didn't play as much as he would like but he has come here and taken the chance with both hands."

Palmer appeared surprised by the compliment, saying: "I wouldn't go that far. But it's nice to hear. It's all new to me. This is my first season playing properly in the league. It was a very important win and now we focus on the next one."

Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and his players walked around the pitch, applauding the home fans, in their final home game of the season.

SportsLigue