TAIWO AYONIWI kept Forest fighting in their survival battle with two more goals to cap a remarkable week.
The striker’s second was enough to grab a well-deserved point at Stamford Bridge and move three points clear of the Premier League bottom three.
Awoniyi’s has back-to-back braces after also scoring twice against Southampton on Monday
And with only two games left to play, boss Steve Cooper’s side is inching towards safety even though it looks like going to the wire.
Forest took the lead on 13 minutes but then found themselves rocking after Raheem Sterling turned the game on its head with two goals of his own in seven minutes.
But in-form Awoniyi beat the Chelsea offside trap by a fraction to head home the equaliser that means they have taken four points from the last two games as the relegation battle reaches its climax.
Cooper’s team face Arsenal at home in their next game before finishing the season at Crystal Palace who have nothing to play for.
It is going to be a nervy ride in the next two weeks and Cooper started this game dressed up in a dark puffer jacket.
By the second half he was down to a navy blue T-shirt as he sweated on the touchline as his team’s fate swung each way.
Awoniyi scored twice in last Monday’s gripping 4-3 win over doomed Southampton to give Forest a major boost in the bid to stay up.
They were also forewarned that fellow strugglers Leeds had snatched a last-gasp point at home to Newcastle shortly before kick off here.
Raheem Sterling got two big goals for the Blues, his first since January 1
It only served to crank up the pressure but at least the visitors responded even if the opening goal was a defensive disaster for Chelsea.
Forest left back Renan Lodi popped a cross into the box and Awoniyi managed to jump clear of Blues defenders Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva plus keeper Edouard Mendy to head home from six yards out.
Mendy was brought back into the side for his first game November 12 even though rival Kepa was part of the team which won 3-1 at Bournemouth last week.
Chelsea were booed off at half time for their lacklustre performance but it triggered a fightback after the break.
Sterling levelled with his first Premier League goal since New Year’s Day when he lashed home a cut back from Trevoh Chalobah on 51 minutes.
On 58 minutes he produced a classy finish after dumping Forest defender Felipe on his backside with a quick turn and curling in a whipping shot into the opposite corner.
Forest were back on terms within four minutes though when Orel Mangala recycled a headed clearance from the Chelsea defence and Awoniyi nodded in from close range and it was enough to eventually secure a priceless point.
