Fulham won 1-0 against Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage, but converted a penalty in the first half to reduce the lead to 10 points.
The Cottages, lacking the attacking talents of Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, struggled to make a difference in their first Premier League game, but in a rare moment of quality Kevin’s quick feet proved too quick and Douglas Luiz clumsily brought him down inside his own box to earn the winning penalty.
“I thought it was tough,” Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher said on Monday Night Football. “He’s on the floor trying to kick the ball away, but the attacker gets there first. And when you’re on the floor trying to kick the ball away, you’re trying to scoop it up.
“It’s one of those games where you can’t say the referee got it wrong per se, but it feels a little soft.”
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Raul Jimenez converted a first-half penalty to put Fulham ahead.
That aside, Forest goalkeeper John Victor was relatively on the sidelines in west London, with Forest controlling much of the match without the cutting-edge technique needed to force an equalizing goal.
Igor Jesus had an early shot that should have tested Bernd Leno, who crossed his own box after a poor pass from Anthony Robinson, but it felt too heavy – a description that summed up the night of the last Premier League game before Christmas.
That aside, they never posed a real threat to Fulham’s goal and almost paid off in the second half when Jimenez glanced Kenny Tete’s cross beyond the wide-open far post on Fulham’s only chance of the second half.
But in the end all the Cottagers will have in mind are three points, which will see them move within three points of the European places and within five points of the visitors, who remain in 16th place.
Silva: I don’t remember Forest ever having a chance.
Fulham manager Marco Silva told Sky Sports:
“We talked before the game about how important it would be to get the three points and win again at home, and after getting the three points against Burnley, to win back-to-back Premier League games. The first half was better than the second half.”
“We scored in a crucial moment of the game, before half-time. We had good control in the second half. I don’t remember Nottingham (Forest) having a chance.”
Daish: I’ve never actually threatened you.
Nottom Forest head coach Sean Dyche said on Sky Sports:
“We were in good positions but we weren’t really threatened. We need to ask more questions. Our goalkeeper didn’t have to make any saves, apart from penalties.”
“It’s just a shame. I thought we looked threatening (against Tottenham) but tonight we weren’t when we got into the final third.
“Sometimes it’s just a frustrating night. There wasn’t much to the game. I don’t think it was a particularly good game, but you have to get something out of it and we didn’t do that.”
Kara: There’s no need to exaggerate the scale of the streak.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher talks about Monday Night Football:
“As I said before the game, it’s not the end of the world for either team to lose, but a team that can get three points here can put a little bit of a gap on the bottom three teams and that will feel huge.
“Obviously two wins in the Premier League on the upswing is a big thing for a team near the bottom of the table. That’s what Fulham did.”
