Fulham
Marco Silva made significant changes for the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay against Sunderland on Wednesday, which turned out to be a wise decision as Fulham advanced to the next round after securing a 2-3 victory. To ensure that the match did not go into extra time or penalties, some key players were brought off the bench. The supporters who made the long trip to Sunderland will have returned home with a smile on their faces.
The FA Cup has presented a genuine chance for Fulham to reach Wembley Stadium, but the manager’s priority remains the Premier League. The club is currently in 8th place in the Premier League and is likely to avoid relegation, but the goal is to potentially secure a spot in the European competition. This season, Fulham has a 5-3-3 record in League matches played at home at Craven Cottage.
Fulham’s recent performance has been below average, but the win at the Stadium of Light ended a four-game winless streak. Although the team has failed to score in their last three Premier League matches against Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea, the upcoming fixture looks to be more favorable. Before their narrow loss to Spurs at Craven Cottage, Fulham had won consecutive Premier League home games.
Tom Cairney and Harrison Reed have suffered minor injuries and are questionable for the upcoming game, but are expected to be back in action the following weekend.
Fulham Last 5 Results
08/02/23. 20:45 Sunderland – Fulham 2 : 3 (0 : 1) (2 : 2) FA Cup
03/02/23. 21:00 Chelsea – Fulham 0 : 0 (0 : 0) (0 : 0) Premier League
28/01/23. 16:00 Fulham – Sunderland 1 : 1 (0 : 1) (1 : 0) FA Cup
23/01/23. 21:15 Fulham – Tottenham Hotspur 0 : 1 (0 : 1) (0 : 0) Premier League
15/01/23. 15:00 Newcastle United – Fulham 1 : 0 (0 : 0) (1 : 0) Premier League
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest, like Fulham, is another newly-promoted Premier League team that has achieved success in the Cup competition and is now shifting its focus back to the top flight. After a slow start, Manager Steve Cooper has led the team to move up the League table, and it seems that the additions made in the last two transfer windows will be sufficient to secure another season in the Premier League.
Despite significant investment in recent years, the ambitions of Nottingham Forest have not been fully realized. However, Steve Cooper’s impact as manager has been evident, and the club is currently sitting in 13th place, which is a source of satisfaction. With a 6-point cushion from the bottom three places, Nottingham Forest is working to improve its 1-3-6 record in away games.
Nottingham Forest suffered setbacks in both legs of the League Cup Semi-Final against Manchester United, but quickly bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the Premier League last Sunday. The team is currently on a five-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League and has achieved a win at Southampton and a draw at Bournemouth in its recent away League fixtures.
New acquisition Jonjo Shelvey from Newcastle United may be available for selection, while Ryan Yates is working to recover from an illness. Despite Dean Henderson’s absence, the team has added Keylor Navas to its roster, who demonstrated his expertise by maintaining a clean sheet in last weekend’s match.
Nottingham Forest Last 5 Results
05/02/23. 15:00 Nottingham Forest – Leeds United 1 : 0 (1 : 0) (0 : 0) Premier League
01/02/23. 21:00 Manchester United – Nottingham Forest 2 : 0 (0 : 0) (2 : 0) League Cup
25/01/23. 21:00 Nottingham Forest – Manchester United 0 : 3 (0 : 2) (0 : 1) League Cup
21/01/23. 16:00 AFC Bournemouth – Nottingham Forest 1 : 1 (1 : 0) (0 : 1) Premier League
14/01/23. 16:00 Nottingham Forest – Leicester City 2 : 0 (0 : 0) (2 : 0) Premier League
Head to Head
Earlier this season, Nottingham Forest scored first but ultimately lost 2-3 to Fulham at the City Ground. Both teams were promoted together last season, and Fulham’s victory means that the last five matches between these clubs have been won by the away team.
Fulham previously dominated against Nottingham Forest, having won four of five matches at Craven Cottage. However, they have lost their last two home games against The Tricky Trees.
Premier League
16/09/22, 21:00 Nottingham Forest – Fulham 2 : 3 (1 : 0) (1 : 3)
TWV Sport Team Thoughts
In August, it is likely that Marco Silva and Steve Cooper placed a high priority on defeating their fellow newly promoted clubs with the goal of securing a spot in the Premier League.
As of early February, both Fulham and Nottingham Forest are outperforming expectations, with little doubt that this is the case for Fulham. Meanwhile, Steve Cooper must be thrilled with the points that Nottingham Forest has accumulated thus far, with over half of the season still remaining.
This match remains crucial for both teams, as they aim to secure three points. Typically, home advantage would be considered a significant factor, but recent seasons have seen a different trend in matches between Fulham and Nottingham Forest, with the last five League games won by the visiting team, including the match at the City Ground earlier this season.
Of the two teams, Nottingham Forest appears to be in better form at the moment. Earning four points from their last two away Premier League games has boosted the confidence of the players, but containing Fulham will still pose a significant challenge.
Despite a recent run of three Premier League games without a win, Fulham has shown flashes of potential. Their sturdy display in the scoreless draw at Stamford Bridge and the close loss at St James’ Park demonstrate their resilience and indicate they have more to offer this season.
The match on Saturday is likely to be closely contested, but we marginally favour Fulham due to their more consistent offensive prowess. The first goal will be crucial, but I believe Fulham can eke out a victory and use the momentum from their FA Cup win over Sunderland to their advantage.
Match Result Prediction
Fulham to win.
Score Prediction
Fulham 1 – 0 Nottingham Forest
