Raul Jiménez’s decisive penalty ensured Fulham returned to winning ways in the Premier League, edging out Nottingham Forest 1-0 at Craven Cottage in a hard-fought encounter. The victory helped the Cottagers climb to 13th in the league table, bouncing back from their Carabao Cup quarter-final disappointment against Newcastle United last week.

Jiménez’s Spot-Kick Makes the Difference

The only goal of the game arrived in first-half stoppage time when Kevin, Fulham’s Brazilian forward, was fouled by Douglas Luiz in the box. Jiménez stepped up and calmly converted his spot-kick, sending Forest goalkeeper John Victor the wrong way. This marked Jiménez’s third Premier League goal of the season and extended his perfect penalty record in England to 11 out of 11, equaling former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré for the best conversion rate in Premier League history.

The penalty came after a lively display from Kevin, who made just his fourth league start this season. The young forward, who joined Fulham from Shakhtar Donetsk for a club-record £34.6 million, was constantly a threat down the left flank and drew the foul that won the decisive spot-kick.

Forest Threaten but Lack Clinical Edge

Nottingham Forest showed renewed intensity in the second half under manager Sean Dyche, with early efforts from Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White testing Fulham’s defense. Despite dominating possession for much of the opening 15 minutes of the second half, Forest struggled to create clear-cut chances, with attempts largely coming from distance.

Forest’s attacking talent, including Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi, could not find the back of the net. Igor Jesus had a golden opportunity early on but failed to control his finish, highlighting Forest’s ongoing struggle to convert chances into goals despite promising form since Dyche’s appointment.

Fulham’s Key Performers

Fulham coped well despite several absences due to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze were all unavailable, having represented Nigeria during the tournament.

In their absence, it was the combination of Kevin’s creativity and Antonee Robinson’s defensive experience that proved decisive. Robinson helped neutralize Forest’s attacks down the left, while Kevin’s trickery and pace forced errors and earned the penalty that won the game. Teenager Josh King also impressed as a substitute, linking well with Jiménez and creating further chances late in the match.

Manager Marco Silva will be encouraged by his side’s resilience and ability to secure three points despite a depleted squad, particularly as the Premier League enters a congested festive period.

Forest’s Reality Check

Despite a strong start under Dyche, including four wins in nine league games and a spot in the Europa League knockout stages, Forest were second-best for large periods at Craven Cottage. Their finishing remains a concern, as they registered just two shots on target with an expected goals (xG) of only 0.60. Dyche will need to harness his attacking resources more effectively to ensure Forest climb further from the relegation zone.

What’s Next?

Fulham’s next Premier League fixture is away to West Ham United on Saturday, 27 December (15:00 GMT), while Nottingham Forest host Manchester City in the early kick-off the same day (12:30 GMT).

Player of the Match

• Raul Jiménez (Fulham) – 6.81

Other notable performances included Kevin (5.84), Josh King (6.45), and Antonee Robinson (6.05). Despite the loss, Gibbs-White and Williams showed flashes of promise for Forest but were unable to convert their efforts into goals.