Fulham 5 Nottingham Forest 0
Marco Silva’s side welcomed Nottingham Forest to Craven Cottage with the hosts in a rich goalscoring form. Steve Cooper was feeling the pressure as his side were struggling to win games of late, resulting in boos at home in a recent defeat against Everton.
Divock Origi started up front for the visitors and had the first chance of the game. He tried to curl one into the bottom corner from distance but just could not get enough bend on the ball with Leno at full stretch in the Fulham goal.
As Forest gave away a free kick some twenty-five yards out, Pereira tried his luck, only to see his shot rattle the outside of the post. It was an early warning for Steve Cooper’s side that The Cottagers were in confident mood.
Fulham dispossessed the visitors and broke with pace. As Willian crossed into the back post, Iwobi was there to cushion the ball past Vlachodimos in the Nottingham Forest goal. Craven Cottage erupted as the hosts took the lead.
Credit: @FulhamFC
Iwobi was involved again as he found Palhinha on the edge of the box, who dinked a sublime pass into the path of Jimenez. The Mexican striker thundered his effort into the top corner to make it two goals in four minutes for Marco Silva’s side.
By this stage, Forest were all over the shop, like a drunk staggering out of Wetherspoons at last orders. They gifted the ball to the hosts, with Iwobi trying to find the top bins from the edge of the box. His effort did not miss by much.
The second half continued in the same fashion and as a ball was played in towards Jimenez, he took it brilliantly on his chest before rounding the keeper. The finish was sublime as he backheeled it into the net from wide of the goal. Amazing what a bit of confidence can do for a striker.
Steve Cooper was looking rattled on the touchline as the travelling Forest fans sang his name to show that they are fully behind their manager. It was a touch of class from the supporters as all too often they are on the manager’s case when things are not going well.
Things went from bad to worse for his team on the pitch as Wilson crossed into the box for Iwobi to smash the ball home for his second goal of the game. The visitors were in a position of damage limitation now as this had the makings of a horror show for Nottingham Forest.
It was all too easy for Marco Silva’s side as Cairney ghosted through the middle of their defence to slot the ball past the keeper and make it five-nil to The Cottagers. The fans were in a real party mood and enjoying what they were seeing on the pitch.
Credit: @FulhamFC
Fulham took all three points and nobody could argue they deserved that and more from this performance. It makes a nice change to see a positive Marco Silva in the post-match interview. Steve Cooper was noticeably embarrassed by the support he had from the travelling Forest fans saying he and his players did not deserve that tonight.
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