Chelsea’s home game against Nottingham Forest has come to an abrupt and concerning halt in the 45th minute.
With the Blues on the attack, 18-year-old Jesse Derry, who was making his first team debut under Calum McFarlane, leapt up for the ball in the penalty box after it initially rebounded off his shoulder.
Forest defender Zach Abbott, 19, then jumped up to challenge him, with the two colliding heads. Both players immediately fell to the turf.
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After pointing straight to the penalty spot, the referee quickly waved over medical staff, just as players also did.
While Abbott was swiftly substituted for Nico Williams under the concussion protocol, Derry remained on the floor as medical staff crowded around him, working to get him onto a stretcher.
The youngster was ultimately stretchered off in the 54th minute, as applause rang out from around Stamford Bridge.
Replaced by Rory Delap, Cole Palmer subsequently stepped up to take the penalty, which was saved by Matz Sels to maintain Forest’s 2-0 lead. After five added minutes, Vitor Pereira’s side continued to keep Chelsea at bay, going into the break with a commanding lead.
Relegation threatened Forest entered the game 16th in the Premier League on 39 points, just two above Tottenham Hotspur and three clear of West Ham United in the third and final relegation spot.
A win would see them close the gap on both Leeds United and Crystal Palace above them to just one point, with just three league games remaining.
As for the hosts, in their first game since Liam Rosenior was fired after just under four months in charge, having replaced Enzo Maresca in January, they sat ninth as of Monday pre-kick off, two points below Brighton and Hove Albion and three behind Brentford in the final European qualification spot for the UEFA Conference League.
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