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Calvin Bassey scored in the Premier League for the first time since February 2024 Calvin Bassey's first goal of the season gave Fulham a deserved victory over third-placed Nottingham Forest as they won a Premier League game at Craven Cottage for the first time in 2025. The hosts got themselves in front in the 15th minute thanks to Adama Traore's creative brilliance after he superbly picked out Emile Smith Rowe. Rather than hit the byeline on the right flank Traore jinked inside on to his left foot then deftly curled an inch-perfect ball towards the back post where Smith Rowe evaded the attentions of Morato and Ola Aina to head in. However, Forest equalised eight minutes before the half-time interval after some superb centre-forward play by Chris Wood. The New Zealand striker chased a ball over the top from Morgan Gibbs-White and cleverly turned back on himself before he curled a low effort into the corner of the net via a deflection off Bassey. Fulham enjoyed the bulk of the chances after the break - Raul Jimenez and the influential Traore both going close – before Bassey nodded home in the 62nd minute. Jimenez flicked on an outswinging corner and Bassey towered over Aina at the back post and headed the ball back across goal beyond the dive of Matz Sels and high into the net. Fulham climbed up to eighth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in fourth spot, while Forest are now just three points above Pep Guardiola's side. Have your say on Fulham's performance What did you make of Nottingham Forest's display? This video can not be played 'One team in control' - Silva praises Fulham dominance Fulham have found wins hard to come by on their own patch of late, registering four draws and a defeat at Craven Cottage since 5 December. This was a game where boss Marco Silva definitely did not leave the handbrake on, and perhaps afforded a bit of extra attacking leeway his Fulham players responded with a performance full of skill and swagger. It was borne out in the statistics as well. Fulham had 24 shots, 10 of which were on target, and finished the game with an x G of 2. 24. Forest did not get close by comparison. At the heart of Fulham's play was the impressive Traore. Pistons bulging, and lightning quick, the winger frequently used his strength and speed to keep the Forest defence on the back foot. His delivery for Smith Rowe's opener was sublime. "What a ball! " he pointedly told his team-mates during the celebration. There was no lack of heart from the 29-year-old Spaniard, either. When Murillo rampaged forward on the counter, evading tackles, it was Traore who recovered ground and raced back to stop him. At times the Cottagers lack a bit of streetwise nous, so there were a few tetchy moments towards the end of the game – not least when Callum Hudson-Odoi curled an effort wide. Traore was also quick to remind his team-mates to retain their shape as they held out to complete a notable league double over the visitors, having also won at the City Ground in September. This video can not be played Forest must be stronger in 'decisive moment' of the season - Espirito Santo Only once in the first 45 minutes did Forest striker Wood manage to find himself with the ball at his feet inside the opposition box. He ensured it was one from which he would he would profit. The Kiwi is enjoying a quite remarkable campaign in front of goal and notched his 18th Premier League goal of the season on the banks of the River Thames. Only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah are above him in the English top-flight's goalscoring charts. Once again there was much to be admired in the no-frills simplicity of Wood's approach to his craft. At 33 he understands the nuances of centre-forward play, sniffing out chances on the shoulder of the last defender and using his powerful frame to give Forest a foothold in the opposition half. On this occasion, though, the majority of his team-mates were below their best during a largely sluggish display from a side that had won eight and drawn one of their previous 10 league games. Forest tried to hang in the game, but offered little more against a Fulham team that went for the jugular in the 100th league meeting between the sides. This defeat - a second in three league games - will have taken the wind out of the sails of Nuno Espirito Santo's side to some degree, and inevitably raise question marks over whether they have the staying power to hang on to a Champions League spot. With Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City to follow in their next three league matches Forest face a stern test of their top-four credentials. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 15th February 2025 at 18: 57 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Marco Silva Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Nuno Espírito Santo Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Marco Silva Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Nuno Espírito Santo Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Premier League All competitions All competitions All competitions Fulham have won four of their five Premier League games against Nottingham Forest (L1), including both meetings at Craven Cottage by an aggregate score of 7-0. Nottingham Forest have lost nine of their last 12 league games against Fulham, winning the other three. Two of those three victories came in away matches (2-1 in August 2019 and 1-0 in April 2022, both in the Championship). Fulham have won two of their last three Premier League games (L1), as many as in their previous 10 games in the competition (D6 L2), and could win successive league matches for the first time since November. Fulham have lost just two of their last eight Premier League games in which they’ve conceded the opening goal (W3 D3), with their three wins in 2024-25 only bettered in 2002-03 (4). Nottingham Forest have won eight of their last 10 games in the Premier League (D1 L1), with five of their 10 clean sheets in the league this season coming in their last eight matches. Victory for Nottingham Forest will see them reach 50 points in a top-flight season for the first time since 1995-96, while doing so by their 25th game would be the second-fastest they’ve ever done so in a top-flight campaign after 1977-78 (23rd game when converting to three points/win). Nottingham Forest have benefitted from more errors that have led to a goal than any other side in the Premier League this season (13), while only Arsenal (0) have made fewer errors leading to a goal than Nuno Espírito Santo’s side (2).   Rodrigo Muniz’s winner against Newcastle United last time out was Fulham’s 11th Premier League goal of the season via a substitute, the joint-most in the competition along with Bournemouth. Indeed, three of these have been winning goals, only the Cherries (4) have more. Fulham’s Raúl Jiménez is one goal away from reaching double figures in a Premier League campaign for the first time since 2019-20 at Wolves (17), managed then by Nuno Espírito Santo. The Mexican has scored three goals in his two previous Premier League games against Nottingham Forest. Since the start of last season, only Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea (12) have combined for more Premier League goals than Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood and Anthony Elanga (11), with Elanga’s 10 assists for Wood the most for a specific player in that time. Match ends, Fulham 2, Nottingham Forest 1. Second Half ends, Fulham 2, Nottingham Forest 1. Sander Berge (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest). Offside, Fulham. Rodrigo Muniz is caught offside. Attempt missed. Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nikola Milenkovic with a headed pass. Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Murillo. Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. Attempt saved. Harrison Reed (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Attempt saved. Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Willian. Substitution, Fulham. Ryan Sessegnon replaces Adama Traoré. Substitution, Fulham. Willian replaces Alex Iwobi. Offside, Nottingham Forest. Jota Silva is caught offside. Foul by Antonee Robinson (Fulham). Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Sander Berge. Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Antonee Robinson. Foul by Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham). Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Jota Silva replaces Elliot Anderson. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.