Fulham produced a fantastic second-half attacking display and came from behind to win at City Ground in Nottingham. The London team scored three times in just six minutes to turn the game around and managed to hang on to the points despite the home team’s scoring another goal and ensuring a tight finish to the match.Forest got off to a perfect start as one of the close season’s signings, Taiwo Awoniyi, gave the Reds the lead with a cool finish at the far post just ten minutes into the game.Former Arsenal man Willian started his first match for the Cottagers and looked lively. Still, the visitors needed a team effort rather than relying on their star man Aleksandar Mitrovic to provide them with goals.Just two weeks ago, Forest led against another newly-promoted team, Bournemouth, 2-0 at the break. And they ended up losing 3-2. Did they learn anything from their second-half collapse? It looks not.Strong defender Tosin Adarabioyo escaped his markers and met Willian’s right-wing corner, sending his header beyond Dean Henderson’s reach. It was his first Premier League goal – and what a time for it!Just three minutes later, the game was turned on its head. Portuguese midfielder Joao Palhinha hit an unstoppable drive from outside the area to make it 2-1 for Marco Silva’s team.Fulham scored their third goal in just six minutes when Harrison Reed finished off a fine counter-attack by thumping a volley low into the net for 3-1.The hosts were in a state of knockdown, but a flurry of substitutes from Cooper gave his team a much-needed impulse of energy and one of the newly-introduced players, Lewis O’Brien, slammed in a partially cleared ball to get his team back in contention.However, the Londoners held on to claim three precious points on the road. It’s back to the drawing board for Steve Cooper and his army of fresh recruits.At Villa Park, Steven Gerrard’s team managed to get a much-needed win and relieve the pressure that was beginning to mount on their manager.Gerrard needed three points to kickstart the season, and his side looked like a time going for the win. Fuelled by Philippe Coutinho, who was notably in the mood, the Villans were the better team and got the deserved goal just before the break when Jacob Ramsey scored from close range after Gavin Bazunu could only push away an Ollie Watkins header.It felt like a huge burden had been lifted from the home players’ shoulders, but their work hadn’t been completed. It was a nervy game, but the home side managed to hold on to the lead and probably could have added another goal. There are still worries for Gerrard, though, because his first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez seemingly suffered a potential recurrence of his injury that made his appearance questionable leading up to the match. This weekend, at least, Villa fans will get to relax.PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 8FridayAston Villa – Southampton 1-0 (1-0)/Ramsey 41/Nottingham Forest – Fulham 2-3 (1-0)/Awoniyi 11, O’Brien 77 – Adarabioyo 54, Palhinha 57, Reed 60/Saturday14:30: (9.00) Wolverhampton (5.20) Man.City (1.38)17:00: (1.50) Newcastle (4.30) Bournemouth (7.75)19:30: (1.50) Tottenham (4.50) Leicester (7.25)Sunday14:00: (4.60) Brentford (3.70) Arsenal (1.85)16:15: (3.10) Everton (3.20) West Ham (2.55)***odds are subject to change***
