Marco Silva might specialise in stylish football but even an entertainer like him has nothing against old-fashioned 1-0 away wins. Fulham’s first clean sheet of the season delivered their first win on the road at previously unbeaten Nottingham Forest on Saturday and meant that the current Premier League table makes for very good reading.

The Whites have played impressive stuff in patches this season which makes the fact that Silva’s side sit in sixth all the more pleasing. This was arguably Fulham’s most complete display of the campaign so far and it was built on the back of defensive discipline and a fighting spirit that every successful side needs. I still can’t believe that Crystal Palace let a defender of Joachim Andersen’s quality return to Craven Cottage for £30m: the Dane has slotted back into the Fulham back four as if he has never been away and was the perfect man to repel Forest’s attacks once Nuno Espirito Santo had gone with two up top.

Andersen has forged an encouraging partnership with Calvin Bassey at the back. They are both good decision makers who like to use the ball but have the physical attributes to match up with all but the quickest Premier League footballers. Bassey made a brilliant recovery tackle to deny Anthony Elanga before sweeping the ball away from the Forest substitute whilst he was on the ground in the second half – for all the Trent End’s screams for a penalty, it was a nerveless piece of defending. Andersen produced a perfectly timed header later on to take the ball off Chris Wood’s head as the New Zealand lined up to nod in an equaliser and the late introduction of Issa Diop helped the Whites stand firm.

Perhaps the most revealing stat of all was that Bernd Leno had to make just one save despite the prolonged period of pressure that Forest applied in the closing stages. Both full backs were excellent: Kenny Tete continues to shine at right back having been kept out of the side last season by Timothy Castagne, whilst Antonee Robinson acquitted himself well on the opposite flank – with the American also making an important intervention when Fulham looked short of numbers in the second period. Every successful side can rely on a resolute back four and Silva certainly seems to have that.

We’ve all written about how the midfield still needs to knit together in the absence of Joao Palhinha but there was no shortage of grit and determination on Saturday. Sasa Lukic has to be in with a shout of being Fulham’s most consistent performer of the season – the Serbian was everywhere once again and, whilst showing tremendous versatility to be the most defensive-minded member of the Fulham engine room, still has the ability to pick a pass and put the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Andreas Pereira into space. Lukic doesn’t neglect the unglamorous side of the game, as shown by how he hunted down Nicolas Dominguez when the Argentinian threatened to get clear along the left wing in the first half.

The most pleasing part of the victory, especially after Fulham had let points get away late on at Old Trafford and against West Ham United, was how the Whites managed the game whilst holding a slender lead. You can be critical about the fact that Silva’s side didn’t establish a stronger advantage after the penalty, but they picked the right moments to put their foot on the ball, drop a bit deeper or a pick a pass. It wasn’t pretty, but it proved mighty effective and these are the sort of victories – built on the back of sheer bloody-mindedness – that will foster greater confidence amongst what already looks like a tight-knit squad.

Going to Manchester City next weekend will be a stern test but the Whites are already proving the doubters wrong with performances of real substance. You know that Silva will relish the test of taking on the Premier League champions on their own patch, too.