Britt Assombalonga hat-trick deflates Fulham fightback

Nottingham Forest's record signing Britt Assombalonga scored a hat-trick to kill off a Fulham comeback, after the London club fought back from two goals down to lead late on in the game.

Forest scored twice within three minutes to retake a lead they had previously wasted earlier on in the game.

Two goals from striker Ross McCormack and Hugo Rodallega looked to have won Fulham their first three points of the season after fighting back from a first-half Assombalonga brace.

Forest took the lead within the first 10 minutes as record summer signing Assombalonga nodded home an Henri Lansbury free kick to put the pressure on Fulham.

The Reds then doubled their lead as Assombalonga converted from the spot, his second of the game and seventh of the season, after Dan Burn tripped Michail Antonio in the box to concede the penalty.

McCormack curled in a free kick on the half-hour mark to give the visitors hope going into half time.

Fulham equalised after the break as a lofted through-ball from Fernando Amorebieta was expertly volleyed by Rodallega into the bottom corner to leave the Forest goalkeeper stranded.

Fulham then looked to have completed the comeback from being two goals down as McCormack bagged his second of the game thanks to an assist from Rodallega.

Forest netted twice in quick succession with 10 minutes remaining to retake the lead, with Antonio getting on the score sheet and Assombalonga to nod in his third.

Jamie Paterson rounded off the game with a 89th-minute goal after slotting past Gabor Kiraly to make it 5-3.

Nottingham Forest now remain unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions and go to the top of the Championship table, while Fulham stay bottom with just a point.