Match ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Fulham 0.
Nottm ForestNottingham Forest3FulhamFulham0
Defender Matt Mills scored twice as Nottingham Forest moved above managerless Fulham in the Championship.
Dorus de Vries denied Ross McCormack and Matt Smith as Fulham looked for the opening goal, and those saves proved vital when Mills' close-range header gave Forest a half-time lead.
Chris O'Grady pounced to convert Nelson Oliveira's parried shot for 2-0, before another Mills header from a corner.
Mills was then denied a hat-trick when his late header struck the bar.
Following two draws in his first two games in caretaker charge of Fulham, Peter Grant saw his side enjoy the better chances in the opening exchanges.
The visitors tested De Vries after just five minutes, but the goalkeeper kept out McCormack's flicked header before denying Smith when he connected with Ben Pringle's whipped cross.
The half looked to be ending goalless after O'Grady's long-range drive for Forest and another McCormack effort for the visitors, but Mills rose highest to convert a clever overhead kick from Oliveira.
Forest doubled their advantage soon after the break when O'Grady pounced to fire home from six yards after the ball ran free.
Fulham pressed for a way back into the match, but De Vries again proved to be a reliable barrier, this time saving a long-range strike from Tom Cairney.
The midfielder then skewed a header off target when well positioned, and that miss proved costly when Mills scored his second and his team's third minutes later.
Despite the bar denying the defender a hat-trick of headers in injury time, a third win in four games eased the pressure on boss Dougie Freedman, whose Forest side moved into 15th with Fulham - winless in five games - one place below them.
Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman:
"I am pleased because these results have been coming for a long time.
"Now we are converting our chances, to go with our good performances, and picking up wins.
"I am very happy because it was a professional performance in what were difficult conditions for both teams. We showed resilience and determination to keep the ball out of the back of the net.
"There was a good balance between defence and attack for us. We had to work on this, we have had to come through some difficult moments and we have remained strong and professional. These are mature performances for us."
Fulham caretaker manager Peter Grant:
"I have loved every moment of this, I have enjoyed it, but I have no interest in the job over the long term.
"The players have been a credit. They have been solid in the games we have played.
"We moved the ball as well as any side in the division. I was chuffed with that, I was chuffed with the way we played - but I do hope this is my last game.
"The club needs some stability. We all want to get into the play-offs and into the Premier League."
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-4-2
- 1de Vries
- 2Lichaj
- 5Mills
- 4Mancienne
- 31Pinillos
- 15Mendes da GraçaSubstituted forGrantat 79'minutes
- 24Vaughan
- 10Lansbury
- 38OsbornSubstituted forTescheat 87'minutes
- 17OliveiraSubstituted forTrotterat 79'minutes
- 29O'Grady
Substitutes
- 6Wilson
- 18Trotter
- 20Williams
- 23Blackstock
- 26Evtimov
- 32Tesche
- 37Grant
Fulham
Formation 4-4-2
- 12Lewis
- 7Fredericks
- 5Stearman
- 13Ream
- 40Husband
- 10Cairney
- 23O'Hara
- 8ParkerSubstituted forHyndmanat 71'minutes
- 18PringleSubstituted forKacaniklicat 68'minutes
- 9SmithSubstituted forWoodrowat 67'minutes
- 44McCormack
Substitutes
- 3Garbutt
- 4Hutchinson
- 11Kacaniklic
- 15Voser
- 16Woodrow
- 28Hyndman
- 42Rodak
- Referee:
- Carl Boyeson
- Attendance:
- 18,377
Match Stats
Home TeamNottm ForestAway TeamFulham
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Fulham 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tim Ream (Fulham) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ross McCormack with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Cauley Woodrow (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Daniel Pinillos (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Henri Lansbury with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Richard Stearman.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jorge Grant (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eric Lichaj.
Post update
Foul by Jamie O'Hara (Fulham).
Post update
David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Tim Ream.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Robert Tesche replaces Ben Osborn.
Post update
Foul by James Husband (Fulham).
Post update
Jorge Grant (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by David Vaughan.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by James Husband.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Liam Trotter replaces Nélson Oliveira.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Jorge Grant replaces Ryan Mendes.
Goal!
Goal! Nottingham Forest 3, Fulham 0. Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by David Vaughan with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Emerson Hyndman.
