FAN WRITER SSTRETCH BRINGS YOU ALL THE LATEST ON WOLVES PERFORMANCE AT THE CITY GROUND
A visit to Forest is filled with nostalgic thoughts of epic matches in the 70’s and 80’s, enhanced by the view of a founder members football ground, across the river, and a trip to the marvellously non PC Hooters. The excellent fanzone at the adjacent rugby ground also proves a great place to park and a chance to get the views of some friendly Forest fans. All of whom seemed confident of a home win.
The big question on most Wolves fans lips was whether Gary O’Neil would stick to four at the back. The line up revealed a switch to 3 centre halves, perhaps not surprising given the need to secure a point to get the meter running. The return of Semedo, despite the recent strong performances of Doherty provided a boost of confidence and a seemingly nice balance to the team. Predicting the likely Forest team given the merry go round of players is never easy but there was no doubt Morgan Gibbs-White would feature.
Starting Line Up
Johnson, Semedo, , Toti Gomes, Mosquera, Dawson, Ait-Nouri, Rodrigo Gomes, Joao Gomes, Lemina, Bellegarde, Strand Larsen
first half
The first half opened well for Wolves with a good degree of control in the first ten minutes and the first serious threat came from Rayan Ait-Nouri cutting in from the left with the ball just about being scrambled away. Then a tussle for the ball just inside the Wolves half saw Bellegarde harshly booked and the resulting free kick being headed out for a corner to Forest. With three centre halves Wolves should surely have made it harder for the obvious target Wood to jump largely unchallenged at the far post to head well past a despairing Johnstone. The debutant goal keepers first action to fetch the ball out of the net not ideal for confidence building but he fitted in seamlessly and performed well throughout.
Whilst the goal was against the run of play it was not long before Wolves were back level a stunning strike from Bellegarde from 25 yards, our first league goal from outside the box for 47 games. The next 15 minutes saw Forest step up the pace with, I hate to say this, Morgan Gibbs-White regularly finding space and setting up both of Forests speedy wingers though largely any crosses were well defended and several times Semedo showed why he was last years players player of the year with some tremendous defending. Recognising the threat of Morgan Gibbs-White, Lemina seemed determined to get much closer to him and the game became an equal battle for supremacy. Joao after a relatively early booking was a little subdued and Forest gradually wrestled control with the impressive new signing Elliot a significant force.
Despite that Wolves finished the half strongest with Cunha at the heart of our best moves with some impressive runs.
The half ended with the teams rightly locked at 1 all.
SECOND half
Forest came out the stronger in the second half and Wolves had to dig in with the excellent calm Dawson managing the resistance. Having made a strong save from a free kick in the first half Johnstone made a second good save from another Woods header. If Sa does stay it will be a difficult decision for Gary O’Neil. Wolves opportunities were few and far between and the needed steady flow of substitutes began. On 60 minutes Doyle and Hwang replaced Rayan Ait-Nouri and João Gomes with Wolves switching to a back four with Toti as left back. This certainly improved the speed of passing and movement through midfield with Doyle showing good mobility and a range of passing. Hwang also showed some enterprise from the left in an area Rayanhad struggled to impose himself.
The game became a little more open, Doyle with a couple of good efforts and a volley of 3 shots in a few seconds gave Wolves hope. However it was Cunha’s run in from the left that came closest to breaking the deadlock, his quality on the ball shone above most other performers. 60 minutes saw the departure of the cramping Semedo for Doherty and Guedes for Bellegarde, neither substitutes making any real change to the pattern of the game. On 86 mins we had a surprising glimpse of the surely jet lagged Andre and little can be gleamed from this cameo. Wolves finishing the game in a 4231 formation.
Wolves survived the tense extra ten minutes which included a great block from Dawson.
In the end an enjoyable tense and at times frantic game ended even which seemed about right with Forest just shading the chances and possession. An away point in the Premier League is always hard earned and very welcome after the first two blanks.
The game was poorly refereed by Simon Hooper who is indeed a poor referee pedantic and with poor judgement. Thankfully VAR was not a big feature with both teams having penalty claims for hand ball turned down.
TO CONCLUDE
An international break awaits and Gary O’Neil will now bed in the new signings and it will be interesting to see if the back 4 returns. We also need to consider how we get the best from Larsen he battled hard and has good control but today at least we did not get onto the wide positions to make the crosses he surely craves. What is clear is we have better squad depth and second half substitutes are going to have a big part to play.
