Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker and pundit Alan Shearer were both left dumbfounded by the fact that Nottingham Forest saw both starting centre-backs Willy Boly and Scott McKenna substituted through injury within the first seven minutes of their 2-0 defeat at Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
Both defenders appeared to pick up similar injuries in the same passage of play, forcing Forest boss Steve Cooper to replace his current favoured pairing with Joe Worrall and Felipe.
The Reds couldn't recover from the early blow as Willian gave the hosts the lead in the 17th minute with a pinpoint strike before Manor Solomon wrapped up the Cottagers' first league victory in four matches late in the second half.
READ MORE: What Steve Cooper told Nottingham Forest players after 'frustrations' in Fulham defeat
It was certainly unlucky for the visitors, with Linker saying: "Forest, losing two centre-halves as early as seven minutes. It's the earliest I think in Premier League history that a team has had to make two substitutions."
"I've never seen that before," Shearer responded. "Same position, same passage of play, same injury. You get the feeling that it's not going to be your day after seven minutes when both centre-halves have got to go off."
Shearer's fellow pundit Danny Murphy admitted that Forest were 'unlucky' but reserved plenty of praise for their opponent and the job Marco Silva is doing at Craven Cottage.
"Incredible," he said. "It's been a night for praising managers hasn't it and none less than him [Marco Silva]. He's done a remarkable job and I wasn't quite sure when they first came up to be honest. The recruitment's been great. One of the reasons they've been able to maintain this great form, which I thought, personally, they wouldn't be able to, is because of their great recruitment.
"Willian's been sensational, he was again brilliant today. He was great against Chelsea in the draw last week. He seems reenergised, as sharp as ever. He's enjoying his football. He's playing off the left-hand side but he's getting into dangerous areas and he occupies players. His decision making is brilliant. No one dives in on him which allows people to get around him and he always picks the right pass.
"Second half, they [Forest] couldn't really control him. He's got that desire to go into dangerous areas where he can affect the game. Fulham were at it today. Forest were unlucky. Losing both centre-halves, bizarre situation. Brilliant, brilliant season and long may it continue."
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