Nottingham Forest suffered a blow to their top four hopes after Callum Bassey scored Fulham’s winner midway through the second half at Craven Cottage.
Emile Smith-Rowe headed home Adama Traoré’s excellent cross early on to put the hosts in front, before Chris Wood equalised prior to the interval with an exquisite centre forward’s goal. However, Bassey had the last laugh with his 62nd-minute winner.
As it happened
Forest almost went ahead in the 11th minute, when Anthony Elanga received the ball from Wood and picked out Neco Williams in the box, but his effort struck the side netting. Fulham responded just two minutes later; Traoré used his explosive pace to get to the byline and clipped a teasing ball for Raul Jiménez, who headed just wide. Some in the stands at Craven Cottage thought that had rippled into the net.
They wouldn’t have to wait long for the opener, though. In the 16th minute, a beautiful inswinging cross from Traoré cut out all three Forest centre backs and Smith-Rowe ghosted in behind to head past a stranded Matz Sels.
Marco Silva’s side had a flurry of opportunities to extend their lead. Sels had to tip over an effort from Jiménez, Sasa Lukić headed wide from Alex Iwobi’s ball, and suddenly the same Forest side that had demolished Brighton 7-0 two weeks ago found themselves forced into deep defending.
Then out of nothing, they equalised. Morgan Gibbs-White sent a hopeful ball forward for Chris Wood, who won his battle with Bassey. Wood was able to bring the ball down inside the area, turned and deftly bent his effort beyond the outstretched gloves of Bernd Leno to take him up to 18 league goals this season and level the score in the process.
Embed from Getty ImagesForest started causing Fulham a few more issues at the beginning of the second half, but the home side stood strong and began to dictate the play once more.
Milenković blocked off Smith-Rowe and Fulham had a set piece on the hour-mark. A floated delivery was not well dealt with by Sels as it led to Iwobi having an effort which was ultimately blocked.
The danger remained, as Lukić turned his man on the edge of the area and eyed up the bottom right corner. Sels had to be sharp, forcing a corner with a smart save.
The resulting set piece was delivered to Jiménez, who managed to flick the ball to the back post where Bassey powered his effort past Sels for his first goal of the season. Fulham were back ahead and deservedly so.
Embed from Getty ImagesFulham were well on top and this forced Nuno Espírito Santo into a tactical tweak, as Morato was replaced by Callum Hudson-Odoi. The change of shape has also changed the pattern of play, with Forest immediately looking much more threatening, but still struggling to force Leno into action.
In the final 10 minutes, Traoré had an opportunity to kill the game, as Iwobi clipped to the back post for the Spaniard to volley goal wards but Sels made a smart stop to deny him.
Marco Silva’s side were closing the game out, as he reintroduced Willian for his second spell at the club. His first touch nearly led to a goal, setting up fellow substitute Rodrigo Muniz to blast an effort goal bound, but Sels once more made the save.
The visitors failed to test Leno, as Fulham managed the game and held out for all three points.
Fulham now rise to eighth in the table on 39 points, while Forest remain in 3rd on 47 points. Up next, The Cottagers will host Crystal Palace, while Nottingham Forest will travel to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United.
The lineups
FUL: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukić; Traoré, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi; Jiménez
NFO: Sels; Morato, Milenković, Murillo; Aina, Anderson, Danilo, Williams; Elanga, Gibbs-White; Wood