Wolves unbeaten run in the league, which stretches back to October, came to an end with a 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on a bitter afternoon at Molineux.
Wolves came into the game following a mid-week loss to Swansea in the FA cup and having not won in three games. A much changed starting line-up saw Cavaleiro preferred to Costa in the forward line. Nottingham Forest named in their line-up former Wolves defender Michael Mancienne as their captain.
Forest under their new manager Aitor Karanka, came with a game plan to frustrate Wolves and play on the counter, alongside hard tackling, which worked for the away side.
Forest picked up three bookings in the first fifteen minutes which set a tense atmosphere. One tackle in particular nearly sliced Diogo Jota in two which could easily have been a sending off but Premier League referee Bobby Madley only presented a yellow.
Diogo Jota had an early chance with some good interplay on the left before he drove into the penalty box. He cut inside only for his shot to sail wide of the far post; it sums up Wolves performance that this was the main attempt on goal for Wolves.
Forest took the lead in the 40th minute with an extremely lucky deflected shot which wrong footed John Ruddy in goal. Their goal came from a controversial corner which saw the Wolves bench including Nuno arguing with the fourth official on the bench.
The goal goes down for Kieran Dowell but it was the double deflection which really defeated Ruddy in goal, as it dribbled over the line.
Three minutes before half time Ben Osborn made it 2-0 to Forest with a well worked goal. Wolves couldn’t prevent a cross from the right, and Osborn was able to take a touch and fire the ball into the top left hand corner.
At half time Nuno made one of his biggest tactical changes of the season substituting both wing backs Matt Doherty and Barry Douglas for Morgan Gibbs-White and Helder Costa. Gibbs-White looked positive and comfortable on the ball in a similar vain to his previous performances against Swansea.
Helder Costa however, and this could be said of all Wolves forwards during the game, lacked confidence and imagination. These changes and the scoreline meant that Wolves no longer had their characteristic structure, and positional discipline that has been a huge part of their success this season.
Despite the substitutions the goals and chances did not come for Wolves. Wolves dominated possession in the second half but could not break down the deep defence of Nottingham Forrest who defended well in numbers.
In the final stages of the game Wolves had five forwards on the pitch for the first time this season but there were hardly any chances of note in the second half with Mir being brought on with twelve minutes to go. The Forest keeper had very little to do for the whole match. This more than anything else is an inditement of Wolves attacking threat during the entire game with Wolves mustering only one shot on target.
Wolves are nine points clear at the top of the table so this is no time for panic like Corporal Jones from Dad’s Army. Wolves have throughout the season bounced back from defeat, and there is no reason to think they won’t following this result.
Wolves however will be concerned by the lack of form and goals in their forward players. They will surely look to rectify this in the coming weeks in the transfer window with a striker or forward player being brought in.
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