Fulham looking upwards as Whites rout sorry Forest 5-0 at the Cottage

Fulham 5 (Iwobi 30, 74 Jimenez 34, 54, Cairney 86)

Nottingham Forest 0

Att: 24,105

Fulham moved 11 points clear of the danger zone with a 4-0 rout of Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage this evening.

Two goals from Raul Jimenez, two more from Alex Iwobi and a final flourish from the superb Tom Cairney move the Whites on to 18 points from their 15 games – just one point away from the 19 their west London rivals Chelsea possessed at the start of the evening.

Earlier this season some wondered whether Fulham would be strong enough this term to avoid being sucked into a basement battle with the likes of Sheffield United, Luton and Burnley.

But three wins in their past four home Premier League games, against Sheffield United, Wolves and now Forest, appear to have eased any early-season jitters.

Forest, however, could well find themselves in a fight come the spring should they continue to play like this.

Despite the abject majority of their evening, Forest held their own for the first 15 minutes, and indeed had the first decent chance of the game, former Liverpool man Divock Origi finding himself free on the edge of the box, but shooting narrowly wide of Bernd Leno’s left-hand post.

Fulham responded, Jiminez poking an effort towards goal which was easily saved by Odysseas Vlachomidos.

Andreas Pereira’s free-kick from 25 yards shortly afterwards had Vlachodimos scrambling as it grazed the goalkeeper’s right-hand post.

And Fulham’s pressure paid off on the half-hour. Willian’s superb through-ball split the Forest defence and found Iwobi, who had the simplest of tasks in side-footing the ball back across Vlachodimos and into the corner of the goal for 1-0.

Murillo, the Brazilian, should have done better than fire over from the edge of the area at the other end, before Fulham were two up after a fine passing move - Iwobi’s through-ball being helped on by Pereira and finished brilliantly by Jiminez.

Forest appeared a beaten side already. Iwobi curled a beautiful shot from 25 yards just wide on the stroke of half-time which could have effectively killed the contest.

But Jimenez did add another – his second - after 54 minutes, outmuscling Ola Aina, taking the ball past Vlachodimos and impudently backheeling the ball into the net.

Cairney, so effective once again Clethodim’s, was the orchestrator of the fourth. He played in substitute Harry Wilson, whose cross was finished by Iwobi.

Then as Forest’s defence parted, Cairney got in on the act to make it 5-0.

Fulham fans were even afforded a round of ‘oles’ as their side took complete control.

The inevitable chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ were directed towards Forest boss Steve Cooper from the Fulham fans.

Forest fans cheered Cooper’s name in unwavering support.

But he needs to turn things round – and quickly.

For Fulham they can now look up and will be confident ahead of the visit of West Ham to the Cottage on Sunday.

Teams: Fulham: Leno, Bassey, Tosin, Jiminez, Cairney, Pereira, Willian (Wilson 76), Castagne, Iwobi (DeCordova-Reid 76), Palhinha, Robinson (Ballo-Toure 75)

Forest: Vlachomidos, Mangala, Sangare (Yates 45) , Hudson-Odoi (Danilo 58), Toffolo, Dominguez (Gibbs-White 45), Felipe (Niakhate 76), Elanga, Origi (Wood 58), Murillo, Aina

Referee: Josh Smith

Picture: Charlie Stong