WATCH OUR PREVIEW FOR OUT THOUGHTS AHEAD OF WOLVES TRIP TO FOREST
TEAM NEWS
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo reports that Danilo underwent successful ankle surgery earlier this week following his injury in their first match. However, he emphasises the need to be “patient” regarding Danilo’s comeback. Ryan Yates, absent from the Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle United on Wednesday due to illness, is set to undergo evaluation.
Wolves’ Boubacar Traore is also facing surgery after injuring his knee during the mid-week game. Meanwhile, Nelson Semedo is back in action, having completed a three-match suspension carried over from last season.
GARY O'NEIL
Sam Johnstone will be available to play on Saturday after his move from Crystal Palace was competed in time. O’Neil also expects goalkeeper Jose Sa to “stay and fight” rather than seek a move away.
O’Neil says a deal with Fluminese for midfielder Andre is “close”.
Offering more on the deal for Andre, O’Neil said: “I think everything has gone fine but there’s a few boxes to tick but I don’t see any problems occurring. The midfield is a very strong area of the pitch for us already with Joao [Gomes], Mario [Lemina] and Tommy [Doyle]. Andre is an excellent talent that will add to the group, and it will fall on me to find a structure to fit them all in.”
He believes Daniel Podence is leaving the club: “We worked very hard with him, there were some periods he wasn’t happy and went away on loan. He came back and worked his socks off but he has had an excellent offer for him and his family. Discussions have been on going and what is best for him and the club. That one is looking like there may be something completed.”
Boubacar Traore will be out for a “few months” with a knee injury, with O’Neil stating: “He is a great guy and he will be missed. Hopefully it’s the best it can be but he’s not available for the weekend and he’ll be out for a little while.”
On the away trip to the City Ground: “It’s always felt quite feisty. I would expect it to feel like a big game. For us off the back of two losses in the league and Nottingham Forest wanting to get their first home win, it’s feeling like a big game.”
On Nottingham Forest: “Very compact, don’t come out of shape to press. There are loads of threats on counter-attacks, we need to make sure we don’t lose it in bad areas and make sure the structure is better than at home to Chelsea. Then we need to be ready to stand up and be counted. As always with Premier League games every facet will be tested. I have faith and belief in the lads.”
MATCH STATS & FACTS
Head-to-head
Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last 11 league games against Wolves, beating them 2-0 at Molineux in January 2018.
Wolves are unbeaten in their last six away league games against Nottingham Forest, since a 3-1 loss in March 2013.
Both Premier League meetings at the City Ground have ended in a draw: 1-1 in April 2023 and 2-2 in April 2024.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their two opening league games for the first time since 2018 in the Championship.
They have taken four points from their opening two Premier League games this season. They last avoided defeat in their opening three games in a top-flight season in 1995-96, going on to finish ninth.
They have recorded a league-high 37 shots and 16 shots on target in the Premier League so far this season.
Chris Wood can become only the second player to score in both of Forest’s opening two Premier League home games, after Stan Collymore in 1994-95.
Nuno Espirito Santo took charge of a club record 114 Premier League games with Wolves, while he’s yet to lose against his former club in two matches against them.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves have lost their last five Premier League matches. They last had a longer losing run when losing the final three games of 2020-21 and opening three games of 2021-22.
They have conceded eight goals in their opening two Premier League games, becoming the first side in top-flight history to have done so on more than one occasion.
Among current top-flight clubs, Wolves and Southampton are on the joint-longest run of Premier League matches without a clean sheet (14).
Wolves have won just one of their last 20 Premier League matches in August (D9, L10), a 1-0 triumph at Everton last year.
They have failed to score a goal from outside the penalty area in their last 46 Premier League games.
Matheus Cunha has been involved in 17 goals in his last 19 top-flight starts for Wolves, scoring 11 and assisting six. He’s scored three times in two games against Nottingham Forest during this run.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Simon Hooper. Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Simon Long. Fourth official: Dean Whitestone. VAR: Michael Salisbury. Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis.
MATCH INFO
Wolves head to Forest on Saturday 31st August for a 3pm kick off, this one will not be shown live on UK television.