Dan Ndoye’s disallowed strike frustrates hosts as crucial Premier League clash ends 0–0 at the City Ground
A tense afternoon at the City Ground ended in frustration for Nottingham Forest as they were held to a 0–0 draw by Fulham in the Premier League, with VAR denying the hosts a potentially decisive winner.
Despite dominating much of the second half and creating the clearer chances, Forest could not find a breakthrough against a disciplined Fulham defence led by goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The result still proved valuable for the hosts, who temporarily climbed out of the relegation zone on goal difference, keeping their survival hopes alive.
VAR heartbreak for the hosts
The match burst into life after the interval when Forest manager Vítor Pereira introduced fresh attacking options. Substitute Dan Ndoye appeared to have delivered the moment the home fans had been waiting for when he fired into the net in the 63rd minute.
However, celebrations were cut short as the VAR review ruled the winger marginally offside in the build-up. Ndoye later had another promising effort chalked off for the same reason, leaving Forest wondering what might have been.
“We pushed hard and created chances, but sometimes football is decided by inches,” a frustrated Forest voice admitted after the game. “The important thing is we keep fighting.”
Fulham hold their ground
Fulham, managed by Marco Silva, remained organised throughout the contest and looked dangerous on the counterattack. Forwards such as Raúl Jiménez and Harry Wilson tried to exploit spaces behind Forest’s defence, while midfielders like Alex Iwobi helped maintain control in the middle of the pitch.
Still, the visitors also struggled to create clear-cut chances, resulting in a match where effort outweighed attacking precision.
Survival battle intensifies
The draw means Forest moved just outside the relegation places, though their fight to remain in the top flight remains precarious with several tough fixtures still to come. The club has endured a difficult run in the league and has not recorded a home victory since December, highlighting the pressure on Pereira and his squad.
For Fulham, the point keeps them comfortably in mid-table but does little to revive their push for a higher finish.
Match snapshot
Result: Nottingham Forest 0–0 Fulham
Venue: City Ground
Key moment: Dan Ndoye’s goal ruled out by VAR for offside
Standout performer: Bernd Leno (Fulham) for crucial saves
While the scoreline read goalless, the drama was anything but quiet. For Forest, the point may prove vital in the relegation battle — yet the disallowed goal will linger as a painful reminder of a win that slipped away by the narrowest of margins.
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