PREVIEW: Forest target Premier League survival at Chelsea | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest can all but secure their top flight status for next season on Monday afternoon should they overcome ninth place Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, who are searching for points to rescue their European objectives.

After Liam Rosenior was axed from the Blues dugout following the 3-0 defeat to Brighton, which made it five successive league defeats without scoring, Calum McFarlane oversaw Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Leeds United last Sunday.

Another shot at silverware lifted spirits, but the increasing concern over Chelsea’s loosening grip on the European places is what McFarlane needs to confront with four league games to play.

His side have slipped to ninth place and sit outside the European qualification places. To leave their slim hopes of Europe to the final-day permutations would only magnify the malaise haunting West London.

With rumours circulating about last Sunday’s goalscorer, Enzo Fernández, considering his future at the club, the Argentine was recently spotted in the Spanish capital, accompanying Marc Cucurella and João Pedro to watch the Madrid Open tennis tournament.

McFarlane dismissed doubts about the commitment of these players and insisted it indicates the restored togetherness in his ranks.

“It says a lot about the group that they go away together. I love that they spend time together. It’s a positive sign for the unity of the group.”

Captain Reece James has been out with a hamstring injury for several weeks, while fellow defender Levi Colwill is nearing a return from his long spell on the sidelines, after suffering an ACL injury.

According to McFarlane, both the homegrown Chelsea players are not ruled out entirely for Monday’s home clash and could be involved.

Nottingham Forest have far greater injury concerns of their own for the visit to Stamford Bridge with Vitor Pereira saying he was unsure on the timelines for several key players nursing minor injuries.

Pereira’s men emerged from the City Ground with a 1-0 lead in their Europa League semi-final first leg against Aston Villa, although they are hoping to dodge another big blow to their defensive department.

Ola Aina was substituted in the second half of Thursday night’s victory as he limped off due to injury, but Pereira seemed convinced the full-back would recover quickly.

“I said to him, I’m sorry but it’s impossible for you to be injured. He said he will be in the right condition, and I hope he will.”

While Callum Hudson-Odoi is out for the rest of the season, Pereira’s headaches are only compounded by the late calls he will have to make on Dan Ndoye, Ibrahim Sangaré, and Jair Cunha.

Stalwart centre-back Murillo has formed a reliable partnership with Nikola Milenković, but the Serb has steered clear of regular fitness setbacks unlike the Brazilian, who remains a doubt for the trip to Chelsea.

Even though there has been prolonged discomfort about Morato’s ability to deputise Murillo effectively and match his compatriot’s competency in the back line, his display against Aston Villa showed the level he is able to reach.

Forest dismantled Sunderland at the Stadium of Light 5-0 to take them to a healthier 39 points last week, inspired by the prolific attacking output primarily supplied by Morgan Gibbs-White and their returning marksman Chris Wood.

The three points in the North East puts them within touching distance of Premier League survival, but they can’t afford to sit comfortably with relegation-threatened West Ham United equally battling well to preserve their top flight status.

It would be wishful thinking and naive to take their foot off the gas in domestic duties just yet in favour of their Europa League semi-final.

Managing the squad’s fitness and juggling the equally important pursuits during the run-in remains the difficult assignment Pereira is yet to fully complete.

The match kicks off at 15:00 (GMT) on Monday 4th May with live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.