Jokanovic boys Luc good bet to go up
LUCAS PIAZON and Stefan Johansen helped Fulham keep up their promotion push with second-half strikes against a new-look Forest.
Both seized on mistakes to make it five Championship wins in a row, extending the Cottagers’ unbeaten league run to eight matches.
Forest boss Aitor Karanka shipped out six players and brought in seven last week.
He named three debutants but a familiar face in Joe Worrall kept Forest level in the 11th minute.
Johansen cut the ball back for Piazon whose goalbound shot was cleared off the line by the defender.
Oliver Norwood then forced Costel Pantilimon, another making his debut in the Forest goal, into a save at full stretch with a 20-yard shot.
Worrall almost broke the deadlock when he met Kieran Dowell’s corner but the ball bounced back off the post.
Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic sent for fellow Serbian Aleksandar Mitrovic, one of their two signings on deadline day, in the 54th minute.
The striker had barely played for Newcastle this season but he helped the Magpies up from this division last year. He was immediately involved as Piazon fired wide before Ryan Sessegnon’s header from Ryan Fredericks’ cross just cleared the bar.
But Fulham were gifted the lead when Pantilimon failed to hold Piazon’s shot and the ball squirmed past him for the 67th-minute opener.
And Johansen clinched the win in the 90th minute, keeping cool after pouncing on a Worrall mistake.
Jokanovic said: “Five wins in a row and six straight wins at home is a positive sensation.
“We knew today wasn’t going to be an easy game for us and at the end my team showed quality, trust and that they can play good football.
“We scored two goals and got three points, which is very important.”
Karanka said: “It will take time for these players to gel but the main thing for me is the attitude.
“If we continue to work with the attitude we had today, good football will arrive, goals will arrive.”