Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Player Ratings: Raul Jimenez Rises to the Occasion in Gritty 1-0 Home Victory

Fulham edged out Nottingham Forest in a narrow 1-0 victory that was decided by a single moment of brilliance. Neither side wanted to give an inch. The game felt like it was destined for a goalless draw for the majority of the period. However, the deadlock was finally broken from the penalty spot. Kevin's tricky run into the box proved too much for the opposition. He drew a clumsy challenge from Douglas Luiz. Raúl Jiménez stepped up with ice in his veins. He confidently dispatched the penalty to give the Cottagers the lead. Nottingham Forest huffed and puffed in response. They struggled to carve out any clear-cut chances against a resilient Fulham backline. It was a deserved win for the hosts in the end. They showed just that little bit more quality in the final third when it mattered in this Premier League clash. Here are Sportsdunia's Fulham vs Nottingham Forest player ratings.

Fulham Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Check out the Fulham player ratings for the Fulham vs Nottingham Forest fixture.

Goalkeeper

Bernd Leno - 7.0: It wasn't the busiest of nights for the German keeper. He only had to make two saves. What stood out to us was his command of the area, coming for two high claims and punching away danger twice. His distribution was a bit mixed, with only 24% of his long balls finding their target. Still, he was a calm presence and recovered the ball 13 times, showing good awareness to sweep up behind his defence.

Defenders

Kenny Tete - 7.5: A really strong performance from the right-back. He was immense in his defensive duties, winning a staggering six out of eight duels. We noticed he was a brick wall for Forest's attackers. He also provided an attacking outlet, creating a big chance with a key pass.

Joachim Andersen - 7.0: The captain led by example at the heart of the defence. He was a clearing machine, racking up eight clearances throughout the match. His positioning was excellent. He also made a crucial block to deny a goal-scoring opportunity. The yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise commanding and solid defensive display.

Jorge Cuenca - 7.5: We were thoroughly impressed by Cuenca's composure on the ball. He had 89 touches and an 82% pass accuracy, demonstrating his comfort in possession. Defensively, he was just as good, with six clearances and two blocked shots. He read the game beautifully and was a key part of why Fulham kept a clean sheet.

Antonee Robinson - 6.5: A mixed bag from Robinson. Offensively, he was a threat, creating two chances and putting in some dangerous crosses. However, his final product was inconsistent, and he lost possession a concerning 20 times. His error almost led to a shot for Forest.

Midfielders

Harry Wilson - 6.0: A quiet game for Wilson, who struggled to impose himself on the match before being substituted. He worked hard and won his tackles, but he was often on the periphery of the action. With only 29 touches, he couldn't find the space to use his creative talents.

Sander Berge - 6.5: Berge was neat and tidy in midfield, boasting a 91% pass completion rate. He kept things simple and ticking over. He was strong in the air, winning four of his five aerial duels. From our perspective, he did his job effectively without being spectacular before he was taken off.

Saša Lukić - 8.0: What a performance from the Serbian midfielder. He was absolutely everywhere, a true engine in the middle of the park. He won a remarkable eight out of twelve duels, dominating his one-on-one battles. On top of his defensive work, he created three chances for his teammates. It was a complete midfield display that really set the tone for Fulham's control of the game.

Kevin - 8.5: Our man of the match. His directness and skill were a constant nightmare for the Forest defence. He won the decisive penalty with a clever run and was always looking to make things happen. He completed three of five dribbles and won a remarkable nine duels. His performance was the key that unlocked a stubborn defence and won the game for his team.

Emile Smith Rowe - 7.0: Smith Rowe showed his class on the ball with an excellent 92% pass accuracy. He worked tirelessly off the ball, too, making 10 ball recoveries. He linked play nicely between the midfield and the attack. What was missing was that killer final ball or shot.

Forwards

Raúl Jiménez - 7.5: The match-winner. He showed immense composure to slot home the penalty under pressure. Beyond the goal, it was a bit of a frustrating night for him. He had five shots, but only one was on target, and he missed a big chance he'd usually score. Despite that, his goal was the difference, and that's what strikers are judged on.

Manager

M. Saraiva Da Silva - 7.5: He got his tactics spot on. Fulham looked solid at the back and controlled the midfield for large parts of the game. The decision to let players like Kevin and Lukić express themselves paid off handsomely. It was a disciplined and professional performance from his team to grind out a vital three points at home.

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs Fulham

Check out the Nottingham Forest player ratings for the Fulham vs Nottingham Forest fixture.

Goalkeeper

John Victor - 6.0: He couldn't do anything about the penalty, which was well-taken. Outside of that, he had a very quiet evening with no saves recorded. His distribution was okay, but he wasn't really tested by Fulham's attack. It's tough to rate him higher or lower in a game decided by one moment he was powerless to stop.

Defenders

Neco Williams - 6.0: Williams was a willing runner down the right flank, getting into advanced positions. However, his end product was lacking, and he was wasteful in possession, losing the ball 21 times. Defensively, he was okay, but his attacking contribution was ultimately fruitless.

Murillo - 6.5: Murillo had some good moments, with four clearances and a couple of important blocks. He looked comfortable on the ball for the most part. However, he was also dribbled past and seemed to struggle with the movement of Fulham's attackers at times.

Nikola Milenković - 6.0: It was a difficult night for the central defender. While his passing was accurate, he was dribbled past twice and only won a quarter of his defensive duels. He didn't look as commanding as he usually does. He struggled to contain Jiménez and the movement around him.

Nicolò Savona - 5.5: He really struggled to make an impact on the game. He was dribbled past and lost possession cheaply on several occasions before being substituted. He looked off the pace and couldn't handle the trickery of Fulham's wingers.

Midfielders

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 6.0: We expected more from a player of his quality. His passing was neat with 92% accuracy, but he was far too safe. He created a couple of half-chances but never really took the game by the scruff of the neck. He went missing for long periods and was a peripheral figure for much of the contest.

Elliot Anderson - 5.5: Anderson saw a lot of the ball, with 91 touches, but he did very little with it. He lost possession 19 times and his duel success rate was incredibly low. He seemed to be chasing shadows in midfield and couldn't get a foothold in the game.

Morgan Gibbs-White - 5.0: A really disappointing game from the captain. He was completely anonymous. He lost eight of his nine duels and struggled to link up with his teammates. From our perspective, he looked frustrated and unable to influence the proceedings at all.

Douglas Luiz - 5.0: His performance will, unfortunately, be defined by one moment of madness. The clumsy challenge to give away the penalty was the decisive moment of the match. Outside of that, his passing was tidy as usual, but such a critical error cannot be overlooked.

Omari Hutchinson - 4.5: A nightmare of a game for the midfielder. He made an error leading to a shot, was dribbled past three times, and his crossing was abysmal. He looked completely out of his depth. What stood out to us was his lack of confidence in the ball. He was the worst performer on the pitch by a considerable margin.

Forwards

Igor Jesus - 6.5: He was a real handful physically, winning an impressive nine duels and six aerial battles. He worked his socks off for the team. The big issue was his finishing. He had four shots but couldn't direct any of them on target. His work rate was commendable, but a striker needs to be more clinical.

Manager

S. Dyche - 5.5: His team looked disjointed and lacked any real attacking ideas. They were solid enough for a while, but were undone by an individual error. The substitutions didn't change the flow of the game, and Forest never really looked like scoring. A frustrating day at the office for the manager, who couldn't find a way to break Fulham down.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Kevin