Hoddle welcomes a touch of consistency

Chelsea 1 Nottingham Forest 0

Chelsea's form ever since Ken Bates and Matthew Harding attempted to settle their differences in public a couple of months ago has been so encouraging it is tempting to think it was all a highly sophisticated management ploy on behalf of their two directors.

Saturday's hard-fought win over Nottingham Forest took their run to one defeat in 13 games and, after the excitement of last Wednesday's penalty shoot-out with Newcastle United in the FA Cup it must have been especially gratifying for Glenn Hoddle that his side did not fall flat on their faces.

The combination of Ruud Gullit, Dan Petrescu and Dennis Wise proved particularly fruitful for Chelsea and the three internationals linked smoothly on the right-hand side to create good chances for Terry Phelan and John Spencer. Then, four minutes before half-time, Gullit and Petrescu set up Mark Hughes for a bullet header which nearly carried Colin Cooper through the net and into the North Stand as he cleared off the line.

Gullit's fellow Dutchman, Bryan Roy, squandered a good opportunity for Forest on the break, but it would have been harsh on Chelsea's three central defenders, marshalled impressively by David Lee, if they had gone in one down at half-time.

Early in the second half Lee headed on to the bar from a Wise corner, and a minute later Spencer scored the match winner. After a surging run through the middle, Eddie Newton found Wise on the right, he rolled the ball into the path of Petrescu and Spencer, unmarked, volleyed in the Romanian's cross.

Forest's response was limited to long-range free-kicks from Ian Woan and Stuart Pearce, and Chelsea, without trying to be too adventurous in the closing stages, managed to play some attractive keep-ball in midfield - Gullit keeping it longer than most.

"We're becoming more and more consistent, which is something that is needed at the club," a happy Hoddle said later. "It's been an excellent run. We've played really good football, and I've enjoyed it. Probably the most enjoyable time for me since I've been at the club."

Frank Clark, Hoddle's opposite number, bemoaned his team's failure to create chances, but did not seem too downcast. Forest are still handily placed in the league, and they have a Uefa Cup quarter-final with Bayern Munich to look forward to.

The one thing neither manager will have enjoyed was the sight of the yellow card being brandished so indiscriminately. It was a keen contest, but the only bad-tempered performance was that of the referee.

Goal: Spencer (55) 1-0.

Chelsea (5-3-2): Hitchcock; Petrescu, Duberry, Lee, Clarke, Phelan; Gullit, Newton, Wise; Spencer (Peacock, 78), Hughes (Furlong, 88). Substitute not used: Johnsen.

Nottingham Forest (4-4-2): Crossley; Lyttle, Cooper, Chettle, Pearce; Stone, Gemmill (Lee, 82), Bart-Williams, Woan; Campbell, Roy. Subtitutes not used: Phillips, Haland.

Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).

Bookings: Chelsea: Lee, Duberry, Wise. Nottingham Forest: Stone, Chettle, Gemmill.

Man of the match: Petrescu.

Attendance: 24,482.