EPL: Nottingham Forest's Top-Four Hopes Dented by Fulham Defeat

Fulham came from behind to defeat Nottingham Forest 2-1, with goals from Emile Smith-Rowe and Calvin Bassey canceling out Chris Wood's equalizer.

Fulham maintained their dominance over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, securing a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage to make it five wins in six meetings. This narrow success marked a significant setback for Nottingham Forest, who had been enjoying a strong season until now.

Nottingham Forest's slow start to the match ultimately proved costly. Adama Traore, a constant thorn in the side of opposing teams, was instrumental in Fulham's opening goal. Traore effortlessly bypassed Neco Williams and delivered a precise cross to the far post, where Emile Smith-Rowe headed home. Williams struggled to contain Traore throughout the first half, and it seemed likely that the Welsh fullback was in for a challenging afternoon.

Fulham beat third-place Nottingham Forest! 💥#FULNFO pic.twitter.com/8izwmNG5tQ

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 15, 2025

Fulham came close to doubling their advantage shortly after the half-hour mark, but Raul Jimenez's headed effort was superbly denied by Matz Sels. This save prevented the Cottagers from taking a commanding lead, but they would eventually go on to secure a vital 2-1 victory.

Fulham learned a valuable lesson about the importance of capitalizing on scoring opportunities when they conceded a goal just before halftime. Morgan Gibbs-White's well-weighted pass found Chris Wood, who skillfully controlled the ball, turned onto his left foot, and slotted his 18th league goal of the season into the corner.

"We were clearly the best team on the pitch." 👊

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 15, 2025

The equalizing goal seemed to reinvigorate Fulham, and they emerged from the break with renewed purpose. Their efforts were rewarded when Calvin Bassey scored his first goal of the season, expertly steering home Raul Jimenez's near-post flick-on at the back post.

Six points. ✅ pic.twitter.com/nXHBcf5lM4

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 15, 2025

The second half was marked by a scarcity of clear-cut chances, with neither team able to create much in the way of meaningful attacking opportunities. As the match drew to a close, Callum Hudson-Odoi attempted to spark a Nottingham Forest comeback, but Bernd Leno was equal to his effort, effectively ending the visitors' hopes.

Nottingham Forest ultimately succumbed to only their second defeat in 11 league matches, a setback that dealt a significant blow to their European ambitions. Conversely, Fulham's victory provided a substantial boost to their own continental quest, as they moved closer to the top seven in the Premier League table.