SEAN STANTON REPORTS ON NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1-1 WOLVES, AS WOLVES GO OUT ON PENALTIES
THE TEAMS
Wolves Team
Sa – In goal
Defence – Toti, Kilman, Jonny
Wing backs – Semedo, Rayan Ait-Nouri
Midfield – Joao, Matheus
Up front – Hwang, Raul, Guedes.
Forest Team
Their strongest eleven with MGW and Boly playing.
FIRST HALF
Wolves started with a 3-5-3 and played like they’d had a mentally and physically draining FA Cup match a couple of days ago !!!!!
Wolves gave the ball away constantly. This resulted in some corners and off one of them after 18 mins Serge Aurier flicked the ball on at the near post. It lobbed over Sa, hit the bar, dropped down and Boly couldn’t miss from about six inches.
Quality bloke that he is. Big Willy didn’t celebrate at all.
You’d have thought this would have given Wolves the kick up the arse they needed but they carried on giving the ball away.
Even so Wolves should have been 2-1 up at half time with both Raul and Hwang missing one on one’s with the goalie, who to be fair made a couple of good saves.
SECOND HALF
It was absolutely lashing down when they came out for the second half.
Wolves changed to a back four. Ruben came on for Guedes and immediately gave the ball away to MGW whose shot was well saved by Sa.
A couple of minutes later MGW showed some silky skills in the box and crossed the ball. Fortunately Aurier’s shot was blocked.
Then another incursion into Wolves’ box resulted in Semedo inadvertently deflecting the ball past Sa onto the post. Toti cleared.
Cunha and Daniel “Rocky” Podence then came on for Rayan and Joao and Wolves equalised.
A lovely glance by Hwang found Matheus Nunes, who glided forward and laid it into the path of Cunha who sent a perfectly timed pass across the face of the goal and Raul couldn’t miss from a yard out.
Adama and Hodge came on for Raul and Hwang and a big penalty appeal (which would have been given if Wolves played in red and their home ground was called Anfield) resulted in some heated exchanges and Podence, the pint sized prize fighter was booked for an altercation with Aurier. As was Matheus and for the second game in a row Lopetigui was shown a yellow as well.
The final whistle was blown.
PENALTIES
Both Sa and Henderson saved the first penalties (Ruben looked crestfallen) Forest scored their next two as did Matheus and Podence the pugilist for Wolves.
When MGW stepped up to take the fourth pen some Wolves fans gave him a bit of stick (as the Forest fans did to the Wolves players) Sa got to his penalty but it still managed to sneak in.
MGW faced the Wolves fans. Stuck his fingers in his ears and stood like a petulant child, posturing for all he was worth.
Cunha scored for Wolves and mimicked MGW but with a big grin on his face. Tongue firmly in cheek.
Forest scored their fifth and when young Joe Hodge’s pen was saved by man of the match Henderson the stadium erupted and the Forest fans and players celebrated..
AFTERMATH
One Forest player (MGW) celebrated a bit too much and there was a bit of “argy bargy” with some of his ex team mates.
We have seen time and again that this Wolves team are good losers and good winners. Unfortunately MGW was not a good winner today.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Graham Scott is a terrible referee. He has the body of a 53 year old man and the eyesight of a ninety nine year old Bat.
He didn’t let the game flow and booked players from both sides for innocuous challenges.
Wily Boly – You are a man of dignity and we will always remember you with admiration and affection.
MGW – You’re dead to us.
ARTICLE BY SEAN STANTON
Born in Wolverhampton. Raised in Dudley, Drank in the Beacon in Sedgley until he had children. Now drinks at home.