Calvin Bassey and Emile Smith Rowe scored with headers as Fulham completed a double over Nottingham Forest with a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage.
Nottingham Forest suffered their second defeat in three Premier League games after being beaten 2-1 by a brilliant Fulham performance at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
Calvin Bassey arrived at the far post in the 62nd minute to head home a corner that was nodded on by Raul Jimenez, giving Marco Silva’s side a well-deserved three points against the high-flying visitors.
Emile Smith Rowe had opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a powerful header from Adama Traore’s cross, putting the home side ahead early. Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels kept his team in contention with two crucial saves to deny Jimenez’s long-range efforts.
Chris Wood then brought Forest back into the game with his 18th goal of the season in the 37th minute. However, Fulham regained control in the second half as Bassey restored their lead before Sels made a string of impressive stops to keep out attempts from Traore, Rodrigo Muniz, and Harrison Reed, preventing Fulham from extending their advantage further.
The defeat means Forest, now in third place with 47 points, are only three points clear of reigning champions Manchester City, who thrashed Newcastle United 4-0. Meanwhile, Fulham climbed to eighth place with 39 points, continuing their solid campaign.
Key Takeaways:
- Forest’s Off Day: After scoring seven goals without reply against Brighton in their previous league match, Nottingham Forest’s attack struggled to find its rhythm. Despite Chris Wood getting on the scoresheet, they managed just eight shots in total, with only two on target.
- Dominant Fulham: The Cottagers were clinical in front of goal, registering 10 shots on target from 24 attempts. Their expected goals (xG) stood at an impressive 2.24, compared to Forest’s meager 0.4.
- Chris Wood’s Stellar Form: Wood continued his excellent season, scoring his eighth goal in the last seven league games and reaching 20 goal involvements for the first time in a single campaign (18 goals, 2 assists).
- Raul Jimenez’s Impact: For Fulham, Jimenez has been directly involved in five goals (four goals, one assist) in his last seven appearances, showcasing his importance to Marco Silva’s side.
While Nottingham Forest will need to address their attacking issues following this setback, Fulham remains on an upward trajectory, consolidating their position in the table with another impressive result.
