A memorable night under the Craven Cottage lights for Fulham fans saw their side sweep aside a poor Nottingham Forest with the score ending up 5-0. Tom Cairney's late strike added to braces from Alex Iwobi and Raul Jimenez as Forest's wretched form continues.
Marco Silva made four changes to his side that lost late on to Liverpool 4-3 just a couple days before. Tim Ream, Kenny Tete, Harrison Reed and Harry Wilson all came out the side with Tosin Adarabioyo, Timothy Castagne, Cairney and Willian replacing them. Adarabioyo making his first start of the season for the Whites. Steve Cooper made five changes to his side after the disappointing night at home to Everton. Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Ryan Yates, Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood all dropped out as some familiar faces returned. Felipe made his first start since May with Ola Aina and Nicolas Dominguez returning to the side. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Divock Origi came into the side also.
Fulham almpst got the ball rolling 25 minutes into the game. An Andreas Pereira went over the wall and cannoned of the post and out for a goal kick. The home side showing early threatening signs of what they can produce with the Brazilian looking for his first goal since August.
Fulham did have the ball in the back of the net though just five minutes later to take the lead. Ibrahim Sangare gave away the ball with it eventually finding Willian on the left who whipped the ball to the back post for Iwobi to latch onto it and score, A brilliant cross matched by the finish as the Nigerian got his second goal of the season.
The home side then doubled their advantage just two minutes later. Pereira managing to pole the ball between the Forest defence and Jimenez got onto it and powered his shot into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 to the Whites. The Mexican piling more misery on Forest as the game looked out of reach for the Reds already.
That was it for the first half as yet again Forest produced a bleak showing. Fulham on top for the first 45 as the scoreline showed and were being clinical with their chances. The away side struggling to create chances and, as they did in the Everton fixture, they kept losing the ball cheaply. Cooper did make a double change at half time with Sangare and Dominguez going off for Yates and Gibbs-White.
Confidence clearly flowing as the host's made it 3-0 ten minutes into the second half. Pereira the provider again as he sent a long ball forward where Jimenez brought it down as he shrugged off Aina, rounded the keeper and back heeled into the back off the net. A goal that probably summed up a dismal evening by the Thames for Forest as Jimenez got his brace and his third goal of the season.
Fulham then got their fourth. Substitute and former Derby County man Wilson received the ball inside the box and fizzed it across to Iwobi at the back post and he netted his second of the night. The former Arsenal and Everton man having an eventful evening by the Thames and finally starting to build on some form.
The home side then wrapped up their evening as Forest fan Cairney netted the White's fifth of he evening. Yates lost the ball in midfield and Cairney and Pereria played a one-two and the captain slotted past Vlachodimos to make it 5-0. Pereria the provider yet again on what proved to be a great night for him and Cairney scoring past his boyhood club would of only boosted his confidence.
That was it for the game as Fulham breezed past a hopeless Forest. Another high scoring fixture for Marco Silva's side after the 4-3 defeat at Liverpool and it is one to be proud of. The Result pushes them to 12th in the table before they host West Ham United where they will look for another high level perform. Forest will feel embarrassed after the nights showings with the result only putting pressure on Steve Cooper, who got massive appreciation by the Forest faithful after the game. The result drops the Reds to 16th in the table and are now six points clear of the bottom three with a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on the cards next in which could be a huge game for Cooper.
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