MATCH REPORT BY ANDREW BENNETT, WOLVES 1-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Today Molineux welcomes Nottingham Forest for the first time in the top flight in over 30 years. This game also sees a return of Morgan Gibbs-White to Wolverhampton as he makes his first appearance against Wolves since departing in the summer. This game puts the two lowest scorers in the Premier league against each other, with Steve Davis taking charge of his first match in charge of Wolves at Molineux.
The starting line ups show Wolves staying with Bruno’s 4-3-3 with Adama and Podence on the wings behind Diego Costa on his Molineux debut. Ahead of the game looking at the Wolves line up my main question would be what does Nelson Semedo have to do to make his way into the starting line up ahead of Jonny. The latter has been very poor for the most part of this season and it stuns me to see him keep his place if Semedo is fit. Today the most important thing is for the Molineux crowd to stick with the team and get behind the boys for a needed three points and a confidence boost ahead of a new manager coming in shortly.
Teams:
Wolves: Sa, Jonny, Kilman, Toti, Ait Nouri, Moutinho, Neves, Nunes, Podence, Adama, Costa.
Nottingham Forest: Henderson, Williams, Cook, McKenna, Toffelo, Yates, Freuler, Kouyate, Johnson, Gibbs-White, Dennis.
FIRST HALF
The game started positively from a Wolves perspective who took control of possession and slowly created chances as the half went on. Chances came to Adama who on one occasion blazed over from the right side of the box, crossed too often too deep when men were at the front post or put poor crosses into the box which Henderson could easily claim. One sequence where Adama could find the right man was when Max Kilman hit the post and the ball bounced back across the goal line into Henderson’s hands. In an attacking sense Nunes had good movement and was getting into pockets, as did Ait-Nouri but it was the same old for Wolves who in the final third struggled.
Defensively, Toti Gomes was shaky at the beginning of the game and was put under pressure making some poor passing choices. He grew into the game well and looked solid as the half went on. Jose Sa was barely tested, that said a similar story at half time a goalless Wolves.
SECOND HALF
Similarly to the first half the second started with Wolves in control of the ball and Adama failing to put in meaningful balls, but the signs were there as we clearly upped the tempo. Finally Adama was rewarded when he cut in side let fly a shot which after a long VAR check was judged to have hit Toffolo’s arm. Finally a clear cut chance for Wolves and Neves dispatched past Henderson to make it 1-0 to the home side.
Moments later Joao Moutinho conceded a cheep free kick on the edge of the box, thankfully for Wolves Morgan Gibbs-White fired just over. After the goal Wolves seemed to drop 10/20yard deeper and couldn’t get out making silly pass after silly pass. Being under a lot of pressure Forest had lots of free kicks and corners whipped into the box. From a corner Nottingham Forest screamed for a penalty of their own as Wolves countered and won a corner themselves, this began another long pause once again VAR intervened to give Nottingham a Penalty. Jose Sa superbly saved to his left the Brennan Johnson strike.
From this point on the game lost all tempo and it became very stop start with both sides making multiple substitutes. Wolves bringing on Nelson Semedo, Hwang Hee-Chan, Boubacar Traore (Adama, Costa Joa off). Nottingham Forest made multiple attacking substitutions bringing on Jessie Lingard, Mangala, Awoniyi and Surridge (Toffolo, Freuler, Kouyate and Dennis off)
Wolves only real opportunities since the goal came on the counter and were wasted by poor final balls, one of note when we were three on three and Ait Nouri over hit the cross. This doesn’t take away from the resolve and defensive strength of the Wolves side who saw Johnson and Gibbs-White miss possible chances in the final minutes. As we entered an additional 8 minutes of stoppage time Wolves made their final substitutes bringing on Hugo Bueno and Joe Hodge (Nunes and Ait Nouri off). The eight additional minutes continued much as the 10 before them with scrappy nervous defending and a constant flow of fouls from both sides meaning Nottingham could barely make any opportunities. Thankfully after what must have been an actual additional 11 minutes the Referee blew the final whistle and Wolves got another three points on the board. Playtime was over!
FULL TIME WOLVES 1-0 NOTINGHAM FOREST
overall
To summarise, this was probably the most energetic performance from Wolves so far this season who showed grit to hold on and collect the three points. Costa looks to be a good addition on his Home Debut and probably should have left Molineux with a goal. A must win and three points, not wonderful but much needed and Brilliant for Steve Davis at Molineux who received a standing ovation from the ground.
article by Andrew bennett
From my first Wolves match against Chelsea in 2003 I fell in love with the team and matchday experience. I work in digital marketing and have lived in Germany and Estonia over the past few years, this doesn’t stop me following Wolves and ensuring all my international friends become invested to the Wolf pack. I enjoy football, board games, a pint and travelling always excited to try new things. You will find me in the north bank on a matchday.