Fulham were held at home by Nottingham Forest this afternoon in a dour end-of-season spectacle that was enlivened by two goals in ten minutes.
Lively striker Jack Lester put Forest in front after streaking away from the home defence to convert a through ball from Chris Bart-Williams and score his sixth goal of the season. But the visitors’ lead lasted only ten minutes as Cottagers’ captain Chris Coleman scored for the fifth time this term – heading home an Eddie Lewis corner.
The Whites laid siege to the Forest goal in the second half but David Platt’s defence, expertly marshalled by Chelsea youngster John Terry, held firm despite the late addition of Paul Peschisolido in attack. Caretaker manager Karl-Heinz Riedle made his first start since succeeding the sacked Paul Bracewell in the dugout but lasted only 33 minutes before succumbing to a painful knee injury.
FULHAM (4-4-2): Taylor; Finnan, Phelan, Melville, Coleman; Uhlenbeek, Lewis, Goldbaek, Clark; Riedle (Horsfield 33), Hayles (Peschisolido 75). Subs (not used): Thompson, Symons, Ball.
BOOKED: Horsfield.
GOAL: Coleman (30).
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-3-3): Beasant; Vaughan (Hjelde 57), Rogers, Terry, Scimeca; Prutton, Bart-Williams, Johnson; Gray, Lester, Harewood (John 71). Subs (not used): Crossley, Louis-Jean, Edds.
GOAL: Lester (20).
REFEREE: Ray Olivier (Northamptonshire).
ATTENDANCE: 12,696.
