ENZO MARESCA insisted prematch that Chelsea were not yet ready to take on the big guns in a title battle.
On this evidence, the Italian is right. Nottingham Forest played with only 10 men after James Ward-Prowse was sent off 12 minutes from time at Stamford Bridge.
But Nuno Espirito Santo's men played with determination and skill and could have notched a remarkable win.
Chelsea had six men booked, so face a £50,000 fine for a second breach, and frustration boiled over late in the game as a 20-man brawl broke out after Forest sub Neco Williams appeared to push Marc Cucurella into Maresca.
But Forest, who won at Liverpool earlier in the season, emerged with the honours.
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