Nottingham Forest 0-3 Chelsea result - Ange Postecoglou sacked as Forest manager after Chelsea cruise to victory at City Ground

Ange Postecoglou has been sacked as Nottingham Forest manager after Chelsea coasted to a 3-0 victory at the City Ground that prompted unhappy owner Evangelos Marinakis to axe the former Spurs coach after an eight-game winless run.

"Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect. The Club will make no further comment at this time," said Forest in a statement after the match.

After Forest blew several opportunities to establish a commanding lead inside the first half-hour, it was left to goals from Josh Acheampong's header (49'), Pedro Neto's free-kick (52') and a Reece James finish via a corner-kick (84') to condemn Postecoglou to a fourth defeat and one draw in five matches in the top flight, the final act in a doomed 39-day period at the club.

Forest are eight matches without a win in all competitions and have shipped 18 goals under Postecoglou, who is the first manager in the club's history to fail to win any of their first eight matches.

The writing was on the wall for Postecoglou when Marinakis vacated his seat midway through the second half after Morgan Gibbs-White had squandered chances to give the home side a merited lead at the break.

The former Celtic manager was dismissed by Tottenham despite winning the UEFA Europa League in May, and has been axed by Forest after replacing popular manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who has since moved to West Ham, only last month.

The former European champions remain 17th in the table, only one point above the relegation spots, with their only win of the season coming on the first day of the season in a 3-1 victory against Brentford.

They are due to return to action against Porto in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night with Sean Dyche and Fulham manager Marco Silva both linked with the post.

Meanwhile, Chelsea move up to fourth in the table, two points behind leaders Arsenal before they host Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca told TNT Sports: "I feel really sorry [for him], it’s always a shame, but we have said it many times that unfortunately it is a business where you need to win games, otherwise for all of us it is the same consequence.

"I think they were first half very good, they tried to play their game, we struggled a little bit first half, second half I think we were much better and at the end, we scored three goals.

"We could have scored, probably a few more and we deserved to win the game."

"I think the decision was made the minute he left his seat," said Crouch on TNT Sports after witnessing Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis vacate his seat in the second half.

"The moment he left his seat spoke volumes. Glenn and I were discussing off-air, it was pretty obvious that the decision was going to be made.

"The fact the decision was made quite so soon after the game - I thought he might let the dust settle for a couple of hours, but this chairman certainly doesn't mess about."

Hoddle feels the sample size of eight match is not long enough to judge a manager.

"I think when he left the stadium [the decision had been made]," said the former Chelsea manager.

"I don't know if he left the stadium, he might have gone into a box. To leave his seat there after 60 minutes, it's not like it was 85 minutes, I think that was a statement in itself.

"Like Peter, I'm surprised, he's done it so quickly after the game. You know, let the dust settle and let Ange have a little bit more pride going out. This is football.

"Eight games, all right they haven’t gone very well, but after eight games , if you're a manager, that's no time at all, even if things are not going great.

"If you bring somebody in, who you think is going to be right for the club, surely he's got to be given more time than that.

"Putting my manager's hat on, at the end of the day, with this owner he's going to make his decision and move onto the next one."

It is a 3-0 victory for Chelsea. Comfortable in the end. Forest remain winless in eight under Ange Postecoglou. Nottingham Forest left to rue those missed chances in the first half.

Robert Sanzhez has collected a yellow card. That is a bit harsh when you are leading 3-0.

Eight games and 18 goals conceded under Ange tells its own story about Forest's problems. Gibbs-White with a free-kick, but Milenkovic can't direct the header at goal. Story of the day.

Forest fans have seen enough of this. Heading for the exit doors as Estêvão collects a booking for fouling Morato. Five minutes added.

Malo Gusto with a late challenge on Neco Williams and he will walk for that challenge. A second yellow and the visitors will need to see this out a man down.

Lamentable defending from the corner-kick as Sels flaps at the set-piece and Reece James wallops the ball into the home net on the volley. 3-0 and it is surely game over now.

Estêvão replaces Pedro Neto for Chelsea, who will try to game manage this contest until the final whistle.

Could they find a late goal to set up a grandstand finish? Ibrahim Sangaré can't provide it as he hammers a long-range shot high and wide of the target.

Nicolò Savona replaces Murillo for Forest with Chris Wood on for Oleksandr Zinchenko.

"Indicative of Forest today. It has not happened for them." More changes on the way for the home side here.

So unfortunate for Forest as Igor Jesus beats Sanchez with the finish only to see the ball hit bar and post before bouncing back out to safety. Hudson-Odoi with the cross. When it is not your day...

Not sure what this could mean, but Evangelos Marinakis is nowhere to be seen. Might mean nothing, but is hardly good news for Ange Postecoglou you suspect.