Fulham Thrash Nottingham Forest 5-0
Manager Steve Cooper said he was “embarrassed” but “grateful” to still have the support of Nottingham Forest fans after suffering a five-goal demolition against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Despite being well beaten, Forest fans showed their support for under-fire Cooper as they roared the Welshman’s name even after the fourth strike hit the back of the net, sending a clear message to owner Evangelos Marinakis in the stands.
Welshman Cooper cut a forlorn figure on the touchline as his side slumped to a disappointing defeat in west London, but the fans in the away end had his back and could be heard roaring his name.
After the game, Cooper walked over to the Forest supporters with his hands in the air apologising for the manner of the performance, but they persisted with positive chants for their boss.
It seems Cooper still has credit in the bank following that successful campaign in the second tier when he brought a halt to the club’s 24-year exile from the top-flight, and for keeping the Reds in the Premier League last season.
Cooper told BBC Match of the Day: “It means so much but I’m personally embarrassed, I’m grateful, of course, but I don’t deserve that [support].
“Regardless of who is playing, who the manager is, you can’t let these people down like that – you just can’t.
“We’ve shown over the last few years how important this club is to the city and the joy that it has given, so to not represent it in the way that it should be is hurtful. I take responsibility for that.
“I didn’t deserve that tonight from the supporters – we all let them down and we have to take responsibility.”
Iwobi set the Cottagers on their way to victory after 30 minutes when he beat the offside trap to convert Willian’s beautifully whipped cross, before Jimenez doubled the lead four minutes later by firing emphatically into the top right corner.
The Mexican forward showed strength and composure to grab his second and Fulham’s third early in the second half, shrugging off Forest defender Ola Aina, rounding goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos and then dispatching a cheeky back-heel
Iwobi found was allowed far too much space in the box and met Harry Wilson’s cross to score Fulham’s fourth, and the scoring was rounded off by substitute Tom Cairney late on as Forest’s defence was nowhere to be seen.
The win moves Fulham up to 12th with an 11-point cushion to the relegation zone, while Forest – with just one win in their last 11 matches in the Premier League – are three points further back in 16th.
