Premier League: Awoniyi shines as Nottingham claim away victory against Chelsea

Taiwo Awoniyi has made history as the first Nottingham Forest player to score in seven consecutive Premier League appearances in their 3-2 loss against Manchester United 

Nigeria’s Taiwo Awoniyi played a significant role in helping Nottingham Forest claim a 1-0 victory against Chelsea in a Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 26-year-old etched his name into the history book in Forest’s 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford last weekend after netting in seven consecutive Premier League appearances to make him the first-ever player to achieve the feat for his club.

It also placed him in the esteemed company of Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah and former Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor as the three Africans to have achieved the record.

Steve Cooper’s side were looking to bounce back against Chelsea after losing their last league match with a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against Manchester United after taking a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford last weekend.

After an uninspiring goalless first half, Anthony Elanga gave Forest the lead just four minutes into the second interval after he raced onto Awoniyi’s through ball before applying a cool finish for his first club goal since February 2022.

Chelsea immediately pushed for an equalizer, but Wily Boly made a brilliant block to deny Jackson.

Even with Mauricio Pochettino bringing a whole host of attacking talent off the bench and the Blues applying constant waves of pressure, Forest valiantly stood firm and benefited from a shock Jackson’s miss to secure a memorable away victory.

Awoniyi, however, was substituted for Chris Wood in the 65th minute and failed to score in the league for the first time since he scored a brace in a home 3-2 victory over Southampton on May 8. He has now registered 3 goals and 1assist in 4 appearances this season.

After helping Forest to a memorable away victory, the Super Eagles striker will now shift his attention toward helping Nigeria end the 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations qualifiers with a victory against Sao Tome and Principe on September 10.