Nottingham Forest suffered their second loss in three Premier League games as Fulham secured a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage, capping off a draining week for the Reds.
Nuno Espirito Santo stuck with the same lineup that thrashed Brighton 7-0, keeping three central defenders and leaving Callum Hudson-Odoi on the bench. The game started brightly for Forest as Emile Smith Rowe scored with a header from Adama Traore’s pinpoint cross. However, Forest fought back, and Chris Wood equalized with his 18th goal of the season just before halftime.
Defensive errors returned in the second half. Danilo allowed Raul Jimenez to flick on a corner, and Calvin Bassey sealed the win for Fulham with a towering header past Matz Sels. With tough fixtures against Newcastle, Arsenal, and Manchester City up next, Forest must regroup quickly.
Nicolas Dominguez expressed frustration after being left on the bench once again. Despite not starting in the FA Cup against Exeter, he also remained unused at Craven Cottage, with substitutes Ibrahim Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, and Jota Silva getting the nod instead. Dominguez posted a social media message that read “Warming the seat,” tagging teammate Ramon Sosa. However, he deleted the post shortly after.
Dominguez, signed for £8 million in 2023 from Bologna, has consistently been overlooked by Espirito Santo. Although reliable when called upon, he’s rarely seen as a regular starter. With Danilo and Sangare favored, Dominguez’s future at Forest looks uncertain, and he’s likely to move on in the summer transfer window.
It’s unfortunate, as Dominguez offers the tenacity of Ryan Yates and the passing ability of Danilo. Yet, under Espirito Santo, he remains low in the pecking order, leaving Forest fans to wonder what could have been.
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