Nottingham Forest returned to Premier League action on Saturday afteroon as The Reds faced a trip to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham in West London.
Steve Cooper made two changes to the starting line-up as the two sides met in the top-flight for the first time since 1968, with Serge Aurier and Gustavo Scarpa entering the fold in place of Neco Williams and Danilo.
Steve Cooper made two changes to the starting line-up as the two sides met in the top-flight for the first time since 1968, with Serge Aurier and Gustavo Scarpa entering the fold in place of Neco Williams and Danilo.
The start to the afternoon was far from ideal for Forest, as both Willy Boly and Scott McKenna pulled up inside five minutes meaning The Reds were called into a double substitution. The duo were replaced by Joe Worrall and Brazilian defender Felipe, who donned the Garibaldi for the first time since his deadline day move from Atlético Madrid.
Those changed however didn't disrupt the flow in the opening stages of the game as the first chance of the afternoon fell to The Reds on the 10-minute mark. Brennan Johnson and Aurier linked up nicely on the right-hand side with a smart one-two, that saw Johnson drill a low ball across the face of goal that was met at the back post by Scarpa who was unable to get a clean strike of the ball whilst under pressure from Bobby De-Cordova Reid.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Forest were unable to clear a free kick from the left-hand side, the ball dropped to the feet of Willian, who beat his man with a silky touch before firing the ball into the top left-hand corner.
Forest heads did not drop as they searched for a way back into the game and were just inches away when Morgan Gibbs-White caught out the Fulham backline with a perfectly weighted pass for the darting run of Johnson, who fired the ball across the six-yard box but the finest of touches diverted for a corner when it seemed destined to fall at the feet of oncoming New Zealand international Chris Wood.
Fulham nearly doubled the lead if not for the heroics of Keylor Navas when dangerman Aleksander Mitrović was able to create space inside the area before unleashing a strike at goal, but Navas saved magnificently as Craven Cottage gasped waiting for the back of the net to ripple.
Half time: Fulham 1-0 Nottingham Forest
The hosts started brightly in the second half with Willian once again amongst the action when he rattled Navas' post from 25-yards with another dangerous strike.
Steve Cooper reacted by introducing Emmanuel Dennis and debutant Jonjo Shelvey in place of Orel Mangala and Scarpa as The Reds went in search of a route back into the game.
Forest had their brightest spell of the clash on the hour mark, resulting in Gibbs-White's cross into the area being cleared as far as Johnson on the edge of the area. However, his perfectly struck volley rose inches over the crossbar.
The uplift in spirts continued and Forest's best chance of the afternoon fell to Dennis moments later when he found himself in plenty of space in the area but couldn't trouble Leno in The Cottagers' net as the travelling fans behind the goal heralded the rejuvenated Reds.
Cooper's final change of the afternoon saw André Ayew replace Wood and the sustained period of pressure continued with the men in Red queuing up to test Leno in the Fulham goal, Serge Aurier seeing a headed effort turned away by the German stopper.
With the second half introductions amongst the thick of the action, Nigerian international Dennis found the ball at his feet after Johnson's low ball but he skewed his effort wide of the goal.
Marco Silva introduced Israel international Manor Solomon with just over 15 minutes remaining, and it was the man on-loan from Shakhtar Donetsk who added a second goal for the hosts with two minutes left on the clock. Following good work from Andreas Pereira, the winger was found in space inside the area before cooly finishing past Navas to put the game out of sight.
Despite an improved second half, The Reds were defeated in the capital and the win sees the hosts move up to 7th in the Premier League table, while Forest move down a place to 14th.
Full time: Fulham 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Despite an improved second half, The Reds were defeated in the capital and the win sees the hosts move up to 7th in the Premier League table, while Forest move down a place to 14th.
Full time: Fulham 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Fuham: Bernd Leno, Kenny Tete (Cédric Soares 90'), Issa Diop, Tim Ream (C), Antonee Robinson, João Palhinha, Harrison Reed, Willian (Manor Solomon 72'), Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Harry Wilson 85'), Aleksandar Mitrović (Carlos Vinícius 84'), Andreas Pereira (Sasa Lukić 90')
Substitutes: Marek Rodák, Tosin Adarabioyo, Shane Duffy, Daniel James
Goals: Willian (17'), Solomon (88')
Nottingham Forest: Keylor Navas, Orel Mangala (Jonjo Shelvey 56'), Serge Aurier, Morgan Gibbs-White, Scott McKenna (Joe Worrall 5'), Renan Lodi, Brennan Johnson, Gustavo Scarpa (Emmanuel Dennis 56'), Remo Freuler (C), Willy Boly (Felipe 5'), Chris Wood (André Ayew 62')
Substitutes: Wayne Hennessey, Neco Williams, Jack Colback, Sam Surridge