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20 September, 1986

Birtles, Webb hat-tricks rout Chelsea

On this day in 1986 Forest win 6-2 at Chelsea as Garry Birtles and Neil Webb score hat-tricks.

Records and statistics

Biggest win or defeat

Nottingham Forest produced a spectacular away performance at Stamford Bridge, beating Chelsea 6-2 in the First Division.

The match started at a fierce pace. Neil Webb put Forest ahead early, before Chelsea responded through Pat Nevin and John Bumstead to lead 2-1. Forest did not fold. Garry Birtles brought them level, Webb scored again, and Birtles added another before half-time to make it 4-2.

The second half turned the result into a rout. Webb completed his hat-trick before Birtles did the same from the penalty spot, giving Forest two hat-trick scorers in the same away match.

For supporters, the scoreline alone would have been enough to remember. What made it special was the manner of it: Forest came from behind at Chelsea, scored six, and saw Birtles and Webb share the kind of attacking afternoon that rarely happens away from home in the top flight.

Match Highlights

Sources

11v11; Stamford-Bridge.com; WorldFootball.net

Forest timeline

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
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Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
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Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
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Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
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Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
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Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
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Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
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Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
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Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
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Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
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Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
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Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
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Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
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Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
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Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Aston Villa
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Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Sunderland
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Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
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Arsenal 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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