Fulham safe despite losing to Forest
Fulham 1 Nottingham Forest 3
Matt Smith’s first goal since August was not enough to spark a Fulham comeback as they paid for a poor first half at Craven Cottage.
The Whites trailed 2-0 at the break but the introduction of target man Smith added a different dimension to their attack, and he headed in just after the hour mark.
However, Henri Lansbury, who had converted a penalty earlier in the game, scored again to secure Forest’s first win at Fulham in more than 40 years.
Despite the defeat, Fulham were guaranteed their survival in the Championship by Brentford’s 4-1 victory at MK Dons.
Forest’s Dorus De Vries was the first keeper to be seriously called into action when he palmed behind Ross McCormack’s free-kick – but a set-piece was to prove Fulham’s undoing at the other end.
A free-kick awarded midway through the first half was worked to Robert Tesche, who planted a shot beyond Whites keeper Marcus Bettinelli.
Another foul gifted Forest their second a few minutes before the break, this time Emerson Hyndman penalised inside the area.
Lansbury fired the spot-kick hard to his left, just beating the dive of Bettinelli.
Fulham twice came close to reducing the arrears in a rousing end to the half, Tom Cairney’s shot being tipped over and McCormack hitting the post with a free-kick – the Whites’ players felt the offence took place inside the box, but the officials disagreed.
Slavisa Jokanovic brought on Smith and Lasse Vigen Christensen at half-time and it added impetus to Fulham’s attack.
Just after he’d helped create a chance for Moussa Dembele, whose shot was turned away by De Vries, Smith rose to head in McCormack’s cross after Forest failed to deal with a corner.
But any hopes of a comeback were dashed on 70 minutes when Lansbury finished low into the net after a well-worked move, and Fulham were further frustrated when Michael Madl’s header was kept out by De Vries.
Fulham: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Madl, Amorebieta, Ream; Cairney (Smith 46), Parker (Tunnicliffe 80), Ince, Hyndman (Christensen 46); McCormack, Dembele.
Subs not used: Lonergan, Stearman, Baird, Woodrow.
