Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) 31/08/24

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 

Wood 10'                                      Bellegarde 12'

 

Wolves. A team we can never seem to beat. The last two fixtures at the City Ground ended all square. At Molineux, last season’s game ended 1-1 and in our return to the top-flight, we were narrowly defeated 1-0 to a penalty. This fixture has always been exciting and brings drama with it. Morgan Gibbs-White rattling his old club’s fans. But could he use the buzz of his England call-up to drive us to our first league victory against Wolves since 2018?

Wolves hadn’t started the league campaign well, losing their two opening games against Arsenal and Chelsea. Their away record has been poor, seven games without a win. As for the Reds, they have started the season unbeaten following the opening day draw to Bournemouth and an away win at St Marys. However, Forest haven’t won at home since the 3-1 win vs Fulham at the start of April.

After an introduction to the City Ground, deadline day signings, Morato and James Ward-Prowse, the game got underway. It was Gary O’Neill’s side who almost took the lead very early on. Wolves picked the ball up on the halfway line and drove forward through Matheus Cunha. Neco Williams was caught ball-watching in a poor position leaving Rayan Ait-Nouri in a promising position. Cunha slipped him the ball and he managed to nutmeg Matz Sels, who did slow the ball down on its way to the goal. To the rescue was Murillo, scrambling to get back and clear for a corner. Wolves looked to be gaining momentum, but it was Forest who got themselves in front. The Reds won themselves a corner from the right. Elliot Anderson whipped in a delightful corner, compared to our usual attempts. Chris Wood was left unmarked at the back post, a clever block from Sangare giving him the space needed to take advantage. His powerful header had nestled in the bottom right corner as the men in gold could only stand and watch. Forest score from a corner, can you believe it?!

Blink and you would have missed how long Forest’s lead lasted. Wolves took a throw in which Nikola Milenkovic looked to have cleared to Ibrahim Sangare. The Ivorian tried to clear even further up the field and Callum Hudson-Odoi tried to win the second ball and get Forest up the pitch but he was challenged by Mario Lemina. The ball landed beautifully for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, outside the box, and his first time finish was unstoppable. He unleashed the strike, leaving Sels with no chance as it hit the top corner. The game started to even out with both sides creating half chances. The next big chance landed at the feet of Gibbs-White around 30 yards out. Hudson-Odoi had won Forest a free kick which Gibbs-White whipped over the Wolves’ wall. It looked to be creeping into the top left corner but new goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone, got across to tip it behind for a corner.

Forest were asking referee Simon Hooper for a penalty as the first half came to a close. Gibbs-White crossed in a ball, looking for Wood at the back post but as the striker looked to chest it down, it hit the elbow of Jorgen Strand Larsen. Hooper said the Norwegian wasn’t looking at the ball, therefore no penalty would be awarded.

Nuno’s side came out fighting after the interval, they pinned Wolves back, looking for the chance to take the lead. They came close through Anderson. Gibbs-White found the England under 21 midfielder just inside the box. His angle was getting tighter and with Yerson Mosquera closing him down, his shot was deflected just over the crossbar. Forest came even closer through another Chris Wood header. Hudson-Odoi, wide on the left, played into Gibbs-White who turned and lofted a ball towards the Kiwi. He tried to head the ball beyond Johnstone but the ‘keeper stuck out a big hand to make a brilliant save.

Wolves were next to ask for a spot kick for a handball. The visitors lofted their free-kick into the back post where Craig Dawson and Lemina were lurking. Wood was the man marking Dawson but he was too focused on his task that the ball struck his outstretched arm. Yet again, Hooper concluded that the player wasn’t looking at the ball and the contact was accidental. Just minutes later, Williams just blasted over the bar after being closed down from a tight angle. Ramon Sosa crossed him the ball from the left and the chance looked promising but before the right back could sort his feet out the chance got more difficult.

That wasn’t the final drama of the game. Wood seemed to have found the winner late on but his heel meant he was marginally offside. Following Anthony Elanga’s corner, Wolves couldn’t clear the ball. It fell to Wood on the edge of the six yard box and he turned and swivelled to find the far corner. Celebrations were cut short immediately as the flag went up. The game finished all square after both teams frantically tried to find a winner.

I think the game was pretty even but if I had to tip either side to win, it would’ve been us. There were times where they troubled us in the first half after Anderson would find himself too high up the pitch and Wolves would break forward leaving Sangare on his own in midfield. However, in the second half we were dominant, creating chances and fending off any Wolves opportunities. My personal standouts were our midfield paring. Elliot worked his socks off and Ibrahim was strong in all his duels. For their goal, we should’ve cleared the ball at first but when the ball landed for Bellegarde, his strike was brilliant. As usual, we play good football but that final ball or shot is lacking. Going to miss Forest during the international break but at least we now get to see a Forest player in the England team. Congratulations Morgan who played well today again!

 

Forest: Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Sangare (Yates 58'), Anderson (Awoniyi 90'); Elanga (Jota Silva 90'), Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi (Sosa 80'); Wood

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Johnstone; Semedo (Doherty 75'), Mosquera, Dawson, Toti; Bellegarde (Guedes 75'), Gomes (Doyle 60'), Lemina, Ait-Nouri (Hee-Chan 60'); Cunha; Strand Larsen (Andre 86')