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Nottingham Forest are leading Chelsea 2-0 at half-time, with Cole Palmer missing a penalty.
Forest took the lead after just 98 seconds when Taiwo Awoniyi headed home after some strong work down the right flank by Dilane Bakwa.
Things got even better for Forest in the 19th minute when Awoniyi was pulled back by Malo Gusto, with referee Anthony Taylor pointing to the spot and Igor Jesus dispatching the spot kick.
On the stroke of half-time, Cole Palmer was denied from the penalty spot by Matz Sels, who saved superbly well.
Prior to the game, Forest’s team sheet revealed a number of changes, and it proved a hot topic of discussion in the Sky Sports studio, with Thierry Henry adding context to Vitor Pereira’s call.
Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images
Thierry Henry praises two Forest players
Henry is always a good addition to any panel ahead of a football match, and he praised two Forest players when addressing the Forest team selected by Pereira.
Henry chose Bakwa, having seen him previously, likely during his time playing for Strasbourg and Forest academy graduate Zach Abbott.
The pundit said on Sky Sports: “They’ve got Europe coming up, but they still have a lot of quality. I’ve been very impressed with Dilane Bakwa when I’ve seen him previously, and Zach Abbott, too, who is starting at right-back.”
Both players did well in rare outings for them, although Abbott gave away a penalty for a foul on Jesse Derry right on the stroke of half-time.
Bakwa can play a part next season
The young Frenchman hasn’t quite lived up to his reputation as a £30 million signing just yet but there have been flashes of promise since Pereira came in.
Next season could be the one for Bakwa at Forest, and as a youngster, there is still time for him to come good at the City Ground in the future.
His performance at Chelsea was a positive one, and he managed to cause one of the world’s best full-backs problems in Marc Cucurella.
Bakwa might take confidence from this praise from a man he likely considers a hero of his and there is definitely a player in there somewhere.
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