Nottingham Forest suffered their second defeat in three Premier League games as Fulham secured a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage, capping off a grueling week for the Reds.
Nuno Espirito Santo chose to field the same lineup that delivered a stunning 7-0 win over Brighton in their previous top-flight match, deploying three central defenders and keeping Callum Hudson-Odoi on the bench.
Emile Smith Rowe broke the deadlock, heading home from a superb cross by Adama Traore. However, Forest responded well and equalized eight minutes before halftime when Chris Wood netted his 18th goal of the season.
Defensive vulnerabilities resurfaced, though, and Forest fell behind with 25 minutes remaining. Danilo failed to prevent Raul Jimenez from flicking on a corner, allowing Calvin Bassey to loop an unstoppable header past Matz Sels in the Forest goal.
From a Forest perspective, it’s now a matter of going back to the drawing board. With upcoming Premier League fixtures against Newcastle, Arsenal, and Manchester City, the team must regroup and show resilience.
Nicolas Dominguez admits frustration with Nuno Espirito Santo after Forest defeat:
It was a frustrating afternoon for Dominguez at Craven Cottage. After being left out of the starting lineup against Exeter in the FA Cup, the Argentine once again found himself among the substitutes in Espirito Santo’s team.
Unlike the trip to St James’ Park, however, Dominguez remained unused yesterday, with Ibrahim Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, and Jota Silva being the only substitutes to enter the fray as Forest chased the game.
Dominguez – an £8 million signing from Bologna in the summer of 2023 – took to social media after the match, posting a picture of himself with Ramon Sosa alongside the words, which translated to “Warming the seat,” and tagging the Paraguayan international.
Clearly, the 26-year-old was furious with Espirito Santo’s decision. Dominguez often finds himself as the fall guy, and after a draining week, he may have realized the post was disrespectful to his head coach, deleting it shortly afterward.
Dominguez seems certain to leave Forest this summer:
It’s puzzling that Dominguez consistently appears to be the player dropped from the lineup. Since Espirito Santo’s arrival, he has rarely been considered a regular starter and is often the first to be benched when other players are available.
With Danilo starting and Sangare coming off the bench yesterday, Dominguez must now wonder when he will next get an opportunity to play for Forest.
The Argentine has never let the team down when given the chance to start. As a result, it’s hard to imagine him remaining at Forest by the time the 2025/26 season kicks off, with other clubs likely lining up to secure his services.
It’s a genuine shame that Dominguez doesn’t seem to be favored by Espirito Santo. He possesses the tenacity of Ryan Yates and the technical ability of Danilo, who currently appears to be ahead of him in the pecking order.
