WATCH OUR PREVIEW WOLVES V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
We preview Wolves v Nottingham Forest with score predictions from Dazzling Dave and Magic Moss.
TEAM NEWS
Wolves interim head coach Steve Davis welcomes back midfielder Ruben Neves from suspension. However, defender Nathan Collins serves the final game of his three-match ban. Goncalo Guedes has recovered well from a knock last week.
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says defender Moussa Niakhate is “nowhere near” being ready to return from a hamstring injury. Omar Richards and Jack Colback also remain sidelined.
head to head
predicted line up
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Steve Davis
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Davis says he is no more informed than the media on the vacant managerial position: “I honestly don’t know about that. Our remit and direction is to focus on getting points and a good performance tomorrow.”
Wolves will welcome back Boubacar Traore for the game and Goncalo Guedes has recovered from illness.
He is hopeful that Diego Costa can replicate the amount of minutes he played at Chelsea: “He covered more than we thought. We’ll be checking live data during games to see how hard we can push him. Raul [Jimenez] is not available so it’s important we keep our focal point Diego fit.”
On just three goals scored this season: “It’s a combination of things. Our build-up is excellent if you look at the stats but in the final third we need more people in the box, anticipating, taking shots. We’re doing what we can to improve and the players are responding excellently.”
On three fixtures in a week against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Leicester: “This period before the World Cup is important. We’ve got an opportunity and we need to make the most of it. We need to be tough to beat and work to make Molineux a fortress.”
The game against Forest is no more important than any other: “The way the league looks at the moment puts a bit more pressure on but it’s no different. Both teams are battling for points and trying to turn their form around. Every game we want to change our performance and be more of a threat.”
match facts
Head-to-head
- This will be the first top-flight meeting between the sides since March 1984, when Wolves won 1-0 through a Paul Hart own goal.
- Wolves have lost one of their past seven league games against Nottingham Forest (W4, D2).
- Nottingham Forest have won three of their last five league fixtures away to Wolves, more than in their previous 20 visits to Molineux.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- A 2-0 defeat to Brentford last season is Wolves’ only loss in their past 11 Premier League matches against promoted sides (W5, D5).
- Their solitary win in 16 league games came against Southampton last month (D5, L10).
- They are in danger of losing four consecutive top-flight matches without scoring, a sequence they last recorded in 1970.
- Wolves have scored a league-low three goals this season and are the only side yet to net a second-half goal. In fact, they have not scored after the break in any of their last 10 league fixtures.
- The Molineux club have failed to score in 22 Premier League games since the beginning of last season, a figure matched only by relegated Norwich.
- Wolves have attempted 50 shots from outside the penalty area this season, more than any other Premier League side.
- Diego Costa has been involved in 12 goals in 16 Premier League appearances against newly promoted sides, scoring 10 and assisting two.
Nottingham Forest
- Nottingham Forest have been beaten in three of their four Premier League away games this season, losing the last two by an aggregate score of 0-10.
- Steve Cooper’s side have dropped 10 points from winning positions this term, a total exceeded only by Leicester City.
- Forest have won one, drawn two and lost six of their nine league matches – mirroring their record at this stage last season, when they recovered to finish fourth and win promotion via the play-offs.
- Emmanuel Dennis can become the second player to score in his first two Premier League starts for Forest, emulating Stan Collymore in August 1994.
match officials
Referee: Thomas Bramall. Assistants: Simon Long, Richard West. Fourth official: Anthony Taylor. VAR: Lee Mason. Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.
match info
Match takes place at Molineux on Saturday 15th October with a 3pm kick off.