Jesse Derry’s Premier League debut ended in worrying scenes as the teenager received oxygen and was stretchered off following a nasty clash of heads. The 18-year-old started against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge but was forced off before half-time after a lengthy stoppage. With Chelsea 2-0 down, Derry won his team a penalty in an ugly collision with Zach Abbott in the 44th minute.
The game was paused for eight minutes as the pair were treated, with medical staff seen administering oxygen to the teenager and the stadium engulfed in an eerie silence. Both teams used the concussion substitution rule to replace their players. Abbott returned to his feet and looked OK as he walked off the pitch but was replaced by Neco Williams to check on his welfare. While Liam Delap replaced Derry, who is the son of former Premier League defender Shaun. All four corners of the ground clapped Derry off as the academy product was taken down the tunnel on a stretcher.
After a lengthy stoppage, Cole Palmer’s spot-kick was saved by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels. It is only the second penalty, of 20 attempts, that Palmer has missed in the Premier League. The eventual half-time whistle was met by loud boos from the unhappy Chelsea supporters, who had watched their team lose their last five Premier League matches in a row before this.
A much-changed Forest team led 2-0 inside 15 minutes in west London courtesy of a Taiwo Awoniyi header and Igor Jesus’ penalty. Three points would see Vitor Pereira’s charges clamber further clear of relegation danger, giving them a six-point buffer to 18th-placed West Ham with three games to go.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Derry was looking good. When he got the ball he was confident and willing to take on his opponent. He played with real maturity. He had a few half chances and every time Chelsea looked to have a chance it came down the left side.
“Real desire and no fear. It’s an unfortunate incident, there was no malice there. I think Derry just gets there just ahead of Zach Abbott and both players were on the ground. It’s never a pretty picture to watch and there is a lot of concerns about his wellbeing. Let’s hope he is okay. There is applause as they lift the stretcher up.”
