Nottingham Forest 2-3 Fulham: Cottagers produce stunning fightback against Reds

Fulham scored three goals in a six-minute span in the second half and held off a late rally by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest 2-3 Fulham: Cottagers produce stunning fightback against Reds
 (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
john-lupo
By John Lupo

Fulham picked up their first away win of the season, coming from behind to seal a 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Taiwo Awoniyi headed the Reds in front from a corner on 11 minutes, a lead they would carry into the second half.

Nine minutes after half time, Tosin Adarabioyo equalized and goals from Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed put the Cottagers in pole position.

Lewis O'Brien ensured a nervy finish as he cut the deficit in half with 77 minutes played, but the hosts were unable to find a leveler as they continue their search for a second Premier League win.

The result moves Fulham up to sixth in the table while Forest sink to 19th, having not tasted victory since the second week of the season against West Ham United.

Story of the match

Following defeat to Bournemouth that saw his side give up a two-goal lead, Forest boss Steve Cooper dropped captain Joe Worrall and Jesse Lingard to the bench, bringing in Awoniyi and Willy Boly, who was making his club debut.

Fulham manager Marco Silva made two changes to the side that faced Tottenham Hotspur, with Issa Diop making his first start of the season in place of Antonee Robinson and Willian handed his maiden start with the Cottagers, coming in for Neeskens Kebano.

The Reds went in front as a corner by Morgan Gibbs-White was flicked on by Ryan Yates to Awoniyi, who found himself unmarked at the back post and he nodded past goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Embed from Getty Images

At the other end, Dean Henderson was called into action as he blocked a header by Aleksandar Mitrovic, who had snuck around to the front post as he looked for a goal on his 31st birthday.

The Forest 'keeper left a rebound to Bobby Decordova-Reid, but he and Remo Freuler saw off the danger.

Diop then gave away a free-kick on the edge of the area late in the first half, but the hosts couldn't take advantage as the resulting set-piece could only hit the wall.

Willian then helped haul Fulham level as his corner was swung into the path of Adarabioyo, who climbed the highest to head past Henderson.

Just two minutes later, the visitors went in front. Palhinha crashed his fierce effort home and after some neat interplay by Decordova-Reid and Willian, Reed scored his first in a Cottagers shirt.

Embed from Getty Images

Andreas Pereira was next to test Henderson, with his free-kick stinging the palms of the Forest shot-stopper, who could only tip it out for a corner. Decordova-Reid then shot over the crossbar.

O'Brien gave the hosts a lifeline as he took advantage of a half-clearance by Fulham to make it 3-2, but the Reds were unable to find the goal that would have rescued a point.

Player of the match: Willian

The former Chelsea and Arsenal winger made his first start for Fulham count with some good work in the build-up as he was responsible for setting up two of the Cottagers' three goals.