Discover how Raul Jimenez led Fulham to a stunning 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. Read about the match highlights and key performances.
Introduction:
Fulham ended Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season as they came out to claim a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the City Ground. A second-half penalty from Raul Jimenez proved enough for Fulham to top Forest, catapulting them to sixth in the Premier League table, while the losers tumbled down to ninth.
Then, tied at kick-off by a solitary point, the two teams were to prove to be most evenly contested until a foul by Murillo on Andreas Pereira handed Jimenez the chance to score his 50th Premier League goal, an event that would end up determining the game.
See also:Â Raul Jimenez Shines as Fulham Defeats Newcastle 3-1 at Craven Cottage
Forest began the game with a very aggressive approach, though they could not breach in front of the goal, despite making some early on-target attempts. CHRIS WOOD was denied an opening in the first half through an offside call VAR confirmed, and that shows how tight this match was.
How It Played Out
The game was quite quiet in the opening stages, but not for long as Nottingham Forest took matters into their hands. Taiwo Awoniyi made his first start of the season and had the first real opening with the ball causing chaos in the Fulham box from a long throw, which he sent well wide.
It was followed immediately by a controversially disallowed goal as Chris Wood thought he had given Forest the lead, but his prodged effort that crawled over the line was deemed offside following a VAR check and it remained 0-0.
Raul Jimenez strikes:
This was a psychological moment to enter the second half. A second VAR review booked Murillo for kicking the toe of Andreas Pereira inside the box and Fulham earned the penalty. Raul Jimenez of Wolverhampton stood in high confidence to clip the ball into the top-right corner to give his team the lead.
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo threw on Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi for attacking intent, but it was the latter who came closest to finding an equaliser with a curling effort into the top right corner following a spectacular solo run. As it was, Fulham’s defence was good enough to cling onto their narrow lead as the match entered eight minutes of stoppage time, during which they held off a late siege for three precious points.
Nuno’s Tactical Alterations Fail to Yield Fruit
Morgan Gibbs-White’s suspension, serving part of his ban from being dismissed in the Brighton match, meant Nuno Espirito Santo had to make adjustments up front. He opted for a more aggressive lineup by deploying Awoniyi and Wood in a two-striker formation, aiming to break up Fulham’s pattern of play with their defense.
While Forest’s early set-pieces caused Fulham problems, by the time Awoniyi was introduced, it appeared to straitjackle Wood. Prior to this game, Wood was perfectly in form; on this day, he touched the ball five times during the first half, showing what little impact he had going forward.
Nuno took off Awoniyi at half-time, hoping to inject some more pace and flair with Elanga but even that proved ineffective as the tactical change could not unravel the tight Fulham defense and paved the way for them to drift further into losing the game.
Fulham Flying High
Marco Silva will be pleased to know that Fulham continue their good run of form. Not at their free-flowing best, the away side managed to get a result, though Jiminez proves again why he is so important for them. The Mexican striker struck the opener in the previous match against Newcastle and was on hand to deliver once more at the City Ground.
Behind Jimenez, Fulham have called on the attacking creativity of Adama Traore, Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi amongst others to bring potency to the team. It is fair to say that Fulham’s precision in leading to more shots on target than nearly every other Premier League outfit aside from Manchester City, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Conclusion:
However, Fulham’s defense was the shining star of this match. Forest threw everything they had in terms of attack, but Fulham’s backline was impenetrable to everything that came their way. At five goals conceded so far this season, they certainly look well-drilled and organized at the back.
The real challenge, however, would be when they visit the Etihad Stadium to meet defending champions Manchester City. That has, so far, been an impressive start to their season; it would really test their credentials.