Nottingham Forest 2-3 Fulham: Marco Silva’s side come from behind to condemn Forest to another defeat

Fulham continued their fine start to the Premier League season with a thrilling 3-2 victory over fellow promoted side Nottingham Forest.

For the home side, however, it was a second home defeat in row by the same scoreline having lost to Bournemouth last time out.

Added disappointment for manager Steve Cooper will come from the fact Forest have led in both games, only to throw the points away.

Taiwo Awoniyi opened the scoring with his second goal for the Reds since his summer move from Union Berlin, heading home from close range.

Hanging on to their lead until the break, Forest had their sights set on what would have been just their second win of the season.

However, a frantic five-minute spell not long into the second half saw the visitors turn the game on its head.

Tosin Adarabioyo headed in an equaliser on 55 minutes and before Forest had time to adjust, Joao Palhinha’s screamer two minutes later put Fulham in front.

Harrison Reed swept home a third just before the hour mark to leave the home fans stunned.

Cooper introduced former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard from the bench and the 29-year-old played a key role to spark an attempted comeback, as his fine play led to fellow sub Lewis O’Brien reducing the deficit.

Despite the goal setting up a nervy ending, Marco Silva’s Fulham were able to hang on to make it 11 points from their opening seven games and temporarily moving the Whites up to seventh in the Premier League table ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

“It has been really good,” said Silva at full time discussing his side’s start to the campaign. “I have to be honest of course. I have to say as well some games in the beginning of the season we should have got more points because we deserved it. But a good reaction to the last defeat to Tottenham but it is just seven games.

“It is the start of the season. We go into the international break with confidence then we prepare for the next one. A lot of fights ahead of us. We are happy with how we started but we have to keep going.”

Forest remain second bottom and could prop up the table should Leicester pick up an unlikely win away to Tottenham on Saturday.

“A lot of it is self-inflicted I think,” said Cooper afterwards. “We are not managing conceding that first goal very well. We are not settled enough after it. There has been a few occasions now that we look vulnerable.

“We were OK in the first half and were fairly in control out of the ball. I thought we started the second half well but then they got a corner, scored from it, then the second goal.

“We need to look at ourselves first. It’s as simple as that really.”