Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) 11/02/26

 

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

 

Sean Dyche was coming under pressure from the Forest hierarchy to improve both results and performances. His next test: Wolves at the City Ground. Surely, he couldn’t mess it up against bottom of the league. Right? 

Last time out, Forest suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Elland Road, losing out on vital points in a relegation game. They sit in 17th, just two points above the drop zone. Their home form kept them up in previous seasons, but they now need it more than ever, having only won three games at the City Ground this campaign. Dyche named three changes to his side’s last fixture. Lucca replaced Jesus up top for his first Premier League start. Wolves’ situation is even more bleak. They are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, 18 points adrift of safety. On only eight points, they look destined to be sent down to the Championship. Wolves are also winless in 14 on the road and have only scored five goals away from home this season. Rob Edwards named two changes from his side’s 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea.  

Forest are unbeaten in their last five league games against the visitors, although three of these have been draws. They got the better of them in the reverse fixture in December at Molineux after Jesus’ header snatched all three points. A win tonight would be their first league double over Wolves since 2012/13. 

The hosts got off to a fast start, keeping Wolves pushed back into their own half. The first real chance of the game came from Callum Hudson-Odoi. He received the ball on the left and drove forward before cutting into the penalty area to get a better shooting angle. He drove a low powerful shot towards the bottom right corner, but it flashed narrowly wide. 

Forest continued their rampant start as they continued to have shots, corners and crosses. Ex Wolves man, Morgan Gibbs-White, was the next Reds’ player to have a goal scoring opportunity. Gibbs-White's run into the box was spotted by Anderson. He delivered in a delightful ball which the attacking midfielder ran onto, but it flew just wide, rippling the side netting. Forest had had seven shots in the opening 15 minutes- the most they’ve had at this stage since promotion. 

It took until the 26th minute for the visitors’ first shot on goal but once they got it, the Reds kicked on again. All that was missing for them was that final bit of quality. You can excuse shots from outside the box going wide but I’m not sure any Forest fan can excuse missing a six on one. Following a Wolves’ free-kick, Williams won the original header and Hudson-Odoi recycled. He poked the ball past Rodrigo Gomes, but he still had Angel Gomes to get past. Hudson-Odoi got there first causing the two Wolves’ men to collide, taking them out the game. The winger drove forward with five of his teammates sprinting to join him with only one Wolves player back. He got to the box before pulling it across, begging for it to be tapped home by a teammate. Lucca was the one it landed to, but he was sliding in, causing the ball to go miles over. 

To Wolves’ delight, it was half time. Forest on the other hand would be wondering how they were going into the break goalless. They recorded 16 shots in that first 45  

(the most a Dyche side has ever managed), with six on target. 

The hosts started the second half as they ended the first. The opening chance for them fell to Morato as his header from a cross glanced just wide of the left post. Just moments later, Forest had another brilliant opportunity to finally break the deadlock. Gibbs-White intercepted a pass to the edge of the box and passed to Sangare. Gibbs-White started his run, looking for the counterattack and Sangare returned the favour. The Englishman continued his run until the edge of the opposite box, skipping past the Wolves defence in the process before he passed to Hudson-Odoi on his left. The winger took the effort first time, but it looked like more of a back pass to Sa than a shot. 

Wolves’ best opportunity of the game came on the hour mark. Angel Gomes found Mane in the right of the box, and he took a few touches to set himself up before firing towards the bottom right corner. However, Ortega got down well to make the save.  

In a moment of madness, Forest almost found the goal they had been searching for. Hutchinson and Anderson linked up from a short corner on the right before Hutchinson lofted the ball into the danger area. It was flicked on by a Wolves’ head towards the back post and hopefully for them, out for another corner, but Williams picked it up.  Williams pulled it back into the six-yard box where Jesus’ close-range effort was saved by Sa. There continued to be a scramble, but it landed to Morato who looked to poke it into the net before Sa got across brilliantly to scoop it off the line and his teammates cleared. 

The Reds continued in their pursuit of a winner, but it was the visitors who almost took a very undeserved lead in stoppage time. Forest were pushing to break Wolves’ hearts in the last minute but the visitors cleared and went on the counterattack. Forest had pushed most of their players forward, now leaving them with a four on one, Milenkovic the lone soldier. Tolu led the Wolves’ charge, driving from his own half, before he played it across to Mane in the left of the box. Mane took a few touches before shooting but Ortega was the Forest hero, making himself big to make the save. All Forest fans got deja vu to Everton at home last season in that moment. 

Wolves continue to be rooted to the bottom of the league but picked up a valuable point in trying to overtake Derby County’s record of the worst team in Premier League history. Forest remain in 17th place. 

After the game, Dyche’s future looked in doubt. Many fans questioned whether it would be the right decision to sack him with just twelve games left but the club decided it was, announcing their decision in  the early hours of Thursday morning. Vitor Pereira looks to be his replacement. 

This the most frustrated I have felt in a while leaving a Forest game. It could be easy to blame the manager for not making substitutions which I do agree he should’ve made them earlier, but we have 35 shots and to not score one is extremely disappointing on the player’s behalf.  Williams had six shots from left back which says it all. I think sacking Dyche was the right decision as I think the fan base is starting to turn which is not what you need in a relegation battle and we are just so inconsistent in the times where we shouldn’t be. 

 

Forest: Ortega; Williams, Morato, Milenkovic, Aina; Anderson, Sangare; Hudson-Odoi (Ndoye 65’), Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Lucca (Jesus 71’) 

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa; Krejci, S. Bueno, Mosquera; H. Bueno (Wolfe 60’), J. Gomes, A. Gomes (Bellegarde 78’), R. Gomes (Tchatchoua 60’); Mane; Armstro