Nottingham Forest suffered their second defeat in three Premier League matches after Fulham secured a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage, capping off a demanding week for the Reds.
Nuno Espirito Santo chose the same lineup that demolished Brighton 7-0 in their previous league game, with three central defenders and Callum Hudson-Odoi returning to the bench.
Emile Smith Rowe gave Fulham the lead, scoring with a header from an excellent Adama Traore cross. However, Forest responded well and equalized just eight minutes before halftime, with Chris Wood netting his 18th goal of the season.
Despite this, Forest’s defensive weaknesses resurfaced, and they fell behind with 25 minutes remaining. Danilo allowed Raul Jimenez to flick a corner on to Calvin Bassey, whose header looped past Matz Sels in goal.
For Forest, it’s back to the drawing board. With matches against Newcastle, Arsenal, and Manchester City ahead, the team must now buckle down and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Nicolas Dominguez Voices Frustration with Nuno Espirito Santo after Forest Loss
It was a frustrating day for Nicolas Dominguez at Craven Cottage. After failing to start in the FA Cup match against Exeter, the Argentine again had to settle for a place on the bench under Espirito Santo. Unlike the St. James’ Park trip, however, Dominguez was not used at all in the game, with Ibrahim Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, and Jota Silva being the only substitutes who saw action while Forest chased the game.
Dominguez, a summer 2023 £8 million signing from Bologna, shared a photo on social media of himself and Ramon Sosa, with the caption “Warming the seat” and tagged Sosa. It was clear that the 26-year-old was frustrated with the manager’s decision. After possibly realizing the post might disrespect his coach, he quickly deleted it.
Dominguez’s Future at Forest Looks Uncertain
It’s curious that Dominguez always seems to be the player left out. Since Espirito Santo took charge, he has rarely been a regular starter and is often the first to make way when other players are available.
With Danilo starting and Sangare coming on as a substitute in yesterday’s match, Dominguez now faces the question of when he will get another chance in the Forest lineup.
The Argentine has never let the team down when given a start, making it hard to see him remaining at Forest for the 2025/26 season, especially with other clubs likely to show interest.
It’s unfortunate that Espirito Santo doesn’t seem to favor Dominguez, as he has the same gritty determination as Ryan Yates, combined with the ball-playing skills of someone like Danilo, who also seems to be ahead of him in the pecking order.
£8m Nottingham Forest star vents frustration at Nuno on social media but quickly deletes it after Fulham defeat
