Chelsea youngster Jesse Derry taken off on stretcher after sickening clash of heads as match stopped for nine minutes

Chelsea and Nottingham Forest’s clash was stopped for nine minutes as Blues winger Jesse Derry received treatment for a head injury.

Derry, who was making his starting league debut for Chelsea, contested an aerial ball with Forest defender Zach Abbott.

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But Derry and Abbott instead collided heads, leaving both on the ground and requiring urgent medical treatment.

Abbott managed to leave the field on his own accord but was substituted, with Neco Williams coming on in his place.

However, Derry’s was a more serious case.

The young winger, who was instantly knocked unconscious, was given oxygen by medical staff before being stretchered off. He was replaced by Liam Delap.

In total, the delay lasted over nine minutes, with both sets of fans applauding Derry and Abbott during their respective substitutions in a sign of respect.

Chelsea were awarded a penalty as a result of the head clash inside the Forest box but were unable to convert the chance as Cole Palmer‘s effort was kept out by Matz Sels.

It marked Selz’s first saved penalty in the Premier League, having failed to keep out his last eight.

Gibbs-White and Sanchez taken off

There was another moment of concern midway through the second half when Morgan Gibbs-White collided with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

The incident occurred when Sanchez raced out to punch a ball which Gibbs-White attempted to reach.

However, the collision left both on the turf and needing instant treatment before being substituted, as Filip Jorgensen came on for Sanchez while Gibbs-White was replaced by Chris Wood.

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Forest flying

Forest are currently 3-0 up at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals by Taiwo Awoniyi and Igor Jesus.

Awoyini gave Forest, who made eight changes to their line-up, the dream start when he headed home in the second minute.

The striker rose highest to meet Dilane Bakwa’s cross from the right, leaving a sprawling Sanchez with no chance.

Chelsea’s afternoon went from bad to worse over 10 minutes later when Malo Gusto gave away a penalty.

Gusto had tugged Awoniyi’s shirt inside the box, stopping him from reaching a cross whipped in on the right.

The incident was initially missed by referee Anthony Taylor, but a VAR intervention prompted the official to review Gusto’s shirt-pull on the pitchside monitor.

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Taylor subsequently awarded the penalty and gave Gusto a yellow card.

Igor Jesus, who had scored three in his last four league fixtures going into Monday’s fixture, coolly stepped up and dispatched his effort past Sanchez.

Awoyini bagged his second of the afternoon in the 52nd minute when he tapped home from Gibbs-White’s driven cross.