watch our preview as wolves head to forest
TEAM NEWS
Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood will miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury. Brennan Johnson has a groin issue and is a doubt, along with Andre Ayew, Serge Aurier and Gustavo Scarpa. Taiwo Awoniyi and Cheikhou Kouyate have returned to full training after lengthy injury absences.
Jonny begins a three-match ban for Wolves and Hwang Hee-chan misses out, but Boubacar Traore and Nelson Semedo are fit and Hugo Bueno could feature. Ruben Neves is one booking away from triggering a two-match suspension.
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HEAD TO HEAD
JULEN LOPETEGUI
Here is what the Julen had to say:
Midfielder Boubacar Traore is available after a groin injury and could make his first appearance since November, while left-back Hugo Bueno is also close to returning to first-team action. Right-back Nelson Semedo is fit to face Forest, but forward Hwang Hee-chan will not be ready to play at the City Ground.
Lopetegui said the decision to overturn the red card shown to unused substitute Matheus Nunes in the loss to Leeds was “fair”, meaning the midfielder is available to face Forest.
Asked whether the team wanted revenge for their Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to Forest in January, Lopetegui said: “This will be a different competition, different moments and maybe different teams and players. Each match is different.”
Lopetegui said “mentality” and “maturity” is important for Wolves to keep their focus on themselves and their own strengths, as they battle with eight other clubs to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
MATCH FACTS & STATS
Head-to-head
- Wolves could win three successive away league games against Nottingham Forest for the first time. They have taken 10 points from their four most recent visits to the City Ground.
- Forest’s only victory in the past eight league meetings was by 2-0 away in the Championship in January 2018 (D2, L5).
- However, Nottingham Forest beat Wolves 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in their EFL Cup quarter-final home tie this January.
- Forest are hosting Wolves in a top-flight fixture for the first time since a 5-0 win in November 1983.
Nottingham Forest
- Nottingham Forest are winless in six Premier League games (D2, L4), having begun 2023 with a five-match unbeaten run in the division.
- They have conceded at least twice in five of those latest six fixtures.
- Forest’s run of nine home matches without defeat in the top flight was ended by Newcastle last time out (W4, D5).
- Steve Cooper’s side have scored the opening goal in 10 of their 14 Premier League home games this season, a joint-high alongside Manchester City and Brentford. However, they’ve dropped points in five of those fixtures, more than any other side when scoring first at home.
- Forest can equal their club Premier League record of scoring in 13 consecutive home matches, set from December 1994 to May 1995.
- Morgan Gibbs-White scored one goal in 48 Premier League appearances for Wolves.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- It’s four defeats in six league games for Wolves, who had only lost two of their first seven under Julen Lopetegui (W4, D1).
- Wolves have won just three of their last 21 top-flight away matches, beating Everton twice and Southampton.
- They are unbeaten in their past eight away league fixtures versus promoted opposition, with four wins and four draws.
- Wolves’ shot conversion rate of 6.9% in the Premier League this season is the lowest of any side.
- Their last 11 Premier League goals were scored by 11 different players, including two own goals.
- Raul Jimenez has gone 21 Premier League appearances without a goal since scoring against Watford in March 2022.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Assistants: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Matt Donohue. VAR: Neil Swarbrick. Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood.
MATCH INFO
The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 1st April at the City Ground. The match is not broadcast live on TV in the UK.