Counterattack Masterclass: Forest Punish Wolves

Monday night under the lights, Wolves unbeaten in three. Forest flying high in the top four with Nuno at the helm, this could be an interesting game. This fixture has been feisty since Forest’s return to the Premier League. The last time these teams met back in August it ended 1-1 a common occurrence in this fixture for the last 3 seasons. 4 changes for Wolves after the 2-2 draw with Spurs, Guedes, Doyle, Rodrigo Gomes and a first Premier League start for young wing back Pedro Lima.

Forest get the game under way, Wolves start well with Joao Gomes clipping a diagonal ball into the path of Lima’s run into the penalty area which goalkeeper Mats Sels claims comfortably. In typical Nuno fashion Forest strike first on 7 minutes following a swift counter attack, Elanga is released by Gibbs-White down the Wolves left and he cuts the ball back into the path of Gibbs-White who slots it into the corner via a defection off Santi Bueno. Gibbs-white runs over to the South Bank and performs his fingers in ear celebration to the disgust of the Wolves fans. 1-0 to Forest. 

On 14 minutes Wolves get their first big opportunity to level the game. Anderson cheaply gives the ball away to Hwang who drives into the penalty area and cuts back onto his right foot, he finds Larsen just in front of the penalty area who shoots but his effort is cleared off the line by Murillo. A glorious chance which Larsen should’ve done better with. A minute later Doherty switches a delicious ball into the feet of Rodrigo Gomes who takes one touch and smashes it towards goal forcing Sels into a very good reaction save.

Another glorious chance for Larsen on 29 minutes. R.Gomes whips a great ball into the Norwegian whose point blank header is saved again brilliantly by Sels. Wolves really creating some good chances now and they should be level at least. Forest venture forwards on 35 minutes and Ola Aina picks up the ball on the Wolves left and beats his man and crosses into the area, massive shouts for handball as it comes off Ait Nouri and behind. VAR check the handball but nothing comes of it. Were Wolves lucky to get away with that ?. 

A long ball from Sels finds Hudson-Odoi who brings the ball down and beats Doherty who was complaining that Odoi was offside. Odoi races into the penalty area and squares it to Chris Wood who doesn’t even have to move. 2-0 Forest, another goal for Wood against Wolves. A goal that was completely avoidable, for all of the pressure and good chances Wolves have created in this first half they find themselves 2-0 down at the break.

Second Half 

Forest start the half quickly and Elanga is released down the right hand side and his fizzed cross evades everyone and is put behind for a corner off Doherty. Wolves start to gain control of the game and create a few half chances but nothing for Sels to worry about. 

Two substitutions for on 60 minutes, Doyle off for Lemina and Pedro Lima off for Bellegarde who had a promising debut hopefully we see more of him this season. Lemina’s first touch is poor and he loses out to Anderson who plays the ball to Elanga in the right hand side, he looks to find Anderson again who’s shot is well blocked by Doherty. On 67 minutes Larsen gets another chance, Wolves break quick after defending a cross and Guedes drives with the ball and plays it to Larsen on the right hand side of the box, Larsen takes the ball in his stride and fires an effort to the near post which is saved by Sels yet again.

Forest make a few substitutions on 70 minutes Anderson off for Yates and Elanga off for Jota Silva who is involved in the game straight away, Silva is released down the right hand side and he crosses for Odoi at the back post who can’t get his header on target. More Wolves substitutions on 75 minutes, Hwang off for Forbs and Guedes off for Sarabia who is back from injury. Wolves have been poor in this second half but the Forest defence has been compact stopping us from creating any clear cut chances however, sarabia links up with Doherty on 83 minutes to tee up Bellegarde whose effort is defected wide for a corner. Wolves have created some chances in the game but the overall second half performance has been a shadow of the first half , so many misplace passes from the midfielders maybe trying too hard to force an opening. 

Wolves are pilling on the pressure late on with 4 added minutes to be played at the end of the game, Ait Nouri is toying with Jota Silva and they both end up on the deck, both looking for a foul. The ref plays on and Forest lump the ball forward by Milenkovic and break with 3 on 2. Hudson-Odoi plays Ward Prowse  in on the right hand side and he cuts the ball back for Awonyi who passes the ball into an empty net. 3-0 to forest, a real counter attacking display from Forest, Wolves will feel hard done by with how they’ve played. 

Conclusion

Overall I thought it was a good performance, first half we looked dangerous and R.Gomes was a shining light he definitely needs to be staring more games. I think we did well considering we had one natural centre back, but it shows that we really do need strengthening at the back. We have one on the way in Agbadou but we need at least one more if we are going to compete in this league.