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Nottingham Forest boosted their hopes of Premier League survival with a convincing victory over Fulham at the City Ground.
Despite Fulham threatening a comeback in the second period, the home side’s three first-half goals were enough to move them three points clear of the relegation zone.
Callum Hudson-Odoi opened the scoring after nine minutes, cutting inside and slotting home after Morgan Gibbs-White’s sublime threaded pass found the forward on the left-hand side.
Chris Wood continued his impressive goalscoring form 10 minutes later with a superb strike from range – his eighth in nine appearances – before Gibbs-White added a third, placing a low drive into the bottom corner.
It looked like Forest had the points wrapped up by half-time but a breathless second period began with Tosin Adarabioyo’s glancing header pulling one back for the visitors after just four minutes.
Chances were in abundance at both ends as Neco Williams hammered a shot off the bar and a fine Matz Sels save denied Adarabioyo a second, while Kenny Tete clipped the underside of the bar.
The result leaves Fulham 12th, while 17th-placed Forest will travel to Tottenham on Sunday with renewed confidence about their hopes of staying up.
Forest hold on after ferocious start
Following Forest’s four-point deduction for breaches of Premier League financial rules – a decision they will appeal – they urgently needed to do their talking on the pitch to put breathing space between themselves and the bottom three.
A resilient performance against Crystal Palace last time out earned them a point and left them separated from 18th-placed Luton by goal difference.
Now, they can take positives from not only a dominant first-half performance, where they created plenty of chances and shut Fulham out, but also for their resilience in the second half to foil the visiting side’s fightback.
Wood’s brilliant strike meant he has scored in three consecutive Premier League appearances, while Hudson-Odoi has racked up four goals in 22 Forest appearances – having needed 72 outings to yield the same return for Chelsea.
Forest could have scored more as Anthony Elanga’s effort clipped the outside of the post, while Divock Origi – still looking for his first Premier League goal since joined the club – struck wide twice after coming off the bench.
While Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have taken a much-needed step towards safety with their first ever win over Fulham in the top flight, they need to maintain this form to make sure.
Fulham fail to take chances
Inconsistent results have summed up Fulham’s season so far, with big wins against Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal offset by disappointing losses to Bournemouth and Burnley.
A nightmare first-half saw boss Marco Silva make a triple substitution in only the 33rd minute, bringing on Willian, Tom Cairney and Adama Traore in an attempt to turn the game around.
For a spell it worked, but the visitors were unable to capitalise on a dominant period and eventually conceded a third goal in added time to cap off a miserable opening half.
They had to improve and did so as Willian’s dipping effort was just off target and Rodrigo Muniz went close to extending his eight-goal tally.
Traore cannoned a late strike off the bar too, but Fulham failed to replicate the heroics that saw them overturn a two-goal deficit against Sheffield United and earn a point last time out in a 3-3 draw.
The Cottagers have lost three of their last nine league matches, but their away woes continue with just one win in their last 15 on the road.
Player of the match
Gibbs-WhiteMorgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest
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Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White
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Squad number32Player nameOmobamidele
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Squad number11Player nameWood
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Squad number14Player nameHudson-Odoi
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Squad number7Player nameN Williams
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Squad number16Player nameDomínguez
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Squad number15Player nameToffolo
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Squad number28Player nameDanilo
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Squad number21Player nameElanga
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Squad number40Player nameMurillo
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Squad number20Player nameReyna
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Squad number22Player nameYates
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Squad number43Player nameAina
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Squad number26Player nameSels
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Squad number27Player nameOrigi
Fulham
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Squad number20Player nameWillian
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Squad number19Player nameRodrigo Muniz
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Squad number10Player nameCairney
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Squad number8Player nameWilson
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Squad number11Player nameTraoré
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Squad number33Player nameRobinson
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Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira
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Squad number6Player nameReed
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Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha
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Squad number3Player nameBassey
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Squad number4Player nameTosin
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Squad number17Player nameLeno
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Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid
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Squad number22Player nameIwobi
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Squad number28Player nameLukic
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Squad number2Player nameTete
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 26Sels
- 7N Williams
- 32Omobamidele
- 40Santiago Costa dos Santos
- 43AinaSubstituted forToffoloat 83′minutes
- 22Yates
- 28Danilo
- 21ElangaSubstituted forDomínguezat 83′minutes
- 10Gibbs-WhiteSubstituted forReynaat 77′minutes
- 14Hudson-OdoiSubstituted forOrigiat 70′minutes
- 11Wood
Substitutes
- 1Turner
- 6Sangaré
- 8Kouyaté
- 15Toffolo
- 16Domínguez
- 19Niakhaté
- 20Reyna
- 27Origi
- 29Montiel
Fulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 17Leno
- 2Tete
- 4Tosin
- 3Bassey
- 33Robinson
- 28LukicSubstituted forCairneyat 33′minutes
- 26João PalhinhaSubstituted forReedat 71′minutes
- 8WilsonSubstituted forWillianat 33′minutes
- 18PereiraSubstituted forDe Cordova-Reidat 71′minutes
- 22IwobiSubstituted forTraoréat 33′minutes
- 19Muniz Carvalho
Substitutes
- 1Rodák
- 6Reed
- 7Jiménez
- 10Cairney
- 11Traoré
- 13Ream
- 14De Cordova-Reid
- 20Willian
- 21Castagne
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 28,997
Live Text
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Match ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Fulham 1.
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Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Fulham 1.
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Offside, Nottingham Forest. Divock Origi is caught offside.
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Hand ball by Antonee Robinson (Fulham).
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Adama Traoré (Fulham) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Harrison Reed.
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Attempt missed. Divock Origi (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Chris Wood.
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Antonee Robinson (Fulham) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest).
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Attempt missed. Danilo (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Chris Wood following a fast break.
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Attempt missed. Divock Origi (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Chris Wood.
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Foul by Tom Cairney (Fulham).
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Divock Origi (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Harry Toffolo replaces Ola Aina.
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Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Nicolás Domínguez replaces Anthony Elanga.
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Attempt missed. Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Rodrigo Muniz.
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Attempt missed. Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Antonee Robinson with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ola Aina.
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Foul by Willian (Fulham).
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Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Giovanni Reyna replaces Morgan Gibbs-White.
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