Manager Marco Silva said Fulham had “a lot of battles ahead” despite their sensational comeback against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Fulham scored three goals in six minutes to secure their third win of the Premier League season so far.
“[The start of the season] has been really good. Also in some games at the beginning of the season we should have got more points because we deserved it,” Silva said.
“But it’s only seven games. It’s the start of the season. We go into the international break with confidence then we prepare for the next one.
“We have a lot of battles ahead of us. We are happy with how we started but we have to continue.”
Forest took an early lead when Taiwo Ooni headed in a corner but were stunned by Fulham’s brilliant second-half comeback.
Tosin Adarabioyo scored the equalizer after 54 minutes, before Joao Palhinha’s superb strike made it 2-1.
Before Forest could catch their breath, Harrison Reid struck in a third.
Towards the end of the second half Fulham looked to be in control but a superb flick from Forest substitute Jesse Lingard set Brennan Johnson free and he beat Lewis O’Brien.
Momentum swung back to Steve Cooper but time ran out to score another as Fulham held on for a victory that saw them move up to sixth in the table.
“It was an amazing feeling for us even if we lost a bit in the last few minutes and they believed they could score again,” added Silva.
“I have to congratulate the players because it’s very difficult to do what they did. It’s the way we work and prepare for the game to learn every single day.
“We are a group and a unit that is working hard to achieve. We believe in ourselves and always believe in ourselves.”
Meanwhile, it was the second Premier League match in a row Forest have thrown away a lead after their 2-0 advantage over Bournemouth ended in a 3-2 victory for the Cherries two weeks ago.
Fulham, who finished 10 points ahead of Forest in the Championship last season, had chances in both halves but were also heavily tested by the hosts.
Awoniyi and Morgan Gibbs-White both came close for Forest, while goalkeeper Dean Henderson was forced into saves to deny Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kenny Tete and Andreas Pereira.
In the end, a ruthless six minutes from Fulham did the damage as Forest were again humbled by the harsh realities of life back in the top flight.
Both teams had observed a minute’s silence prior to kick-off, before supporters sang the national anthem and applauded on the 70th minute in tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Forest concede more as Fulham continue progress
This was a match-up between two teams who spent last season battling in the Championship and it had the same physical edge to a game you would expect to see in the second tier of English football.
Both teams were full of energy and aggression which made for an intriguing spectacle at the City Ground.
Tackles flew in at both ends of the pitch – Steve Cook was perhaps fortunate to receive just a yellow card for a foul on Fulham’s Willian when he was through on goal, while Issa Diop clattered into Forest’s Johnson to concede a wasted free-kick on the edge of the box later in the first half.
But as the game developed the battles became less equal and momentum swung in favour of either team in large spells.
Fulham appeared to be in control when leading 3-1 before Lingard’s superb flick helped set-up O’Brien’s goal, making for a nervous ending in Nottingham.
Forest pushed and pushed for an equaliser – while Fulham still had chances of their own – before eventually the visitors could settle things down again and see out the win.
Cooper’s side have already shown plenty of threat during their short time in the Premier League but they have now conceded 14 goals in their last four defeats, which will need to be addressed.
“It has happened again. A few games now we have taken the lead and not managed it well enough,” said Forest boss Cooper.
