Nottingham Forest escaped the relegation zone on goal difference after a 0-0 draw against Fulham, yet head coach Vitor Pereira remains without a win in his four Premier League matches in charge.
Forest found themselves in the bottom three on Saturday night following West Ham’s surprising draw with Manchester City. However, they reclaimed their position just under 24 hours later in a lackluster match at the City Ground.
Midway through the second half, Dan Ndoye seemed to have scored a vital goal for the hosts by slipping the ball past Bernd Leno, but it was disallowed for offside after a VAR review.
Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye had his goal ruled out for this offside decision
Ndoye, who was brought on at halftime, made an immediate impact by winning a penalty from Calvin Bassey, which was later overturned due to another offside ruling. Pereira’s substitutions, including Omari Hutchinson, improved Forest’s attacking threat, with right-back Ola Aina coming closest to scoring with a shot that hit the crossbar.
Despite their position in 11th, Fulham failed to register a shot on target, although Bassey forced a brilliant save from Matz Sels in the first half—also ruled offside. Rodrigo Muniz’s goal-bound volley was deflected out by Aina, and Sasa Lukic’s narrow miss ensured both teams settled for a point.
Pereira: Relegation battle is a marathon
Vitor Pereira stated after the match to Sky Sports: “I am very happy with my players for their effort and our supporters for their unwavering support. This isn’t a quick sprint; it’s a marathon that requires mental strength. While we missed an opportunity today, we will have another chance in the next game. Our objective is to fight for points regardless of where we play.”
Silva: Clean sheet is promising
Marco Silva told Sky Sports: “The first half was balanced, but we had limited chances. It was a game that needed a goal to become more open. In the second half, it became more fragmented, but maintaining a clean sheet is a positive outcome for us, something we’ve been striving for this season.”
Forest’s ongoing struggles with luck
Analysis from Sky Sports’ Callum Bishop: Nottingham Forest continues to struggle in front of goal, with 11 shots that produced no results. The offside call against Ndoye was especially narrow, affecting the result. Errors and misfortune have hindered Forest’s momentum, especially in the challenging battle near the bottom of the table.
Match statistics
