Nottingham Forest enhanced their chances of Premier League survival with a commanding win over Fulham at the City Ground.
Despite Fulham threatening a comeback in the second half, the home team’s three goals in the first half proved sufficient to give them a three-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Callum Hudson-Odoi broke the deadlock after nine minutes, cutting inside and finishing clinically following Morgan Gibbs-White’s precise pass that found him on the left flank.
Chris Wood extended his remarkable goal-scoring streak with a stunning long-range strike just 10 minutes later, marking his eighth goal in nine appearances, before Gibbs-White added a third with a well-placed low shot into the bottom corner.
Although Forest seemed to have secured the victory by halftime, an action-packed second half commenced with Tosin Adarabioyo’s header reducing the deficit for the visitors after just four minutes.
Both teams had numerous chances in the second half, with Neco Williams hitting the crossbar with a powerful shot, Matz Sels making a crucial save to deny Adarabioyo a second goal, and Kenny Tete also striking the underside of the bar.
The final score leaves Fulham in 13th place, while Forest, positioned 17th, will approach their upcoming match against Tottenham on Sunday with renewed confidence in their quest to avoid relegation.
Forest hold on after ferocious start
After receiving a four-point deduction for violating Premier League financial regulations—a penalty they intend to contest—Forest found themselves in urgent need to deliver on the field to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Their resilient performance against Crystal Palace in their previous outing earned them a crucial point and kept them ahead of 18th-placed Luton Town solely on goal difference.
The team can draw encouragement not only from their dominant first-half display, during which they created numerous scoring opportunities and kept Fulham at bay, but also from their resilience in the second half to thwart the visitors’ attempted comeback.
Wood’s outstanding goal extends his scoring streak to three consecutive Premier League appearances, while Hudson-Odoi has notched five goals in 22 Forest appearances, a feat that took him 72 matches to achieve during his tenure at Chelsea.
Forest could have added more to their tally, with Anthony Elanga’s attempt striking the outside of the post, and Divock Origi, still pursuing his first Premier League goal since joining the club, sending two shots wide after coming off the bench.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team has taken a significant stride towards safety with their maiden top-flight victory over Fulham. However, maintaining this level of performance will be crucial to their survival prospects.
Early changes can’t revive Fulham fortunes
Fulham’s season has been marked by inconsistency, as evidenced by their impressive victories over Tottenham, Manchester United, and Arsenal, juxtaposed with disappointing defeats to Bournemouth and Burnley.
A turbulent first half prompted manager Marco Silva to enact a triple substitution as early as the 33rd minute, introducing Willian, Tom Cairney, and Adama Traore in an effort to reverse the tide of the game.
Initially, this tactical adjustment showed promise, but despite a period of dominance, Fulham failed to capitalize on their momentum and ultimately conceded a third goal in added time, concluding a dismal first half.
In the second half, Fulham displayed signs of improvement, with Willian narrowly missing the target with a dipping effort and Rodrigo Muniz coming close to adding to his eight-goal tally.
Traore struck the crossbar with a late effort, yet Fulham couldn’t replicate the comeback heroics that earned them a point in their previous outing, a 3-3 draw against Sheffield United.
The Cottagers have suffered three defeats in their last nine league matches, and their struggles away from home persist, with just one victory in their last 15 away fixtures.