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.[phone][/phone]

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.

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