- Djed Spence own goal gives Fulham an early lead
- Three goals in ten second half minutes sends Forest to home defeat
Head coach Steve Cooper made one change from The Reds’ fourth successive win at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night, with Jack Colback returning to replace James Garner who dropped to the bench. Braian Ojeda made the 18 for the first time, replacing Joao Carvalho on the bench.
Fulham had beaten Cardiff to move second in midweek and they created the first opening of the game when Aleksandar Mitrovic slipped Tobias Figueiredo on the edge of the box but Joe Worrall threw himself to deflect the ball for a corner.
But from the flag kick, Fulham took the lead. Mitrovic made a run to the near post to flick the ball on and Djed Spence could only divert into his own net inside the six yard box.
Brennan Johnson then blocked Marek Rodák’s clearance but the ball bounced out of play before he could recover the loose ball as The Reds looked to respond immediately.
After a quarter hour, The Reds forced a corner when Brennan Johnson counter attacked and very nearly slipped Lewis Grabban in the inside left but Tosin Adarabioyo recovered to concede a corner.
Shortly afterwards, Jack Colback became the first name in referee Matthew Donohue’s notebook for fouling Harry Wilson.
After 20 minutes, Djed Spence threatened down the right but his cross evaded Grabban and Max Lowe.
Spence was then adjudged to have fouled Neeskens Kebano just outside the box to the protests of the Forest players but Mitrovic hit the wall with the free kick.
Marco Silva’s men had enjoyed the better of the opening quarter but on the half hour The Reds fashioned their best opening of the match. A fine crossfield ball from Grabban near halfway found Spence on the right and his low cross found Johnson unmarked seven yards out but the Welshman missed his kick.
Another positive Reds move then resulted in Zinckernagel’s shot being blocked for a corner.
Johnson then beat Tim Ream on the right byline and referee Donohue booked the Fulham captain for hacking down the Reds’ youngster. From Zinckernagel’s free kick, Worrall was unable to connect at the near post.
Just before the break, The Reds turned the ball over deep in Fulham territory but Ryan Yates and Grabban got in each other’s way on the edge of the box and Fulham countered through Wilson whose through ball found Kebano in the box but Worrall slid into to make a vital tackle.
Denis Odoi was then booked for a foul on Scott McKenna after a couple of strong challenges in midfield.
The Reds had looked more threatening going to the break but The Cottagers held the half-time advantage.
Half-time: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Fulham
Just two minutes into the second half, The Reds should have levelled. Djed Spence ran deep into Fulham territory before releasing Philip Zinckernagel who cut the ball back to Lewis Grabban unmarked near the penalty spot but he blazed high and wide.
Referee Donohue again penalised Jack Colback for a foul early in the second half and Steve Cooper immediately replaced the midfielder with James Garner.
Another 27,000+ crowd were in The City Ground and starting to get behind The Reds as Joe Worrall produced a superb cross field pass to Max Lowe who forced a corner but Fulham cleared.
Seconds later, another dangerous cross from Lowe was cleared as The Reds started to increase the pressure.
Philip Zinckernagel then went into referee’s Donohue’s notebook for a foul in midfield that bought the wrath of the crowd.
From the resulting attack, Fulham doubled their lead with a fortuitous goal. Scott McKenna intercepted the ball in the box but collided with Tobias Figueiredo whose clearance richocheted off Aleksandar Mitrović and into the corner of the net with Samba stranded.
Head coach Cooper then changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Alex Mighten replacing Figueiredo but, seconds later, Fulham made it 3-0 with a fine move resulting in Harry Wilson releasing Neeskens Kebano to score at the near post.
Joe Lolley then replaced Zinckernagel and substitute Garner was then also booked by referee Donohue.
From the resulting free kick, Fulham were awarded a penalty when Yates held back Odoi, with The Reds midfielder booked. Samba guessed the right way but Mitrović’s spot kick found the corner, with Samba booked in the aftermath taking the Forest booking count to five.
It was a tough scoreline on The Reds who had conceded three goals within a ten minute period and Djed Spence was soon attacking down the right again with Antonee Robinson booked for fouling him. Joe Lolley smashed the free kick low and Marek Rodák made a good save with Fulham scrambling away the loose ball.
With ten minutes left, referee Donohue booked Harry Wilson for simulation to the delight of the crowd and making it nine bookings in the match.
The Reds continued to press late on searching for a consolation but Fulham went back south with a four goal victory.
Full-time: Nottingham Forest 0-4 Fulham
MATCH STATISTICS
Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Brice Samba; Scott McKenna, Tobias Figueiredo (Alex Mighten 60’), Joe Worrall; Max Lowe, Jack Colback (James Garner 50’), Ryan Yates, Djed Spence; Philip Zinckernagel (Joe Lolley 62’); Lewis Grabban (c), Brennan Johnson
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath (gk), Gaetan Bong, Braian Ojeda, Lyle Taylor
Bookings: Colback (16’), Zinckernagel (58’), Garner (65’), Yates (66’) Samba (67’)
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Marek Rodák; Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream (c), Tosin Adarabioyo, Denis Odoi (Kenny Tete 77); Tom Cairney, Jean Michaël Seri; Neeskens Kebano (Josh Onomah 71’), Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Harry Wilson; Aleksandar Mitrović (Rodrigo Muniz 82’)
Substitutes not used: Paulo Gazzaniga (gk), Kenny Tete, Michael Hector, Harrison Reed, Rodrigo Muniz, Jay Stansfield
Goals: Spence (og 7’), Mitrović (58’, pen 67’), Kebano (61’)
Bookings: Ream (38’), Odoi (45’), Robinson (69’), Wilson (77’)
Referee: Matthew Donohue
Attendance: 27,470 including 1,546 Fulham supporters
Possession: 48%-52%
Shots: 5-11
Shots on target: 1-3
Corners: 4-1