Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood scored early and late in a two-goal first half and Nottingham Forest’s defense stayed stingy, pushing the third-place Tricky Trees to a 3-0 win over Wolves at the Molineux on Monday.
Taiwo Awoniyi finished the scoring with a stoppage-time goal for ex-Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who now has Forest four points clear of fourth-place Chelsea, and the Tricky Trees are dreaming of a long-awaited return to European competition.
Forest are six points back of leaders Liverpool, who have a match-in-hand and visit the City Ground in Week 22.
Wolves will feel hard-luck losers despite the score line, unable to finish their chances without suspended Matheus Cunha after outshooting Forest and holding an advantage in possession.
The three-goal loss pulls Wolves closer to the relegation zone, where their 16 points and minus-14 goal differential have them just ahead of 18th-place Ipswich Town (minus-15 GD).
Forest players trusting Nuno’s process
You want buy-in? This is buy-in. Nottingham Forest have a real chance to deliver the staying power necessary to qualify for Europe next season, and the two-time European Cup winners may well return to that competition given the lack of big boys delivering expected results this season. Comparisons to Leicester City 2015-16 have been thrown around thanks to Forest’s ruthless counter attacking and status on the table, but a better shout could be the West Ham team that David Moyes took to Europe to great effect. There’s Chris Wood in the Michail Antonio role and a number of players dealing dimes to teammates like Jarrod Bowen. It all starts with strong defensive discipline and reliable goalkeeping, and it’s fueled by wins. If you want to keep top attacking players committed to working off the ball and counterattacking, you need to stack wins, and this one makes it six-straight for Forest. Look out, Liverpool — the Reds are six points clear of Forest but have to visit the City Ground in Week 22.
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Forest host Luton Town on Saturday in the FA Cup third round, then entertain Liverpool in the Premier League on January 14 (Tuesday).
Wolves also have FA Cup duty on Saturday, away to Bristol City before a tricky PL trip to Newcastle on January 15.
How to watch Wolves vs Nottingham Forest live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Monday (January 6)
Venue: Molineux — Wolverhampton
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest final score: 0-3
Morgan Gibbs-White 7', Chris Wood 44', Taiwo Awoniyi (90+4')
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Wolves 0-3 Nottingham Forest
This was a frustrating watch if you’re a Wolves fan, as Pereira’s men again showed themselves capable of controlling a game.
But Wolves fans have also seen this act from Nuno Espirito Santo before, and were on the other side of a clinical-finishing, possession-conceding Nuno win.
Shots wrap up 13-11 for Wolves, who held 65% of the ball in the second half. The expected goals margin was trimmed in the second 45, but Wolves still led there 1.59-1.22.
All that and three more points for the Tricky Trees.
Taiwo Awoniyi goal — Wolves 0-3 Forest (90+4')
Nikola Milenkovic sends a prayer of a long pass onto the path of Hudson-Odoi, who sends Forest into the box with a seeing-eye through ball.
James Ward-Prowse passes across to fellow sub Awoniyi to make it 3-0.
Wolves threaten
Wolves rush and Goncalo Guedes cues up a strong shot for Strand Larsen, whose hard shot takes a small turn off Morato and Sels again denies the Norwegian.
2-0 Forest still, 67'.
Wolves subs
Mario Lemina and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde enter for Tommy Doyle and Pedro Lima.
Forest bring on Morato for Nicolas Dominguez.
It’s still 2-0 at the hour mark.
Halftime — Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-2 Nottingham Forest
Forest’s lead has come via two really nice moments, and Wolves boss Vitor Pereira will be joined in his frustration by a Molineux crowd that’s seen the hosts play quite well for long stretches.
Shots for the half finish 8-5 to Wolves, with xG 1.35-0.58. Wolves have held 54% possession, too.
Chris Wood goal! Wolves 0-2 Forest (44th minute)
He’s done it again!
A lightning counter attack sees Callum Hudson-Odoi glide down the left and turn toward goal.
He sets the ball back for Wood, who hurries it over the line ahead of Ait-Nouri’s challenge.
Forest denied penalty
VAR is having a look at a cross that snaps into Rayan Ait-Nouri’s arm.
His hand is a bit away from his body and the ball travels some distance, but VAR stays consistent and says no pen.
Wolves on the front foot, but still trail
A half-hour into this one, and you need the score bug to tell you that Forest are in front.
Wolves have an edge in possession and have doubled Forest in shot attempts and quadrupled their visitors in xG.
Wolves fight right back but Sels keeps it 1-0
Forest keeper Matz Sels is not quite under siege, but he’s made two solid saves in the seven minutes since Gibbs-White’s goal.
Sels has denied Rodrigo Gomes in open play and then made a strong collection off a Wolves corner to keep his team ahead after a quarter-hour at the Molineux.
Morgan Gibbs-White goal — Wolves 0-1 Forest (7th minute)
Ex-Wolves man Morgan Gibbs-White dribbles 50 yards slipping the ball to Anthony Elanga on the right wing.
The Swede sends it right back to Gibbs-White, whose curled effort spins off a defender and past Jose Sa.
Hot start!
Wolves lineup
Sa, Lima, Bueno, Doherty, Ait-Nouri, R. Gomes, J. Gomes, Doyle, Guedes, Strand Larsen, Hwang
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina, Anderson, Dominguez, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest preview — By Joe Prince-Wright
Vitor Pereira has picked up seven points from his first three games in charge of Wolves as they’ve surged out of the relegation zone. They fought back to grab a late point at Tottenham last time out in a 2-2 draw, with Wolves looking much better defensively and they’ve find the finishing touch in attack. Pereira has breathed confidence into this Wolves side, but he will be missing star man Matheus Cunha through suspension.
Nottingham Forest are full of confidence too, as they’ve won five in a row and beat Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park last time out. That means Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sit third in the Premier League table heading into the weekend, as their fairytale season continues. Remember, Forest were supposed to be relegation candidates this season. Now they’re very much in the Champions League hunt.
Wolves team news, focus
Wolves are missing star man Cunha after his two-game suspension for an incident after an incident with an Ipswich Town security guard after Wolves’ home defeat last month. That leaves a considerable hole in their attack but having Hwang Hee-chan, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Goncalo Guedes as forward options will give them plenty of attacking creativity. Wolves will look to be clinical on the counter and Pereira demands high speed attacks when the opportunities arise.
OUT: Matheus Cunha (suspension), Mario Lemina (calf), Toti Gomes (hamstring), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Boubacar Traore (knee), Pablo Sarabia (calf), Enso Medina (knee), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Andre (fitness)
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
Nuno Espirito Santo has a couple of injury concerns with Murillo and Hudson-Odoi doubts, but Forest’s squad is deep and balanced. They are so tough to break down and are a real threat on the counter, from set pieces and with Chris Wood in incredible form they will whip plenty of crosses into the box for him to attack. Forest have been robust, ruthless and aggressive and every single player knows their job. They are the definition of a team.
OUT: Danilo (ankle), Ibrahim Sangare (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Murillo (groin), Callum Hudson-Odoi (knee)
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest prediction
This feels like two teams in great form will cancel the other out. Expect plenty of crosses and counter attacks but Forest have the better defensive unit and will get over the line. Wolves 1-2 Nottingham Forest.
