Chelsea had gone into the game with much to prove, not least to their chairman. In his programme notes Ken Bates described the team's latest disappointing Premiership performance at home to Leicester on Saturday as "the worst display I have seen from a Chelsea team for many a year".
He didn't blame Vialli but the team.In that context, this match offered a timely test of the application and commitment of Chelsea's highly-paid squad.
Forest have fallen on hard times since they contested a UEFA Cup quarter-final just four years ago, with the club's status eroded by financial problems and a revolving door in the manager's office.
The club that Brian Clough built is currently fighting against relegation from the first division and came into this tie with the worst away record of the 92 clubs. Yet David Platt knew that a good performance would do wonders for his players' brittle confidence.
And Forest began promisingly. On 17 minutes, they made a four-on-two break from their own area which would have threatened more but for an awful pass from captain Riccardo Scimeca. Slowly, however, the home side's class began to tell. Dave Beasant saved well from Gianfranco Zola's free-kick, then smothered bravely at the feet of Tore Andre Flo, both strikers playing in the absence of the ineligible George Weah.
Despite a couple of opportunities, Chelsea went in at half-time reflecting on another lacklustre domestic performance. It was not long into the new half, however, before Forest were living on their nerves. Zola once again fired just wide and Didier Deschamps then set up Gustavo Poyet on the left for a goal-bound shot which was deflected just past the post.
But eventually Forest had to buckle and on 57 minutes Chelsea took the lead after the 18-year-old David Prutton handballed about 20 yards out on the left. Zola fired in a curving free-kick to the near post where Frank Leboeuf rose high and headed it backwards past Beasant.
Forest immediately sent on a second striker, Marlon Harewood, and within seconds of arriving he nearly scored an unlikely equaliser with a close-range shot which Ed de Goey did well to block.
Poyet went close to extending the lead three times and Beasant brilliantly saved Leboeuf's late header.
Louis-Jean tested De Goey four minutes from time, but Denis Wise wrapped-it up with a close-range header after skilful running from substitute Jody Morris.
Chelsea: De Goey, Lambourde, Terry, Leboeuf, Harley, Petrescu (Percassi 90), Wise, Deschamps (Morris 68), Poyet, Flo, Zola. Subs Not Used: Sutton, Ambrosetti, Cudicini. Goals: Leboeuf 57, Wise 86.
Nottingham Forest: Beasant, Louis-Jean, Scimeca, Hjelde, Brennan, Gray (Harewood 63), Prutton, Bart-Williams, Rogers, Freedman, John. Subs Not Used: Crossley, Bonalair, Dawson, Williams. Booked: Louis-Jean.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
