Nottingham Forest falter as Fulham strengthen their own push for Europe | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dented as they were deservedly beaten 2-1 by Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Having been taken to extra time and penalties by League One Exeter City in the FA Cup on Tuesday, Forest looked as though they were feeling the effects of their long trip down south and were second best.

Fulham took the lead in the first half through Emile Smith-Rowe, who made a clever run to the back post to head in Adama Traore’s cross.

The home side looked much livelier, moving the ball quicker and with more purpose and looked like they had far more energy than their opponents.

Traore enjoyed a fine afternoon, the sort of game that he is capable of but do not happen quite enough given the incredible physical attributes he possesses.

Forest were given hope of strengthening their unexpected push to qualify for Europe’s elite competition when Chris Wood took the one chance he was presented with in the first half, however.

Forest did not look for their target man enough and when they did, he ruthlessly punished Fulham, seizing on Morgan Gibbs-White’s hopeful ball forward, getting the better of the central defenders and then clinically curling into the bottom corner.

This was a very un-Forest like performance, who have become known for the quick and direct counter-attacking style of play. There was very little of that this afternoon and Wood’s equaliser did not tell an accurate story of the game.

But despite the underwhelming performance, Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo will be livid with how easy it was for Fulham to re-take the lead. Calvin Bassey was left unmarked at the back post to head in from Raul Jimenez’s flick on from a corner to restore his side’s lead.

Forest will hope this is a one-off poor performance in what has been a memorable campaign so far. Nuno’s side have been the surprise story of the season, and still sit third in the Premier League table despite their defeat.

Fulham, meanwhile, strengthened their own push for European qualification with this victory, sitting eighth in the Premier League table and just two points off Newcastle in seventh.