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Willian’s superb first-half finish helped Fulham end their winless Premier League run and condemned Nottingham Forest to a first top-flight defeat in 2023.
Former Chelsea and Arsenal winger Willian collected a loose ball inside the penalty area before cutting onto his left foot and finding the top corner with a curling strike.
Second-half substitute Manor Solomon ended Forest’s hopes of salvaging a point with a clinical finish two minutes from time.
Forest, who lost centre-backs Willy Boly and Scott McKenna to early injuries, were fortunate only to be 1-0 down at half-time as Aleksandar Mitrovic, Bobby de Cordova-Reid and Andreas Pereira all went close to doubling the hosts’ lead.
Willian and Pereira were also both denied by the frame of the goal not long after the restart, but Forest – buoyed perhaps by Fulham’s inability to add to their advantage – improved as the second half wore on.
Substitutes Jonjo Shelvey and Emmanuel Dennis almost combined to bring the visitors back on level terms, but the latter sent his header straight at Bernd Leno before Solomon struck late on.
More to follow.
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Fulham
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Squad number17Player nameLeno
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Squad number2Player nameTete
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Squad number31Player nameDiop
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Squad number13Player nameReam
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Squad number33Player nameRobinson
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Squad number6Player nameReed
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Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha
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Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid
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Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira
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Squad number20Player nameWillian
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Squad number9Player nameMitrovic
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Squad number8Player nameWilson
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Squad number11Player nameSolomon
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Squad number12Player nameCédric Soares
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Squad number28Player nameLukic
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Squad number30Player nameCarlos Vinícius
Nottingham Forest
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Squad number12Player nameNavas
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Squad number24Player nameAurier
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Squad number30Player nameBoly
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Squad number26Player nameMcKenna
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Squad number32Player nameRenan Lodi
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Squad number23Player nameFreuler
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Squad number5Player nameMangala
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Squad number20Player nameJohnson
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Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White
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Squad number31Player nameGustavo Scarpa
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Squad number39Player nameWood
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Squad number4Player nameWorrall
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Squad number6Player nameShelvey
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Squad number25Player nameDennis
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Squad number34Player nameA Ayew
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Squad number38Player nameFelipe
Line-ups
Fulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 17Leno
- 2TeteSubstituted forCédric Soaresat 90+1′minutes
- 31Diop
- 13Ream
- 33Robinson
- 6Reed
- 26João Palhinha
- 14De Cordova-ReidSubstituted forWilsonat 85′minutes
- 18PereiraSubstituted forLukicat 90+1′minutes
- 20WillianSubstituted forSolomonat 72′minutes
- 9MitrovicSubstituted forAlves Moraisat 84′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Rodák
- 4Tosin
- 5Duffy
- 8Wilson
- 11Solomon
- 12Cédric Soares
- 21James
- 28Lukic
- 30Alves Morais
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Navas
- 24AurierBooked at 15mins
- 30BolySubstituted forFelipeat 7′minutes
- 26McKennaSubstituted forWorrallat 7′minutes
- 32Lodi
- 23Freuler
- 5MangalaSubstituted forShelveyat 56′minutes
- 20Johnson
- 10Gibbs-White
- 31Furtado ScarpaSubstituted forDennisat 56′minutes
- 39WoodSubstituted forA Ayewat 63′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Worrall
- 6Shelvey
- 7N Williams
- 8Colback
- 13Hennessey
- 16Surridge
- 25Dennis
- 34A Ayew
- 38Felipe
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 24,244
Live Text
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Match ends, Fulham 2, Nottingham Forest 0.
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Second Half ends, Fulham 2, Nottingham Forest 0.
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Substitution, Fulham. Cédric Soares replaces Kenny Tete.
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Substitution, Fulham. Sasa Lukic replaces Andreas Pereira.
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Tim Ream (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest).
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Goal! Fulham 2, Nottingham Forest 0. Manor Solomon (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Andreas Pereira.
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Foul by Kenny Tete (Fulham).
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Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, Fulham. Harry Wilson replaces Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
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Substitution, Fulham. Carlos Vinícius replaces Aleksandar Mitrovic.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Serge Aurier (Nottingham Forest).
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Foul by Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham).
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Renan Lodi (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Jonjo Shelvey (Nottingham Forest).
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Attempt missed. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Harrison Reed with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonjo Shelvey.
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Foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham).
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