Raúl Jiménez had already gone close with one header from a right-wing Adama Traoré cross when, on 15 minutes, he swung a ball in towards the back post for Emile Smith Rowe to nod in from close range.
All logic says that his golden streak must end soon – this was his 18th Premier League goal this season from 46 shots, which is to say a goal every 2.56 shots when one in nine would be considered standard – and yet it goes on and on.
But, a year less a week since his only other strike for Fulham, the 25-year-old headed his first goal at Craven Cottage and so Nottingham Forest joined the short list of Falkirk, Volendam and Manchester United as teams he has scored against.
Qualification for the Europa Conference League is still possible but with greater ruthlessness Fulham could easily have had the extra five or six points that would have put them on the fringes of the battle for the Champions League spots.
Jiménez flicked on Lukic’s corner and Bassey stole off the back of Wood to plant his header back across goal and into the top corner.
