Fulham ease past Forest to move into top seven

A stunning first-half strike from Willian and a late Manor Solomon goal was enough to separate the sides as Marco Silva's side move into the top seven.

They have now reached 35 points for the campaign, and that is more than what the average has been to avoid relegation in the last six seasons, so Fulham can now focus purely on a battle for Europe.

Forest have dropped a place to 14th after Leicester City's win today, but they still have a healthy buffer between themselves and the drop zone.

Fulham entered the weekend in a buoyant mood after a draw at their West London rivals Chelsea last weekend, and a win at Sunderland to reach the FA Cup Fifth Round in midweek.

Forest started the day six points clear of the relegation zone having gone five games unbeaten in the Premier League, but within five minutes, Steve Cooper's plans were thrown into disarray.

Centre-back duo Willy Boly and Joe Worrall both pulled up meaning Felipe and Scott McKenna were forced on to form a brand new pairing at the back for Forest.

It was quickly revealed that both were taken off with hamstring injuries to add to their already lengthy list of absentees, giving Cooper a huge defensive headache.

Fulham took advantage and were dominant in all areas of the pitch for the entire opening 45 minutes, and grabbed the opening goal early on too, after just 17 minutes.

Following a scramble in the area, the ball broke to Willian who had a sea of red shirts in front of him, but was able to put his Brazilian compatriot Renan Lodi on the floor before firing an exquisite strike into the top left corner.

The chances kept on coming for the hosts too, as Aleksandar Mitrovic was denied by Keylor Navas at close range after some excellent footwork left the Forest defence in his wake.

Bobby Decordova-Reid rattled the crossbar with an optimistic effort shortly after, and Andreas Pereira also flashed an effort wide of Navas's goal as Fulham were left wondering how the game was still only 1-0.

Silva's side started the second half in the same fashion when Willian cut inside one again, this time from the opposite side, and unleashed another superb strike which clattered Navas's left-hand post.

The visitors came back into it around the hour mark though, and the introduction of new signing Jonjo Shelvey helped them retain possession and maintain pressure on the Fulham goal.

It was Shelvey's dangerous cross which created Forest's best chance of the game, when Serge Aurier met it well, but was denied by Bernd Leno, who covered his front post well.

Forest struggled to create much else despite having more of the ball, and Fulham finally put the game to bed late on with Solomon's first goal in Fulham colours to make it 2-0.

Fulham travel to fellow European-chasers Brighton & Hove Albion next weekend in what will be a very intriguing clash between two overachieving sides.

After a disappointing result, Forest welcome Manchester City to the City Ground in their next league outing in what will be a devilishly difficult test for Cooper's men.