Fulham Edge Past Forest: Jimenez Penalty Secures Narrow Victory

A Fortunate Win for Fulham Against Toothless Forest

Fulham secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage on Monday, December 22nd, 2025. The match, a Premier League fixture, saw Raul Jimenez’s first-half penalty prove decisive, despite a largely underwhelming performance from the Cottagers and a lack of attacking threat from Forest.

The absence of key attacking players Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze clearly impacted Fulham’s creativity, but they capitalized on a moment of clumsiness from Douglas Luiz, resulting in the crucial penalty.

Controversial Penalty Decision

Jamie Carragher raised concerns about the penalty decision, suggesting it felt somewhat harsh. Luiz appeared to be attempting to clear the ball when challenged, leading to the foul. While the referee’s decision wasn’t definitively incorrect, the softness of the call was debated.

Forest's Lack of Cutting Edge

Nottingham Forest struggled to test Bernd Leno throughout the match. Early opportunities were squandered, and they failed to generate any significant threat to the Fulham goal. Igor Jesus’s missed chance epitomized Forest’s overall lack of sharpness.

Key Stats and Performances

Fulham Player Ratings: Leno (6), Tete (7), Andersen (8), Cuenca (6), Robinson (6), Lukic (6), Berge (6), Wilson (6), Smith Rowe (6), Kevin (6), Jimenez (7). Substitutes: Cairney (7), King (7), Traore, Kusi-Asare, Diop (n/a).

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings: John (6), Savona (5), Murillo (6), Milenkovic (6), Williams (6), Luiz (5), Anderson (6), Hutchinson (6), Gibbs-White (6), Hudson-Odoi (5), Jesus (5). Substitutes: Awoniyi (5), Dominguez (6), McAtee (6), Zinchenko, Kalimuendo (n/a).

Managerial Perspectives

Marco Silva (Fulham Manager): “We spoke before the match about how it's going to be important for us to get the three points and win again at home...The first half was better than the second. I can’t remember one chance from Nottingham [Forest].”

Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest Manager): “We got into good positions, but never really threatened...Our goalkeeper has not had a save to make, apart from their penalty. I’m just disappointed, we had looked a threat [against Tottenham] but tonight we didn’t when we got into the final third.”

Carragher's Analysis: Significance of Back-to-Back Wins

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher emphasized the importance of Fulham’s consecutive Premier League victories, particularly for teams battling relegation. He noted that while a loss wouldn't be catastrophic, securing three points provides a crucial boost in confidence and distance from the drop zone.

Match Summary

• Score: Fulham 1-0 Nottingham Forest
• Goal: Raul Jimenez (Penalty)
• Venue: Craven Cottage
• Date: December 22nd, 2025

Fulham’s victory moves them within three points of a European spot and five clear of Forest, who remain in 16th position.

Looking Ahead

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