Nottingham Forest are unbeaten no more after Fulham rode a second-half penalty to a 1-0 win at the City Ground on Saturday.
Raul Jimenez scored from the spot and Forest’s twin towers attack of Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi didn’t pan out in a clean sheet for Bernd Leno.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have become very tough to beat and defensively they look solid, but substitutions couldn’t lead the Tricky Trees back to level terms and Forest fell to 2-3-1 while Fulham rise to 3-2-1.
Fulham’s “nearly men” solid and more than adequate for a top-half charge
Every part of Fulhams set-up sees players and staff who have at one point been billed as set for the elite tier or the at least the next big thing. From one-time Arsenal starlets Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi in attack along with Barcelona burner Adama Traore to former Manchester United prospect Andreas Pereira in the midfield and Arsenal scapegoat Bernd Leno at the back, almost the entire team knows the top level as well as expectations. Heck, Marco Silva was once the next big thing in Premier League management. All of these players are playing with the same tantalizing potential that earned them earlier flowers, plus now there are chips on their shoulder as Fulham remain an ornery bunch under Silva. It’s the sort of thing that makes you look at transfer rumor mill names like Antonee Robinson and think, “Why wouldn’t they stick around a bit longer?” or at least not jump at a substandard offer.
Nottingham Forest vs Fulham player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Nottingham Forest vs Fulham player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Nottingham Forest vs Fulham player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Fulham visit Man City at 10am ET Saturday, while Forest go to Chelsea at 9am the following day (Oct. 6).
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Fulham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday (September 28)
Venue: City Ground, Nottingham
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Nottingham Forest vs Fulham live updates — By Nick Mendola
Nottingham Forest vs Fulham final score: 0-1
Raul Jimenez pen 51'
Forst pushing for goals
Subs Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi have forced Fulham onto their toes.
VAR helps deliver penalty — Nottingham Forest 0-1 Fulham (51st minute)
VAR has a look at Murillo on Andreas Pereira in the box, and it’ll be a penalty to Fulham.
Their Mexican forward smashes home after a ridiculous stuttered run-up. Laughing face emoji.
Halftime — Nottingham Forest 0-0 Fulham
Two solid teams scrapping, but no breakthrough yet.
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels, Moreno, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina, Yates, Ward-Prowse, Dominguez, Anderson, Awoniyi, Wood
Fulham lineup
Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Pereira, Traore, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi, Jimenez
Nottingham Forest focus, team news
Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare are out injured, while Willy Boly is a doubt. Morgan Gibbs-White is suspended after his red card at Brighton last weekend and that is a big blow as his driving runs and creativity from central midfield fuel Forest’s counters. The likes of Hudson-Odoi and Elanga will be asked to step up and carry more of the creative load.
Fulham focus, team news
The Cottagers only have one injury issue with Carlos Vinicius out. Raul Jimenez has nailed down the starting spot up top for now, with the Mexico star rolling back the years and looking lethal in and around the box. Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Adam Traore and Pereira have been excellent at creating chances and getting crosses into the box, while USMNT left back Antonee Robinson is having a fine start to the season.
Nottingham Forest vs Fulham prediction
This feels like a draw. Big time. Forest will have some of their creative spark missing without Gibbs-White, while Fulham will get chances on the counter. Nottingham Forest 1-1 Fulham.
