Match Report Fulham (0) 1-2 (1) Nottingham Forest Championship Match Day 05 1920 at Craven Cottage Saturday 24th August 2019    KO: 19:45 Referee: Peter Bankes

Fulham Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic

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Two goals by Lewis Grabban saw Nottingham Forest defeat Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship at Craven Cottage.

The forward netted twice before Aleksandar Mitrovic got what turned out to be a consolation goal for the home side, as former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho watched on from the stands.

The visitors started brightly, and they went ahead after just four minutes.

Jack Robinson took the ball on the left flank and sent his delivery into the box for Grabban to connect first time past Marcus Bettinelli.

Grabban shot wide after seventeen minutes as Forest looked for a second but Fulham started to get a foothold into the contest.

Joe Bryan fired to the left of the goal after 25 minutes, while Brice Samba held onto a 34th-minute effort by Mitrovic.

Despite their pressure, the hosts were unable to properly trouble the Forest goal.

At the other end, Bettinelli denied Grabban a second goal just before the interval with a block.

Match Stats	Fulham	Forest
Goals	(0) 0	0 (0)
Scorers	Mitrovic 83	Grabban 4
		Grabban 61
,
Goal attempts	20	11
On target	6	3
Shooting Accuracy	30%	27%
Possession	77%	23%
Passes	776	234
Passes Success	91%	67%
Crosses	45	9
Crosses Success	22%	56%
Corners	13	1
Tackles	17	13
Tackles Success	71%	69%
Saves	1	5
Fouls	8	11
Offsides	1	1
Yellows	2	4
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

Bobby Reid replaced Stefan Johansen for the hosts at half-time, although the first effort after the break fell to Anthony Knockaert, whose tame effort was held by Samba.

Knockaert was matched again by the Forest keeper after 53 minutes when his header was tipped away at full strength.

Although Forest were on the backfoot, they managed to double their advantage just after the hour mark.

Grabban picked up a loose ball outside the area and was able to take advantage of some slack defending to fire home.

Samba was called into action again after 69 minutes with a great reaction save, after a shot by Steven Sessegnon was deflected off a defender.

Albert Adomah, who scored against Charlton in the week, came on for the returning Joe Lolley, while Fulham replaced Sessegnon with Aboubakar Kamara.

The home side put themselves back in contention with a goal on 84 minutes, after Mitrovic put his effort to the left of Samba.

The goal rejuvenated both the home crowd and the team who showed a burst of energy in the sweltering conditions at Craven Cottage.

Mitrovic missed out on a second just before the end when he was unable to glance his header on target.

Referee Peter Bankes played eight minutes of additional time and the home side continued to lay siege to the Forest goal.

Despite penning the visitors back in their own half they were unable to overcome a resolute Forest who left west London with the win.

Fulham: Bettinelli, S Sessegnon (Kamara 74), Mawson (Christie 87), Ream, Bryan, Cairney, Arter, Johansen (De Cordova-Reid 45), Knockaert, Mitrovic, Cavaleiro

Unused substitutes: Rodak, Le Marchand, McDonald, Reed

Goals:
Mitrovic 83 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aboubakar Kamara with a cross.)

Booked: Arter (50,f), Kamara (90+9,d)

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Jenkinson (Cash 82), Dawson, Worrall, Robinson, Watson, Lolley (Adomah 72), Sow, T Silva (A Semedo 58), Ameobi, Grabban

Unused substitutes: Muric, Yuri Ribeiro, T Figueiredo, R Mir

Goals:
Grabban 4 (right footed shot from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Jack Robinson with a cross.)
Grabban 61 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sammy Ameobi.)

Booked: Ameobi (33,d), Semedo (66,f), Samba (77,tw), Adomah (90+8,tw)

Referee: Peter Bankes

Attendance: 24012