Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest halted as star stretched off in horror penalty clash

Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest was halted following a horror collision that left two players from either club requiring urgent medical attention

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest’s Premier League match was halted for several minutes due to a serious injury suffered by a Blues player.

Jesse Derry, 18, was making his first Premier League start for Chelsea in Monday’s fixture, but his afternoon was cut short following a horrific clash of heads with Zach Abbott.

The two teenagers sickeningly clashed heads after the Forest defender leapt to head the ball away in the penalty area, but instead collided with Derry, who slammed to the floor and didn’t move as players and medical staff immediately rushed onto the pitch.

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A penalty was awarded to Chelsea due to the contact but Cole Palmer saw his spot kick saved by Matz Sels, keeping the score 2-0 to the visitors at half-time.

Both players received treatment, with Abbott eventually walking off the pitch, but he was still substituted. However, there was much more concern for Derry’s condition.

The winger, son of former Premier League star Shaun Derry, was treated on the pitch with oxygen before being stretchered off to applause from all four corners of Stamford Bridge. Sky Sports confirmed early in the second half that Derry had been taken to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for precautionary tests.

Sky Sports opted not to show a replay of the collision until after Derry’s treatment on the pitch was done and he was carried down the tunnel.

Abbott was replaced by Neco Williams, and Liam Delap was brought on for the stricken winger – both as concussion substitutes.

Derry was named in the starting line-up by interim manager Callum McFarlane, who has been tasked with turning Chelsea’s form around to qualify for European football next season after Liam Rosenior was sacked off the back of five straight league defeats.

Forest heavily rotated for the trip to west London ahead of the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa on Thursday, both Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White were named on the bench.

However, the Tricky Trees took advantage of a broken Chelsea team to lead 2-0 within 15 minutes thanks to a header from Taiwo Awoniyi and an Igor Thiago penalty.