Positives and negatives: Fulham 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Written by Jack Stroudley on 16th February 2025
Jack Stroudley looks back at Fulham’s home win over Nottingham Forest.
What an enjoyable day at the Cottage. Fulham ran out “narrow” winners over high-flying Nottingham Forest on Saturday to move up to eighth and complete our third domestic double of the season. Goals in either half from Emile Smith Rowe and Calvin Bassey were enough to ensure Fulham picked up a league win on the Thames for the first time since early December. I alongside many others left SW6 with a spring in my step after a brilliant performance, but what are the standouts from Saturday?
Positives
Live, laugh, Lukic
Sasa Lukic, what a man you are. What an absolute stellar performance from the Serbian in midfield. He’s continuing to show that the €8m fee was an absolute bargain, growing game by game and blossoming into an astute midfielder to accompany Sander Berge. A 100% pass accuracy, six chances created, four duels won, two interceptions and winning the possession back on five separate occasions showcases just how good he was on Saturday afternoon.
He rounded his performance off well with an absolute blinder of a ball into the box to Raul Jimenez whose flick on found Calvin Bassey for Fulham’s winner. Lukic did come off with a knock late in the game so let’s hope that it isn’t too serious because between him and Berge, Fulham have a serious double pivot on their hands.
Textbook Traore
I’ve been incredibly critical of Adama Traore over the course of this season, often criticising his performances off the bench and how games can sometimes pass him by, I’ve got to hold my hands up and say on Saturday he was magnificent. Neco Williams didn’t know where he was time and time again on Saturday afternoon as Adama absolutely bullied him throughout the game with delivery after delivery into the box finding it’s intended target.
The cross into Emile Smith Rowe is absolutely perfect and takes three physical central defenders out of the game, two big chances created throughout the game as well as seeing a shot well saved by Matz Sels (who I’ll get onto shortly). It was a complete performance from Adama and with Fulham being down to the bare bones in wide areas, we’ll need to see more of that on a consistent basis.
A complete performance
The scoreline will indicate this was a tight game that Fulham nicked, the reality is Fulham were absolutely brilliant on Saturday. In my opinion the best performance of the season marrying up physical prowess to nullify Nottingham Forest’s strengths, controlled and comfortable possession to keep the game ticking and decisive instinct in the final third to get over the line. On another day Fulham could’ve won this by four or five if it wasn’t for 10/10 performance from Belgian keeper Matz Sels who was exceptional.
Nottingham Forest have been fantastic this season and I was fearful when coming to the Cottage on Saturday, Fulham reminded me of just what a good footballing side we are by bossing for large parts of the game and keeping players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga quiet throughout. A performance that sees Marco Silva’s side move into eighth (a provisional European place). There’s still a hefty chunk of the season to go, we’ve got limited options out wide and a March/April that looks quite intimidating, but Fulham are on the verge of something here… could it happen?
Negatives
Nothing to report… have a good Sunday!
