Nottingham Forest 3-1 Fulham: Hosts boost Premier League survival hopes with fine victory

Nottingham Forest boosted their hopes of Premier League survival with a convincing victory over Fulham on the Metropolis Floor.

Callum Hudson-Odoi opened the scoring after 9 minutes, reducing inside and slotting house after Morgan Gibbs-White’s chic threaded cross discovered the ahead on the left-hand facet.

Chris Wooden continued his spectacular goalscoring type 10 minutes later with an excellent strike from vary – his eighth in 9 appearances – earlier than Gibbs-White added a 3rd, inserting a low drive into the underside nook.

It seemed like Forest had the factors wrapped up by half-time however a breathless second interval started with Tosin Adarabioyo’s glancing header pulling one again for the guests after simply 4 minutes.

Probabilities had been in abundance at each ends as Neco Williams hammered a shot off the bar and a positive Matz Sels save denied Adarabioyo a second, whereas Kenny Tete additionally fired in opposition to the underside of the bar.

The end result leaves Fulham thirteenth, whereas Seventeenth-placed Forest will journey to Tottenham on Sunday with renewed confidence about their hopes of staying up.

Forest maintain on after ferocious begin

Following Forest’s four-point deduction for breaches of Premier League monetary guidelines – a choice they may attraction – they urgently wanted to do their speaking on the pitch to place respiratory area between themselves and the underside three.

A resilient efficiency in opposition to Crystal Palace final day trip earned them some extent and left them separated from 18th-placed Luton by purpose distinction.

Now they’ll take positives from not solely a dominant first-half efficiency, the place they created loads of possibilities and shut Fulham out, but additionally for his or her resilience within the second half to foil the visiting facet’s fightback.

Wooden’s good strike meant he has scored in three consecutive Premier League appearances, whereas Hudson-Odoi has racked up 5 targets in 22 Forest appearances – having wanted 72 outings to yield the identical return for Chelsea.

Forest may have scored extra as Anthony Elanga’s effort clipped the surface of the put up, whereas Divock Origi – nonetheless in search of his first Premier League purpose since joined the membership – struck broad twice after coming off the bench.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet have taken a much-needed step in the direction of security with their first ever win over Fulham within the prime flight, however they should preserve this way to make sure it.

Early modifications cannot revive Fulham fortunes

Inconsistent outcomes have summed up Fulham’s season thus far, with massive wins in opposition to Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal offset by disappointing losses to Bournemouth and Burnley.

A nightmare first half noticed boss Marco Silva make a triple substitution in solely the thirty third minute, bringing on Willian, Tom Cairney and Adama Traore in an try to show the sport round.

For a spell it labored, however the guests had been unable to capitalise on a dominant interval and ultimately conceded a 3rd purpose in added time to cap off a depressing opening half.

They’d to enhance and did in order Willian’s dipping effort was simply off course and Rodrigo Muniz went near extending his eight-goal tally.

Traore cannoned a late strike off the bar too, however Fulham failed to copy the heroics that noticed them overturn a two-goal deficit in opposition to Sheffield United and earn some extent final day trip in a 3-3 draw.

The Cottagers have misplaced three of their final 9 league matches and their away woes proceed too with only one win of their final 15 on the highway.