Fulham 5-0 Nottingham Forest: Fans again Cooper regardless of thrashing

Even after seeing their staff undergo the mom of all collapses at Craven Cottage, Nottingham Forest’s supporters had been nonetheless singing at full-time and it was Steve Cooper’s title on their lips.

They shall be without end grateful for his contribution to their membership. How he took over after they had been backside of the Championship. How he led them to the Premier League. How he saved them there.

Cooper approached the away finish after this night of embarrassment. He confirmed them his fingers. They confirmed him their love. If that is goodbye, it’s a sorry option to go.

Cooper can solely hope Evangelos Marinakis just isn’t in a two-for-one temper, having already sacked the supervisor of the opposite membership he owns this week. He doesn’t wish to undergo the identical destiny that befell Diego Martinez of Olympiacos, although this fourth straight Premier League loss piled on the strain after which some. Not least as a result of Marinakis was at Craven Cottage to witness it.

It is known Marinakis didn’t see the scenes between the supporters and Cooper on the finish, having left his seat with 20 minutes to spare. The Forest proprietor’s accreditation lanyard was even allegedly discovered deserted within the bush of a neighborhood entrance backyard, suggesting he exited in a single hell of a huff.

Raul Jimenez and Alex Iwobi each scored twice for Fulham in emphatic victory

Iwobi set the Cottagers on their means by changing Willian’s fantastically whipped cross

Jimenez doubled the lead 4 minutes later by firing emphatically into the highest proper nook

Cooper was brutally sincere afterwards, saying: ‘I deserve the criticism. I deserve the blame. It’s on me. Please don’t be writing about anything aside from me. I’ve to take possession.’

On the present of help from Forest’s followers at full-time, he continued: ‘It’s embarrassing. I don’t deserve it. I heard it. I’m grateful. But on the identical time, it’s embarrassing to suppose I can get that off the again of what they’ve seen, which is in the end my accountability.’

Try as he would possibly to take the blame, it was not Cooper who half-heartedly misplaced 50-50s, or withdrew from challenges, or misplaced their foot races, or left opponents unmarked. That was on the gamers, who let down their supervisor and should want to think about what they did to earn their wages right here.

History tells us there have been seven Premier League managers whose closing match in control of their membership was away at Fulham. Steven Gerrard stays the newest sufferer, sacked after Aston Villa’s 3-0 loss right here in October 2022. Hoping the curse of Craven Cottage wouldn’t come for him, Cooper made 5 modifications to his staff from their latest 1-0 loss to Everton.

By the time Fulham opened the scoring within the thirtieth minute, Forest can’t say it was not coming and it began with Ibrahim Sangare surrendering possession in midfield. Fulham surged ahead at velocity with Willian’s cross discovering Alex Iwobi, performed onside on the again put up by Murillo.

Fulham doubled their lead simply 4 minutes later with but extra naive defending from Forest. Iwobi handed to Andreas Pereira, who poked the ball in behind for Raul Jimenez to blast it past goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

‘Sacked in the morning,’ sang Fulham’s followers. Cooper’s 5 modifications, together with dropping Morgan Gibbs-White and swapping out half of his defence, had not labored.

Jimenez rounded goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos earlier than scoring with a cheeky back-heel

Fulham scored their third within the 54th minute when Jimenez out-muscled Ola Aina earlier than skipping round Vlachodimos. Shovelling salt into Forest wounds, he scored with a backheel – the cheeky end of a centre ahead glad to be again amongst the targets.

Marco Silva celebrated every purpose with nice gusto. He beforehand managed Marinakis’ Olympiacos in 2015-16 earlier than stepping down on account of private causes. Silva and Marinakis are believed to nonetheless get pleasure from a respectful relationship, although the Fulham boss did his former employer no favours right here. Speaking afterwards, Silva stated he felt for Cooper.

In the 73rd minute, Iwobi secured his second of the evening with such ease that it seemingly prompted Marinakis’ exit. In the 86th minute, Tom Cairney broke behind Forest’s defence to make this a five-star exhibiting from Fulham.

Crushed, Cooper might solely apologise to the away finish. He hopes to see them for the sport in opposition to Wolves on Saturday, however can’t assure it.

Substitute Tom Cairney accomplished the rout by scoring the fifth purpose within the 86th minute

Nottingham Forest followers issued agency backing to supervisor Steve Cooper regardless of the defeat