What the papers say: Nottingham Forest v Fulham

Refereeing decisions again made the headlines as Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten run came to an end with a 1-0 defeat to Fulham at the City Ground. Here’s what the national newspapers had to say

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The Guardian

Raúl Jiménez’s controversial penalty clinched Fulham a narrow win and halted Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten Premier League start. The Mexican converted his 50th goal in the English top flight after a lengthy video assistant referee check.

Forest’s manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, said: “We all want peace and to continue well and don’t want to come here to speak about the referees. But it was bad wasn’t it?” Nuno avoided a touchline ban for this fixture after being sent off for protesting against Morgan Gibbs-White’s red card in last week’s 2-2 draw at Brighton.

Forest had won two and drawn three of their previous five matches and their highest crowd in more than a decade – 30,139 – was denied a first home league win since April. Forest’s fans were left frustrated as a second video assistant referee decision went against them and Fulham – now unbeaten in their past five league games – had their measure.

The Telegraph

Fulham have made their best start to a season since 2003 and the rebuild since Joao Palhinha’s club-record sale is presenting no problems to Marco Silva. Palhinha’s £47.5 million exit to Bayern Munich could have had a damaging effect but Silva appears to have swiftly found a formula for success without his talismanic defensive midfielder.

Raul Jimenez’s 50th Premier League goal ended Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten league start and this was a streetwise, brutally effective performance from Fulham.

Silva’s post-Palhinha midfield has ensured a fresh start for Sasa Lukic, the Serbian international who was highly impressive in Palhinha’s old No 6 role. Emile Smith Rowe also appears an excellent signing from Arsenal while Joachim Andersen, a summer acquisition from Crystal Palace, was crucial in preventing Forest from finding an equaliser.

The Independent

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo criticised the referee again after his side’s unbeaten Premier League start ended in a 1-0 home defeat to Fulham.

Fulham’s Andreas Pereira had gone down under Murillo’s challenge, but Nuno claimed the match officials had got the decision wrong.

Forest’s senior management conveyed after the match that they too were growing increasingly frustrated at the standard of refereeing in the top flight.

The Mail

Fulham needed a controversial penalty to claim three points at the City Ground as Mexican striker Raul Jimenez scored for the third consecutive match to secure a 1-0 victory and inflict a first defeat of the season on Nottingham Forest.

On the face of it this was what neutrals might call a dead rubber fixture, but tell that to those in attendance as both Nottingham Forest and Fulham arrived at the City Ground above Man United and Spurs in the Premier League standings and each boasting ambitions to put early pressure on those above them in the chase for European football.

Fast forward from their last May encounter – that saw Forest secure a win that eventually helped keep them in the division – and they arrived at home unbeaten, having claimed a historic victory at Anfield and a chance of sneaking into the top four.

The Mirror

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo criticised the referee again after his side’s unbeaten Premier League start ended in a 1-0 home defeat to Fulham.

Raul Jimenez converted his 50th English top-flight goal via a controversial penalty after a lengthy VAR check had concluded with referee Josh Smith viewing the pitchside monitor and pointing to the spot. Fulham’s Andreas Pereira had gone down under Murillo’s challenge, but Nuno claimed the match officials had got the decision wrong.

Forest were further aggrieved later in the second half when another VAR penalty decision went against them – this time following Fulham defender Calvin Bassey’s tackle in the area on substitute Anthony Elanga. Forest’s senior management conveyed after the match that they too were growing increasingly frustrated at the standard of refereeing in the top flight.

The Sun

Raul Jimenez came back to haunt his former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo – as Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten start to the season ended in controversial fashion.

Jimenez scored 17 goals for Nuno when he was part of a Wolves side that qualified for Europe.

But the Mexico striker frustrated the Forest boss as he netted from the penalty spot as Fulham built on their victory over Newcastle United last week.

Forest fans were furious with ref Josh Smith though as he gave a 50th minute penalty after going to the touchline TV screen to look at a VAR replay which ruled Murillo had shoved Fulham’s Andreas Pereira.

But even then, the drama was not over, as Pereira and Jimenez appeared to argue with each other over who was going to take the spot-kick.

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