Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) 13/04/24

 

Nottingham Forest 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Gibbs-White 45+1'                        Cunha 40', 60'

Danilo 57'

 

A fixture that’s bought some recent drama: Forest Vs Wolves. Some would call it a ‘Midlands derby’. Others may call it the ‘Morgan Gibbs-White derby’. But Reds’ fans knew this was labelled as a ‘must win’. The fight, passion and desire in their previous home fixture against Fulham had to be replicated.

 

Nuno’s old team travelled over from the West Midlands to City Ground, where they have had a good record; unbeaten in 6 games (3 wins, 3 draws). In recent form, the visitors were winless in 3, having their last-minute equaliser vs West Ham chalked off by VAR last week. As for Forest, they were coming off the back of a disappointing 3-1 away at Tottenham. Wolves top scorer, Matheus Cunha, returned for his first start after being sidelined with a hamstring injury since February. The Reds remained without Taiwo Awoniyi but Nuno Tavares recovered from his injury to make the bench.

 

The hosts got off to the better start, breaking forward and giving the Wolves’ defence some real problems. They continued to apply the pressure as Forest’s best chance fell to Gio Reyna, 20 yards out, following a poor pass out from the back but his low effort rolled just wide. Despite their momentum, Wolves were the closest to taking the lead. The Reds were building from the back before Joao Gomes latched onto a loose pass from Ryan Yates. He fired a shot goalwards past Matz Sels. Coming to Forest’s rescue was a back-pedalling Murillo; he got back onto the goal line and headed clear, before the follow up from Sarabia was blasted wide.

 

After a lively opening 30 minutes, the game seemed to settle. Although the Reds were much the better side, it was Wolves who broke the deadlock. Following a Forest attack, Jose Sa released the ball out to Cunha. He was up against Andrew Omobamidele who seemed to do well and force him to the left. As the forward broke into the box at a tight angle, Yates got back to help his teammate out and the danger looked to be blocked. However, the Brazilian wriggled away, unleashing a shot at goal. Sels got his fingertips to the strike but the pace took it beyond him into the top right corner to finish off a great solo run for Cunha.

 

Forest had a response to give. Reyna found himself standing over a corner on the left which was whipped in towards the near post. Excellent movement from Gibbs-White meant he was free from his marker, getting his head to the ball. Jose Sa seemed capable of catching the danger but the ball went through his hands and the City Ground erupted. Gibbs-White ran off to celebrate but before any of his teammates could join him, he stopped them, putting his fingers in his ears confidently in front of his former fans. They didn’t take this well but neither Gibbs-White or any of the Forest collective seemed to care as they went into the break honours even.

As they did the first half, the Reds opened the second half on top. Their hard work had paid off as they took the lead through Danilo. The young Brazilian and Gibbs-White linked up in midfield before Forest’s number 10 tried to play Chris Wood in, on the right side of the box. Matt Doherty picked out the pass but luckily for Gibbs-White the ball fell for him again. Doherty slid in to try and win the ball back, taking the Englishman with him and the ball fell back to the feet of Danilo. After taking a brilliant touch to control the ball, he poked a left-footed shot past Sa and ran off to do his trademark ‘gunfingers’ celebration.

 

It was set pieces that cost Forest yet again. Sarabia whipped in a deep corner from the right, where Max Kilman was stood back post unmarked and headed goalwards. Sels looked to punch the ball away but completely missed and following a scramble as the Reds tried to clear, it was Cunha again to find the net. This finish was much simpler, just having to tap it home, however he did nutmeg Murillo in the process.

 

This woke the hosts, as they looked to go in front again. Just minutes after the Wolves’ equaliser, Callum Hudson-Odoi got in behind but Sa rushed out and saved from a tight angle. After recycling the ball, Danilo took a shot from the edge of the area but Sa tipped behind for a corner. The visitors never looked like scoring from open play as they continued to be placed under pressure. In the dying minutes, 2 substitutes linked up as Rodrigo Ribiero played Divock Origi in behind the Wolves’ defence. Wood was running into the box which the Belgian saw but his attempt resembled neither a cross or a shot as it rolled wide of the far post.

 

In my opinion, we should’ve won the game. We were by far the better team and we never looked like conceding unless from a dead ball situation – Wolves scored from their only corner! We had so many chances and most we should’ve done better with; Origi’s chance was so frustrating. A lot of the time we find ourselves breaking forward and getting into good positions but the end product is just lacking, as we saw again on Saturday. I think Danilo played very well as did Murillo, especially with his goal line clearance proving to be vital. I’m glad Morgan did his celebration in front of the Wolves’ fans because if they give it, they have to take it. Right? I find their hatred towards him very strange. We move onto a massive fixture vs Everton on Sunday. You Reds!

 

Forest: Sels; William, Omobamidele, Murillo, Aina (Tavares 89'); Yates (Dominguez 66'), Danilo (Ribiero 89'); Reyna (Origi 71'), Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood 

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa; S.Bueno, Kilman, Toti; Semedo (Fraser 88'), Doyle, Lemina, Doherty (H.Bueno 59'); Gomes (Hee-Chan 59'); Sarabia (Chriewa 88'), Cunha (Traore 76')