In rather Fulhamish fashion, having strolled towards the Championship summit with a combination of style and sublime football, Marco Silva’s side are limping lethargically towards the title. Denied by a Dominic Solanke spot-kick at Bournemouth on Saturday, the Whites were thoroughly outthought and outfought by a clever and combative Nottingham Forest side at Craven Cottage this evening. Steve Cooper’s team booked a play-off spot courtesy of a first-half goal from Philippe Zinckernagel – who profited from a breakdown in communication between Tim Ream and Marek Rodak – but they will fancy their chances of pipping the Cherries to the second automatic promotion place.
Cooper, who was on Fulham’s shortlist to succeed Scott Parker in the summer, has remarkably lifted Forest from bottom of the pile in September to only three points off second place. A precious victory against the already-promoted league leaders arrived after Zinckernagel had refused to give up a lost cause and poked home a hopeful through ball from Sam Surridge that goalkeeper Rodak and Ream had left to one another. But the preservation of a slender lead was down to a disciplined defensive effort directed by the calmness of veteran Steve Cook, who had his second outstanding game in SW6 this season after starring in his last outing for Bournemouth here before Christmas.
Forest certainly didn’t set their stall out to defend and had the better of the early openings with Jack Colback testing out Rodak’s reactions from 25 yards and the brilliant Brennan Johnson narrowly failing to feed Surridge with a low cross to the back post. The dreadful mix-up between Ream, one of Fulham’s most consistent performances this season and Rodak, killed a celebratory mood inside the Cottage – although the hosts should have levelled immediately when Harrison Reed released Fabio Carvalho, but the Portuguese under-21 international shot straight at Brice Samba.
The visitors might have doubled the lead on 24 minutes when a well-worked move culminated in Colback volleying into Rodak’s arms after a cushioned header into the midfielder’s path by the supple Surridge. The Slovakian goalkeeper then denied Zinckernagel another goal after another bright break, before Silva’s side finished the half strongly. Carvalho fired over from Aleksandar Mitrovic’s header down before the Serbian striker curled a free-kick fractionally over the bar on the stroke of half time having been fouled by the otherwise excellent Djed Spence.
Perhaps enlivened by some harsh half-time words, Fulham began the second period at some tempo. Bobby Decordova-Reid rifled wastefully over when he had plenty of time to convert Harry Wilson’s low ball before a vital touch from Samba prevented Mitrovic from heading home Neco Williams’ cross. Forest still look lively on the break and should have put the contest to bed when a fabulous flick from Johnson saw the Welshman burst away from Ream only for Rodak to fling himself in front of Surridge when the former Stoke striker looked certain to score at the back post.
Silva sent on boyhood Forest fan Tom Cairney to add creativity to the Fulham midfield but it was Carvalho, an increasing threat between the lines, who forced a fabulous fingertip save from Samba when his curler from the edge of the area appeared set to sneak inside the far post. Joe Worrall did brilliantly to block a Mitrovic shot at close quarters when Wilson seemed set to equalise having somewhere squeezed through the Forest defence.
Cooper’s charges still carried a real threat at the other end and Fulham were indebted to a brilliant saving tackle from Tosin Adarabioyo, who denied Johnson a tap-in, after a rapid raid along the right flank by substitute Richie Laryea. Fulham’s frustration boiled over after Wilson saw a tame shot off his weaker left side smothered by Samba and Adarabioyo volleyed over from the Welshman’s chipped free-kick, with Mitrovic booked for losing his cool when Keith Stroud halted a home attack after Ryan Yates and Scott McKenna had clashed heads.
The evening ended with the Hammersmith End decrying the quality of officiating and Silva in animated discussion with the referee, but Fulham had failed to take a succession of second half opportunities after gifting Forest the opener. Cooper’s resolute outfit were thoroughly deserving of three points and they could yet complete a remarkable rise into second spot, with a showdown at Bournemouth set for next week.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Williams (Tete 77), Bryan (Muniz 77), Adarabioyo, Ream; Reed (Cairney 58), Seri; Wilson, Decordova-Reid, Carvalho, Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Gazzaniga, Hector, Chalobah, Kebano.
BOOKED: Reed, Mitrovic.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (3-4-1-2): Samba; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback (Laryea 74), Zinckernagel (Lolley 67); Johnson, Surridge (Cafu 73). Subs (not used): Horvath, Figueiredo, Silva.
BOOKED: Zinckernagel.
GOAL: Zinckernagel (14).
REFEREE: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).
ATTENDANCE: 19,218
Not sure Forest fully deserved to win that Dan. They were gifted a goal and then defended well but we were probably the better side in my view. We just didn’t score after wasting a hatful of decent positions. I’m struggling to see how BDR should be starting ahead of Kebano but other than that it just wasn’t our night.
Just to say again, we will need a minimum of 6 new players in my view. Given some signings won’t work out we probably need to sign 8 at least.
You might well be right Dave, but I felt for all our possession we didn’t create an awful lot. Forest defended well and they weren’t just hanging on, they could easily have got another one. Totally agree on Kebano – something that my Fulham group chat is discussing even as I type.
I thought a draw would have been a fair result. The referee in my opinion made some dubious decisions. I felt Seri was our best player. Agree Kebano should have played if not then put Bryan out wide and Robinson with his pace at full back they could interchange. Rodak is a good shot stopper but is very poor with his distribution. He has also made a few of telling errors recently. Not sure he is Premiership class. Tete looked good when he entered the match late on.
Forest wanted it more Our defence still looks suspect when pressed and attacked with pace I concur about the poor referee. Harrison Red is better as a defensive mid field plater he is not creative enough for an attacking midfielder. Wilson looks better when coming inside more but he does remain anonymous for a lot. Kebano should have started the match and lets see Stansfield on the bench . Rodaks distribution is very poor.Lets finish the job against Luton getting the basics right again
Very good report on the game hopefully we will be joining you in the premier league. You have had a great season, congratulations and hopefully you will wrap up the title in your next game, if not we have to go to Bournemouth and nick 3 points job done. Good luck in the EPL you thoroughly deserve to be champions.
We lost this game because Silva, yet again, selected Decordova Reid out wide. He just isn’t a winger. He had an okay first half in that he made few mistakes but he created nothing.
Second half, he just disappeared as usual.
Although Kebano has not hit top form in recent weeks, he is always capable of taking a full back on.
To compound the error, Silva did not introduce Kebano as a substitute-preferring to bring on Muniz in yet another substitute appearance that was comparable to that of a pantomime horse. In fact, he was fortunate not to be sent off for lashing out at a Forest player-something that went unseen by the referee. Total waste of space!
To further compound his initial selection, Silva then switched Wilson and Decordova Reid at a time when Wilson was finally starting to have some success down the right.
Crazy!
We don’t have any quality in depth; people that can change the outcome of a game. But Kebano is capable of creating something and should have been given that opportunity.
I will wager that he starts against Luton.
Thought we were just starting to get to grips with the game when we conceded. I still think the jury’s still out with Muniz. My main problem with his inclusion on the bench is that he’s not letting Stansfield get a chance to show what he can do, especially as the latter can play as a number 10. Two number 9s can sometimes just get in each other’s way
What has Kebano got to do to get in this team he can take full backs on to give us another aspect of our game total error again by Silva also if we had not gathered those points like we did we could be looking at play offs again very worrying we can win it on Saturday without kicking a ball if Blackburn beat Bournemouth and then Notts Forest beat Bournemouth and drop them into the play offs what a delight that would be let’s hope we can Win our last two games and to make us worthy champions need to start now getting in proven premiership players not people who are there for the money