Fulham continues to defy expectations, proving themselves a formidable opponent even with their limited European aspirations.
Despite their sights being set on a spot in the Conference League, they’ve taken down some of the Premier League’s heavyweights this season, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle.
With their latest victory against Nottingham Forest, Fulham completed a perfect record of six points from six in their matchups this season, cementing that their earlier success was no fluke.
A Tactical Masterclass from Marco Silva
This wasn’t a lucky win—it was a meticulously executed game plan.
Fulham’s victory over Forest came down to more than just defensive resilience; it was a deliberate and clever neutralization of the Premier League’s top contenders.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s counter-attacking style, which has often left opponents floundering this season, was effectively shut down by Fulham’s aggressive pressure.
Marco Silva’s side didn’t sit back defensively; instead, they took the fight to Forest, pressing forward relentlessly.
The standout performer in this approach was Adama Traore.
His explosive pace and muscle left Forest’s Neco Williams struggling to keep up.
Traore tormented Williams for much of the game, and by the end of the first half, Williams—who started the match in a protective mask—was in desperate need of a break.
Traore’s Influence and Fulham’s Offensive Firepower
It was Traore who set up the opener for Emile Smith Rowe, delivering a perfect cross after yet another display of dominance over Williams.
Chris Wood responded for Forest with a clinical finish, leveling the score after his 18th goal of the season. However, Fulham wasn’t done yet.
With relentless attacking, Calvin Bassey scored the match-winner after a brilliant corner from Raul Jimenez.
Fulham’s offensive firepower was on full display.
They outshot Forest 24 to 8, and Jimenez was unlucky not to grab a hat-trick, missing several chances.
Forest were simply overwhelmed, and despite their best efforts to counterattack, they couldn’t maintain possession or find the right rhythm.
Forest’s Hopes Hit Hard by the Loss
While Forest remains in the top three, this defeat is a significant setback for their ambitions, particularly as the top four spots remain competitive.
The loss will likely sting as the season progresses, especially if the race for the top positions becomes tighter in the weeks ahead.
The game began sluggishly, with neither side showing much attacking intent in the early stages.
But once Traore found his rhythm, the match came alive.
His repeated successes against Williams led to several dangerous chances for Fulham, with Jimenez missing two solid opportunities.
Forest’s equalizer, however, was a stroke of luck—Wood benefitted from an accidental bounce, which fell perfectly for him to strike and score.
Fulham’s Continued Pressure and Bassey’s Winning Header
The second half saw more of the same from Fulham, as they continued to apply pressure.
Sasa Lukic had a powerful shot, which resulted in a corner kick.
From the set piece, Jimenez flicked the ball across the goal, and Bassey made a perfect run to meet it with his head, scoring Fulham’s second goal and sealing the victory.
The sequence was textbook: Lukic’s near-post delivery, Jimenez’s clever flick, and Bassey’s perfectly timed run to score.
It was a set-piece routine Fulham has executed successfully in the past, and once again, it proved to be the match-winning moment.
Match Facts
Fulham Starting XI: Leno 6, Castagne 6.5, Anderson 7, Bassey 7, Robinson 6.5, Lukic 7 (Reed 82), Berge 6.5, Traore 8 (Sessegnon 90), Smith Rowe 7 (Pereira 82), Iwobi 6 (Willian 90), Jimenez 7 (Muniz 76)
Goals: Smith Rowe 15’, Bassey 62’
Manager: Marco Silva 7
Nottingham Forest Starting XI: Sels 7.5, Morato 5 (Hudson-Odoi 68), Milenkovic 6, Murillo 6, Aina 6, Gibbs-White 6.5, Danilo 5.5 (Sangare 63), Anderson 6.5, Williams 5, Wood 6.5, Elanga 6
Goal: Wood 37’
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 6
Referee: Thomas Bramall 7
Attendance: 27,164