LONDON – Ange Postecoglou’s reign as Nottingham Forest Manager was ended after a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea yesterday as Arsenal remained on top thanks to Leandro Trossard’s winner at Fulham.
Postecoglou was sacked after just eight games and 40 days in charge at the City Ground, making his the shortest ever managerial stint in Premier League history. Forest picked up just one point from the Australian’s five league games and were also dumped out of the League Cup by second-tier Swansea.
Club owner Evangelos Marinakis left his seat during the match as Chelsea took control in the second half and Postecoglou’s fate was confirmed shortly after full-time. Forest are already looking for their third manager of the season after Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed last month.
Chelsea had to survive an early onslaught before two goals in three minutes early in the second period swung the game in the Blues’ favour.
Teenager Josh Acheampong headed in his first senior goal from Pedro Neto’s corner. Neto curled in a free-kick to double Chelsea’s lead before Reece James added a third late on to lift the visitors up to sixth in the table.
Defeat saw Forest fall into the relegation zone. Arsenal retook top spot from Manchester City thanks to another set-piece goal to edge out Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.
Trossard flicked in from a corner just before the hour mark and the Gunners’ rock solid defence did the rest with an eighth clean sheet in all competitions already this season.
“It was a tough game for us, especially first half the quality on our side wasn’t there,” said Trossard. “We picked it up in the second half.” City remain three points behind the leaders but moved up to second thanks to another double from Erling Haaland to beat Everton 2-0.
After two defeats in their opening three Premier League matches, Pep Guardiola’s men are now unbeaten in eight games in all competitions.
Haaland proved the match-winner once more with two clinical finishes in five minutes either side of the hour at the Etihad. He used all of his 1.95-metre (6ft 5in) frame to power in a header from Nico O’Riley’s cross to break the deadlock.
Haaland then had a helping hand from Jordan Pickford for his second as the England goalkeeper failed to keep out a low shot to his left.
“Really pleased but we cannot rely on just him, we need other players,” said Guardiola on Haaland’s form dragging his side into the title race.
“Our delivery of passes has been better and Erling is our key man right now.”
Bournemouth missed out on going top for a few hours after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 97th-minute penalty to complete his hat-trick salvaged a 3-3 draw for Crystal Palace.
Two goals from Eli Junior Kroupi put the Cherries 2-0 up at Selhurst Park at half-time.
Palace lost for the first time in 20 matches in their last outing at Everton.
The Eagles avoided another defeat thanks to the in-form Mateta, who was fresh from scoring his first international goal for France.
Mateta struck twice to level before Ryan Christie turned in Marcus Tavernier’s cross in the 89th minute to restore Bournemouth’s lead.
However, Andoni Iraola’s men were denied another huge win when Mateta stroked home from the spot after want-away Palace captain Marc Guehi was fouled inside the box.
Newcastle’s struggles on the road continued with a 2-1 defeat at Brighton as Danny Welbeck struck twice.
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