Fulham edged past Nottingham Forest 1-0 in a closely contested Premier League (PL) encounter, with Raúl Jiménez’s clinical penalty proving to be the difference at the City Ground. This victory marks Fulham’s fifth win in their last six visits to Nottingham, a testament to their dominance in this particular head-to-head (H2H) fixture.
A Battle from the Start
From the opening whistle, Fulham showed intent. Adama Traoré, known for his blistering pace and power, whipped in an early cross that forced Nottingham goalkeeper Matz Sels to tip the ball over the bar in an awkward yet effective save. Despite Fulham’s bright start, Nottingham Forest gradually found their rhythm, with Elliot Anderson’s deflected shot from the edge of the box providing an early warning sign for the visitors.
Taiwo Awoniyi, making his first PL start of the season, nearly opened the scoring spectacularly. His acrobatic effort narrowly missed the target, much to the frustration of the Forest faithful. Chris Wood also thought he had broken the deadlock shortly before the half-hour mark, but the New Zealander’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside after a sharp header across the goal by Ola Aina.
Scrappy End to the First Half
The match became a scrappy affair as both teams tried to assert themselves. Despite their efforts, Fulham struggled to carve out clear-cut chances against a disciplined Forest defense. Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Yates had half-chances for the home side, but neither could direct their shots on target.
Fulham’s best half opportunity came just before the break when Adama Traoré and Smith Rowe saw their attempts blocked by the resolute Nottingham backline. Despite flashes of attacking brilliance from both sides, the first half ended goalless.
Jiménez’s Penalty Changes the Game
The second half began with increased urgency from Fulham. Their persistence paid off when Murillo fouled Andreas Pereira inside the box, gifting the visitors a chance to take the lead. Although the Brazilian playmaker Pereira argued he should take the penalty, Raúl Jiménez confidently stepped up. The Mexican striker made no mistake, coolly slotting the ball past Matz Sels to notch his 50th Premier League goal, becoming the second Mexican player in history to achieve this milestone.
Forest tried to respond immediately, with substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi injecting pace and creativity into their attack. However, the former Chelsea winger’s best chance went begging as he cut inside before firing wide of the target. Fulham’s defense, led by a commanding Joachim Andersen, held firm, with Andersen making a crucial header to prevent James Ward-Prowse’s dangerous cross from creating a clear-cut chance.
Fulham Hold On for Back-to-Back Wins
As the clock ticked down, Jota Silva’s volley was comfortably saved by Bernd Leno, allowing Fulham to tighten their grip on the game. The visitors expertly slowed the tempo, frustrating Forest as they looked to protect their narrow lead. This result extended Fulham’s unbeaten run to five matches in the Premier League and gave them their first consecutive league victories of the season.
In contrast, Nottingham Forest suffered their first league defeat of the campaign, despite their best efforts to grab a late equalizer. With Jiménez’s penalty the defining moment, Fulham returned to London with all three points.
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Conclusion
Raúl Jiménez’s penalty was crucial in a fiercely contested game, as Fulham showed resilience and determination to secure their second consecutive Premier League win. Despite showing promise, Nottingham Forest could not break down Fulham’s solid defense, suffering their first league defeat of the season.
Fulham is now extending its unbeaten run, and its fans will be hopeful that this momentum continues. As for Nottingham Forest, it will need to regroup and bounce back in its next outing.
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