Fulham missed the chance to wrap up the Championship title after losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers would have gone up as champions had they bettered Bournemouth’s result at Swansea – where the Cherries produced a remarkable late comeback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3.
Fulham bossed possession and fired off 20 shots but were left to rue failing to find the net when Philip Zinckernagel broke the deadlock for the visitors in the 15th minute.
Fulham claimed there had been a foul on Neco Williams in the build-up but defender Tim Ream and goalkeeper Marek Rodak got themselves in a terrible tangle to allow the Danish forward to nip in and poke in.
Fabio Carvalho then fired an instant chance to equalise straight at Forest keeper Brice Samba before Aleksandar Mitrovic saw a header from a corner deflected over the crossbar.
Fulham began the second period with intent but it was Forest who could have extended their lead when Sam Surridge was denied at point-blank range by Rodak.
Forest continued to resist a barrage of Fulham pressure to hold on for a vital win – with Samba in superb form to deny efforts from Carvalho and Harry Wilson.