- Forest confirm play-off spot with win at Fulham
- Zinckernagel goal takes Reds to within three points of automatic promotion places
Forest Head Coach Steve Cooper made one change from Saturday’s away win at Peterborough with Steve Cook returning for his first start since his injury against Reading last month. Tobias Figueiredo dropped to the bench and Lewis Grabban was also ruled out after picking up an injury as substitute at London Road, with Xande Silva taking his place on the bench.
Marco Silva’s Fulham side started the match knowing that a win could possibly confirm the Championship title as they also went in search of their 100th league goal of the campaign.
On a mild night in West London, Forest were again backed by a noisy sell-out away following and kicked-off wearing their luminous third kit.
Within 30 seconds, Philip Zinckernagel was on the receiving end of a heavy aerial challenge by Tosin Adarabioyo but James Garner’s free kick was cleared by Fulham.
Forest registered the first shot on target when Jack Colback’s swerving drive from 25 yards was gathered by Marek Rodak in the Fulham goal.
The hosts forced the first corner of the match when Harry Wilson’s cross shot was diverted wide and Scott McKenna then had to clear in the six yard box after a well-worked corner routine. Shortly afterwards, 41-goal Alekansder Mitrovic headed wide but Forest responded with a sharp counter attack, with Zinckernagel feeding Brennan Johnson whose cross-shot just evaded Sam Surridge at the far post.
Ryan Yates earned Forest’s second corner of the match after ten minutes but Mitrovic headed clear.
It was an open and lively encounter in the early stages as news filtered through that Bournemouth were 2-0 down which would mean Fulham would be crowned champions with just a point.
However, after fifteen minutes, it was Forest who opened the scoring. Colback took a quick throw on the left to release Surridge and his through ball caused confusion between Fulham captain Tim Ream and keeper Rodak. Philip Zinckernegel nipped in to clip the ball past the keeper and squeeze home from close range.
Fulham near equalised immediately when Harrison Reedd found space and released Fabio Carvalho in a central position but he shot straight at Brice Samba.
Referee Keith Stroud, a late replacement for Josh Smith who was ill, made his first caution of the evening in the 18th minute, when Reed was carded for fouling the goalscorer Zinckernagel.
After 24 minutes, a neat Forest move resulted in Surridge finding space in the box and cushioning a header for Colback to hook a volley goalwards but the shot was straight at Rodak. Shortly afterwards, another promising Forest counter attack resulted in Rodak saving again, this time from Zinckernagel.
Just before the half hour mark, Zinckernagel was booked for fouling Jean Michael Seri and then Mitrovic headed over from a corner, before another lightening Forest counter attack resulted in a Reds corner after Zinckernagel couldn’t quite find the unmarked Johnson in the box.
Forest forced another corner which was cleared but Johnson was causing nervy moments for the home defence by pressing deep in Fulham territory. Carvalho then shot over from the edge of the box after a Mitrovic knock down as Fulham looked to respond.
A minute before the break, Djed Spence fouled the Serbian on the edge of the box in a dangerous position but he curled the resulting free kick into the Forest fans behind the goal.
It had been an exhilarating half of football with The Reds worthy of their goal advantage against the champions-elect.
HALF-TIME: Fulham 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Fulham kicked-off the second half and created the first opening when Harry Wilson’s pull back was blazed high over the bar by Bobby De Cordova-Reid from near the penalty spot. Alekansder Mitrovic then headed over Neco Williams’ cross after Brice Samba got an important touch.
In the 52nd minute, The Reds very nearly doubled their lead. Brennan Johnson slipped Tom Reem down the right and played a pin-perfect cross for Sam Surridge whose close range shot was brilliantly saved by Marek Rodak at the far post.
Minutes later, Johnson escaped down the right again and this time cut inside before seeing his shot charged down by Joe Bryan with referee Keith Stroud waving away appeals for handball.
Tom Cairney replaced Harrison Reed for the hosts just before the hour mark as the game continued to swing from end to end.
After 64 minutes, Samba made a fine save diving to his left to divert a curling effort from Fabio Carvalho around the post for a corner which he then punched clear.
Goalscorer Philip Zinckernagel, who had gone down on a couple of occasions with knocks, was replaced by Joe Lolley midway through the second half.
Fulham forced another corner which The Reds again cleared and then, with twenty minutes left, Mitrovic nearly wriggled free in the box after fine play by Wilson down the right but Joe Worrall cleared form the edge of the six yard box.
Cafu replaced Sam Surridge in the 73rd minute and Richie Laryea then replaced Jack Colback who was the latest Forest player to pick up a knock. Kenny Tete and Rodrigo Muniz also replaced Neco Williams and Joe Bryan for the hosts.
There was confusion when Fulham appealed for a penalty for handball against Worrall but eventually Carvalho was ruled offside.
Into the last ten minutes, a lightening Forest counter attack saw Laryea make ground down the right and square for Johnson who diverted the ball goalwards only for Tosin Adarabioyo to make a crucial block.
Fulham then pressed and Samba saved low down from Wilson’s cross shot before standing firm moments later to deny Mitrovic from the edge of the penalty area.
The hosts were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position as five added minutes were shown, Wilson's set-piece falling for Adarabioyo who volleyed over from 16 yards.
Play was paused with two minutes remaining as Yates and McKenna clashed heads with each other and Fulham front-man Mitrovic was shown a yellow card for his protests.
The Reds held firm for the remainder of additional time to earn a fantastic victory at Craven Cottage with the three points enough to confirms Forest's place in the Championship play-off places with three games remaining.
Full-time: Fulham 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Marek Rodak; Neco Williams (Kenny Tete 77’), Tosin Adarabioyo, Tim Ream (c), Joe Bryan (Rodrigo Muniz 77’); Harrison Reed (Tom Cairney 58’), Jean Michael Seri; Harry Wilson, Fabio Carvalho, Bobby De Cordova-Reid; Alekansder Mitrovic
Substitutes not used: Paulo Gazzaniga (gk), Michael Hector, Neeskens Kebano, Nathaniel Chalobah,
Bookings: Reed (18’) Mitrovic (90+2')
Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Brice Samba; Joe Worrall (c), Steve Cook, Scott McKenna; Djed Spence, Ryan Yates, James Garner, Jack Colback (Richie Laryea 74’); Philip Zinckernagel (Joe Lolley 67’); Brennan Johnson, Sam Surridge (Cafu 73’)
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath (gk), Tobias Figueiredo, Alex Mighten, Steve Cook, Xande Silva
Goals: Zinckernagel (15’)
Bookings: Zinckernagel (28’)
Referee: Keith Stroud
Attendance: 19,218 including 1,728 Forest supporters
Possession: 74-26
Shots: 14-8
On target: 3-5
Corners: 8-5