Joao Pedro helps Chelsea avoid historic worst-ever Premier League run

Chelsea have lost six league matches in a row for the first time in over three decades but they have Joao Pedro to thank for not making things worse.

The London club suffered a 3-1 home defeat to a second-string Nottingham Forest side – their sixth in succession, marking the first time they have lost six league games in a row since November 1993.

Chelsea were already on the club’s worst run since 1912 – but they at least avoided going six games without scoring for the first time in the club’s history, thanks to Joao Pedro’s stoppage-time goal.

Taiwo Awoniyi opened the scoring inside the first two minutes before Igor Jesus scored a penalty after a thoughtless shirt-pull in the box by Malo Gusto on Awoniyi.

Joao Pedro scores Chelsea’s first goal during the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

The Nigeria international added a third in the 52nd minute after Gibbs-White fired in a low cross, and although Pedro thought he had pulled one back for the hosts, VAR deemed him offside by the width of a few toes.

Pedro did however got his name on the score sheet with a superb injury-time goal, chesting the ball down with his back to goal from a Marc Cucurella cross before a superb bicycle kick into the back of the net, ending a nine-and-a-half hour run of play for Chelsea without scoring.

Chelsea have failed to win in the Premier League since January, and now risk playing European football next season.

The Blues are now ninth, 10 points away from the Champions League places, and in danger of dropping into the lower half of the table.