Chris Wood and Matz Sels’ brilliance weren’t enough as Nottingham Forest deservedly lost 2-1 away at Fulham, a scoreline that could have been more and a game that cannot define them. George Edwards was at the match
Premier League football can be a strange thing.
Nottingham Forest have defied the odds this season, going toe-to-toe with English football’s best, doing so with swagger and, at times, dominance, despite only being in the league for less than three years.
On paper, they are performing the best out of the three sides that came up in 2022, but in Bournemouth and Fulham, the Reds have found two real bogey teams who they just cannot seem to beat.
Following defeat at Craven Cottage yesterday, Forest have lost eight games against the two since promotion, drawing three and winning just one. The affairs illustrate the success story of that cherished Championship season, with all three sides establishing themselves in the league in very different ways, financially and on the field.
In victory yesterday, Fulham became the first side to do the double over Forest this season as headed goals from Emile Smith Rowe and Calvin Bassey cancelled out Chris Wood’s first-half equaliser, with the hosts moving to within eight points of Forest in victory. Here are three takeaways from the match.
Forest’s performance worse than the scoreline might suggest
Bar their now two defeats against Fulham, Forest losses this season have been pretty awful. They’ve shipped three to Arsenal, Man City and Newcastle and five to Bournemouth, doing so with a whimper and without much of a fight.
A 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage suggests Forest lost narrowly, but, in reality, it was another hammering.
By the end, they were thankful for the actions of their goalkeeper that the score wasn’t similar to that horrific 5-0 defeat last season, outclassed in defence and midfield for most of the 90.
Their utmost struggle was aerially, winning nothing in the attacking box and being dominated in their own, as Fulham scored two headed goals despite their creativity on the floor. Neco Williams had a torrid old time up against Adama Traore, the Spaniard having both the Welshman and Forest’s number throughout, even outsprinting and tackling Murillo as the Brazilian went on one of his trademark forward runs in the first half.
Forest did have their (very few) moments from an attacking sense, flurrying forwards on occasion and looking more lively following the return of Callum Hudson-Odoi from the bench and a switch to a back four.
But for the majority, Fulham dominated and were stronger, quicker and better than Forest at pretty much every aspect of the game. There was almost a feeling that Fulham had an extra man, stagnating the Reds in possession with ease while outnumbering them when they had the ball, finding space to pass and move without much sweat.
The Reds have always looked a threat this season, but for the first real time this campaign, they never looked like scoring once Fulham got their second, undoubtedly a concern with Forest now without an away win (in 90 minutes) in three matches.
Sels and Wood’s excellence not enough
At either end of the pitch lies Forest’s most dependable pair, pivotal to their success this season, performing at their peak once again despite it being in vain.
Matz Sels made eight saves throughout the match, very few of which were routine stops. They came in passages of play where Fulham scoring again seemed inevitable, striding through Forest’s midfield into goalscoring areas with seeming ease.
Sels defied that inevitability, parrying away almost everything thrown at him and being undoubtedly Forest’s best player on that dismal afternoon in West London. Spectacular Sels superb again, slowly becoming Forest’s most integral player and almost certainly their most reliable.
At the other end, Chris Wood’s ability to score out of absolutely nothing gave Forest a shred of credibility and made the contest look closer than it truthfully was.
Forest’s talisman controlled fortunately, but from there his intentions were clear, using what little pace he had to win the race to the ball, shift his body weight and caress a quite beautiful effort towards goal, his brilliance perhaps aided via a deflection off Bassey.
But it’s his ability to make something out of nothing that has made him one of Europe’s most clinical strikers, burying what was the only kind of service he received all game, isolated and fighting a losing battle with Fulham’s defensive duo otherwise.
The hardest thing in football is to score goals, but the New Zealander makes it look so effortless; his quite remarkable record of 18 goals from just 28 shots on target a true reflection of his value and quality.
Wood and Sels’ displays prove that you can’t rely on individuals in the Premier League, particularly when faced with a side as well organised and in-form as Fulham.
Forest cannot let this display define them
Fulham away has been a defining fixture for the Reds over recent years.
Their win during the promotion campaign cemented their place as real promotion contenders, one of just five sides to win at the Cottage that season. Last term, the 5-0 demolition of Forest was the final nail in Steve Cooper’s coffin, leaving two games later but with a sense of inevitability looming large thereafter.
This season’s display has the capability to have such an impact. Granted, there’s no doubt about Nuno’s position as head coach, but the elements that Forest got wrong cannot creep into future fixtures.
Forest have three season-defining matches to come following this one, facing three teams in Newcastle United, Manchester City and Arsenal that are vying for the same thing Forest are — the very much cliched term ‘six-pointer’ seeming applicable.
Picking up points away has been a huge strength and element of success this season, but their last three displays on the road cause that success to be pondered. Forest have reacted from setbacks with class and steel so far this season, and despite recent warning signs, there should be little doubt that the Forest we have seen for most of the campaign will reign supreme by the end.
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