Perhaps Evangelos Marinakis had business to attend but it felt ominous for Ange Postecoglou that the Nottingham Forest owner was nowhere to be seen as his team crumbled, Reece James adding Chelsea’s third goal to nil with six minutes of regular time to play.

By that point, Marinakis had long since vacated his seat in the directors’ box. He did so around 15 minutes into the second half, with Chelsea 2-0 up after goals from Pedro Neto and Josh Acheampong, things threatening to turn ugly from a Forest perspective.

Just 39 days into the job, Postecoglou’s future is in serious jeopardy and Marinakis has a decision to make. Marinakis flew in from Greece on Friday hoping to witness a first win since appointing Postecoglou and evidence of progress but got neither.

For Enzo Maresca, constrained up in the stands and serving a touchline ban, this was a far happier afternoon, the only sour notes Malo Gusto’s second yellow card late on and Robert Sánchez’s booking for time-wasting. It is difficult to imagine Postecoglou being in charge when Porto visit in the Europa League on Thursday.

“How did we get to this...