Calvin Bassey’s first goal of the season gave Fulham a deserved victory over third-placed Nottingham Forest as they won a Premier League game at Craven Cottage for the first time in 2025.
The hosts got themselves in front in the 15th minute thanks to Adama Traore’s creative brilliance after he superbly picked out Emile Smith Rowe.
Rather than hit the byeline on the right flank Traore jinked inside on to his left foot then deftly curled an inch-perfect ball towards the back post where Smith Rowe evaded the attentions of Morato and Ola Aina to head in.
However, Forest equalised eight minutes before the half-time interval after some superb centre-forward play by Chris Wood.
The New Zealand striker chased a ball over the top from Morgan Gibbs-White and cleverly turned back on himself before he curled a low effort into the corner of the net via a deflection off Bassey.
Fulham enjoyed the bulk of the chances after the break – Raul Jimenez and the influential Traore both going close – before Bassey nodded home in the 62nd minute.
Jimenez flicked on an outswinging corner and Bassey towered over Aina at the back post and headed the ball back across goal beyond the dive of Matz Sels and high into the net.
Fulham climbed up to eighth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in fourth spot, while Forest are now just three points above Pep Guardiola’s side.
Traore torments with speed and strength
Fulham have found wins hard to come by on their own patch of late, registering four draws and a defeat at Craven Cottage since 5 December.
This was a game where boss Marco Silva definitely did not leave the handbrake on, and perhaps afforded a bit of extra attacking leeway for his Fulham players to respond with a performance full of skill and swagger.
It was borne out in the statistics as well. Fulham had 24 shots, 10 of which were on target, and finished the game with an xG of 2.24. Forest did not get close by comparison.
At the heart of Fulham’s play was the impressive Traore.
Pistons bulging, and lightning quick, the winger frequently used his strength and speed to keep the Forest defence on the back foot.
His delivery for Smith Rowe’s opener was sublime. “What a ball!” he pointedly told his team-mates during the celebration.
There was no lack of heart from the 29-year-old Spaniard, either. When Murillo rampaged forward on the counter, evading tackles, it was Traore who recovered ground and raced back to stop him.
At times the Cottagers lack a bit of streetwise nous, so there were a few tetchy moments towards the end of the game – not least when Callum Hudson-Odoi curled an effort wide.
Traore was also quick to remind his team-mates to retain their shape as they held out to complete a notable league double over the visitors, having also won at the City Ground in September.
Wood stands tall for sluggish Forest
Only once in the first 45 minutes did Forest striker Wood manage to find himself with the ball at his feet inside the opposition box.
He ensured it was one from which he would he would profit.
The Kiwi is enjoying a quite remarkable campaign in front of goal and notched his 18th Premier League goal of the season on the banks of the River Thames.
Only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah are above him in the English top-flight’s goalscoring charts.
Once again there was much to be admired in the no-frills simplicity of Wood’s approach to his craft.
At 33 he understands the nuances of centre-forward play, sniffing out chances on the shoulder of the last defender and using his powerful frame to give Forest a foothold in the opposition half.
On this occasion, though, the majority of his team-mates were below their best during a largely sluggish display from a side that had won eight and drawn one of their previous 10 league games.
Forest tried to hang in the game, but offered little more against a Fulham team that went for the jugular in the 100th league meeting between the sides.
This defeat will have taken the wind out of the sails of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to some degree, and inevitably raise question marks over whether they have the staying power to hang on to a Champions League spot.
With Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City to follow in their next three league matches Forest face a stern test of their top-four credentials.
