Monday’s Premier League match between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest has been halted after a sickening clash of heads inside the box.
With the Blues 2-0 down, Zach Abbott and Jesse Derry collided.
Both men lay injured on the turf for several minutes, with medical staff rushing onto the field.
Abbott was first to get to his feet, with the Forest star adjudged to have committed a foul – with Chelsea awarded a penalty as a result.
Fans inside Stamford Bridge held their breath, with silence falling on the stadium as Derry lay injured on the turf.
Reacting to the incident, former Blues goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said on BBC commentary: “Derry looks out of it. It was a clash of heads.
“It’s an unfortunate incident, there was no malice there.
Monday’s Premier League match between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest has been halted after a sickening clash of heads inside the box
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“I think Derry just gets there just ahead of Zach Abbott and both players were on the ground.”
Forest opted to withdraw Abbott, with the defender replaced by Neco Williams using the concussion substitutes rule.
After a long delay, Derry was then stretchered from the field and replaced by Liam Delap. Chelsea fans classily applauded the young player as he was taken away to undergo treatment.
Jesse Derry was treated by Chelsea medical staff after the sickening collision inside the Nottingham Forest box
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Following the halt to proceedings, Cole Palmer stepped up to take the spot-kick.
However, the England international saw his lacklustre effort saved by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels, who dived to his right to compound the Blues’ first-half misery.
Chelsea had found themselves trailing 2-0 at the time of the incident following an early Forest double.
Taiwo Awoniyi, making his 100th appearance for the visitors, put them ahead with just two minutes on the clock.
The Forest star headed home after a pinpoint delivery from Dilane Bakwa to stun the home fans into silence.
Just 13 minutes later, Vitor Pereira’s men had doubled their advantage.
Chelsea fans applauded Jesse Derry after his injury in their match with Nottingham Forest
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Malo Gusto committed a foul on Awoniyi, with Anthony Taylor left with no choice but to point to the penalty spot.
Igor Jesus made no mistake from 12 yards, hitting his effort firmly down the middle.
Chelsea go into the game hoping to finally secure a win, having lost their last five Premier League matches.
As for Forest, they’re a team on the up having won their previous four games across all competitions.
