Fulham beaten in amazing game at Forest

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Nottingham Forest 5 Fulham 3

Fulham’s miserable start to the season continued as they lost an astonishing game despite fighting back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2.

Nottingham Forest were two goals up inside 21 minutes through Britt Assombalonga’s header and controversial penalty.

Ross McCormack’s stunning free-kick and deflected shot, either side of Hugo Rodallega’s strike, saw the Whites earn a richly deserved lead.

But Michail Antonio slotted home to level, Assombalonga completed his treble and Jamie Paterson sealed victory to ensure the Whites stayed bottom of the Championship table, while Forest went top.

The result piles more pressure on manager Felix Magath, who must have thought the tide was turning with his side on course for a first league win this season when they led 3-2 with 13 minutes to go.

Their lead seemed unlikely despite a bright start as they trailed to two disputed Assombalonga goals.

The Whites claimed Assombalonga handled the first when he headed home from Henri Lansbury’s cross and felt his second from the penalty spot came following a fair challenge by Shaun Hutchinson on Antonio.

But Fulham showed good spirit to pull a goal back when McCormack curled the ball over the wall and into the near post and they almost snatched an equaliser when Rodallega’s shot was cleared off the line by Eric Lichaj.

The impressive away response continued on the resumption and, after Rodallega had strong claims for a foul ignored as he ran towards goal, the big striker made it 2-2.

Fernando Amorebieta, making his first start of the season, was the provider with a teasing cross that was swept in from close range by the recalled Rodallega.

Rodallega should have netted when his mis-kicked first-time shot from McCormack’s delightful throughball was blocked by Darlow.

But it was 3-2 when a fine team move saw Rodallega find McCormack after good work by substitute Chris David and Fulham’s record buy scored with a deflected shot inside the near post.

Chris Burke’s stooping header from Danny Fox’s cross nearly levelled the scores immediately and McCormack went close at the other end with a rasping strike on the break after more brilliant interplay with the excellent Rodallega.

Forest grabbed their third of the night when Antonio coolly found the far corner after a long pass by Michael Mancienne and it was 4-3 to the hosts when Assombalonga followed up to score from close range after his header hit the post,

Substitute Paterson completed the scoring on an extraordinary night when he stepped inside and scored low into the net on the break.

Fulham: Kiraly; Bodurov, Hutchinson (David 45), Burn, Amorebieta; Hoogland, Parker, Fotheringham (Roberts 81), Stafylidis; McCormack, Rodallega.
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Eisfeld, Roberts, G. Williams, Hyndman, Kavanagh.

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