Fulham (H) 02/04/24
Nottingham Forest 3-1 Fulham
Hudson-Odoi 9' Adarabioyo 48'
Wood 19'
Gibbs-White 45+3'
Shut everything out and play your game’ read the Forza Garibaldi banner pre-kick-off. Morgan Gibbs-White’s famous ‘fingers in the ears’ celebration was also unveiled. Forest’s number 10 turned to stare at the Trent End and take in the message. He sure did as he dropped the performance of his life and repaid the fans to help the Reds to sink Fulham 3-1.
In need of a win to help pull away from Luton and that relegation zone, the Cottagers visited the City Ground. Favour wasn’t on the host’s side though; Fulham had come out on top of their last 3 meetings with the Reds, winning 1-0 at Craven Cottage in their promotion season. Forest’s most damaging recent defeat to Fulham was back in December as they were battered 5-0. The loss was one of Steve Cooper’s last games in charge before Nuno Espirito Santo took over.
As for injuries, Forest remained without striker Taiwo Awoniyi and preferred centre-back Willy Boly. Fulham were visiting Nottingham with a full strength squad, registering no injuries.
The hosts got off to a flying start, controlling all aspects of the game. Their domination was paid off as Callum Hudson-Odoi put the Reds 1-0 up in 9 minutes. After winning a free-kick well inside their own half, the ball was played to Gibbs-White who turned away from Joao Palhinha. This created so much space for the attacking midfielder to drive into but he looked to play Hudson-Odoi in behind down the left. He got beyond Kenny Tete, driving into the box, before cutting back and firing into the far corner to send Forest fans wild. As for the winger, this has turned out to be his best season goal scoring wise.
Fulham just couldn’t wave off the Forest pressure despite breaking forward a couple times in search of a response. Hudson-Odoi looked to be on for a brace after Chris Wood flicked on a throw-in towards Gibbs-White. He poked the ball up and past Tosin Adarabioyo before latching onto it again. As an assist-minded player, he crossed the ball to Forest’s number 14 in space but Hudson-Odoi couldn’t shift it onto his right foot in time and Bernd Leno came out to make the save.
Just minutes later, a deserved 2nd goal came through an inform Wood. Brazilian centre-back Murillo drove into the attacking half before finding Wood through a brilliant pass. All Forest fans saw Anthony Elanga running through on goal and thought Wood would see the same. However, the New Zealand international went for goal, 30 yards out, and found the bottom left corner. Leno could only stand and watch.
Anthony Elanga thought he had got himself on the scoresheet too after playing a one-two with Gibbs-White and finding himself in space in the right side of the box. After a touch that took him closer to goal, he looked to find the bottom left corner but his strike could only hit the post.
Marco Silva was rightfully disappointed with his team's performance making a triple substitution just 30 minutes in. This helped to calm the Forest storm as they found more possession but the Reds' skill on the night was too much as they found a 3rd just before halftime. Through Gibbs-White yet again, the hosts drove forward before he played in Danilo. The 22 year old Brazilian, who has started in every win under Nuno, found himself in a shooting position but selflessly passed back to an unmarked Gibbs-White who composed himself before finishing into the far corner.
Forest’s best half since promotion. Fans couldn’t believe what they were watching. Looking back, the whole of the Forest fanbase couldn’t believe they weren’t more goals to the good. Halftime, 3-0.
Fulham needed a huge half if they were to overturn the 3-goal deficit. Fulham fans might’ve been secretly hoping for their under 8’s to come out of the tunnel after some halftime entertainment. They managed a good start, getting a goal back just 3 minutes into the second half. Andreas Pereira whipped in a corner which Adarabioyo met at the near post. He flicked it on towards the far corner and it looped beyond Sels. This is the 20th goal Forest have conceded from a set-piece this season and more question marks will be raised as to why Gibbs-White was marking the huge centre-back.
A nervy feel began to creep around the City Ground now as the visitors grew into the game, creating half chances, breaking forward and maintaining possession. Forest remained resilient and managed to clear away any danger. The next big chance of the game fell to them through Neco Williams. The full back and Gibbs-White linked up down the right before he received the ball again on the edge of the box and unleased a strike goalwards. The shot looked to be heading over but the sound of ‘oo’ echoed around the crowd as his shot hit the crossbar.
Matz Sels wasn’t leaving the pitch without playing his part too. The Cottagers broke down the right through Adama Traore who whipped in a cross towards the back post. Adrabioyo got up and headed towards goal but quick reaction time meant the Reds’ number 1 got across to tip it behind with his fingertips for a corner. From the resulting Pereira corner, an unmarked Tete headed it on, only for it to bounce off the crossbar.
Time was running out for Fulham to panic Forest despite their best attempts. The Reds’ shape remained strong and the defence looked tough. The hosts did manage to break away on the counter multiple times and their best chances both fell to Divock Origi. His first fired just over the crossbar and his second looked close to finishing a brilliant night for Forest but his low effort went inches wide of the far post. In the final attack of the game, the Cottagers could only find the woodwork. Traore received a pass from Harrison Reed and drilled a shot goalwards from the right side of the box but he found the post from a tight angle.
The referee blew the full time whistle and the tune of ‘Rocking All Over the World’ blasted around the ground for just the 2nd time in 2024. A much deserved victory for Forest. This one meant a lot.
Forest: Sels; Williams, Omobamidele, Murillo, Aina (Toffolo 83'); Yates, Danilo; Elanga (Dominguez 83'), Gibbs-White (Reyna 77'), Hudson-Odoi (Origi 70'); Wood
Fulham: Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic (Cairney 33'), Palhinha (Reed 71'); Wilson (Willian 33'), Pereira (Decordova-Reid 71'), Iwobi (Traore 33'); Muniz
Pictures: Me
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