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31 August 2024

Nott’m Forest 1 Wolves 1

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side welcomed his former employers Wolves to the City Ground with the visitors wounded from a 6-2 mauling by Chelsea last weekend. Nott’m Forest had made an unbeaten start to the season but were still searching for their first victory at home. Gary O’Neil must be feeling the pressure already this campaign with his side rooted in the bottom three.

The visitors created the first glimpse of goal as Cunha slotted the ball into the path of Ait-Nouri. The flying wing-back chose not to take it first time on his weaker foot and by the time he allowed it to come across him onto his left, Sels had closed down the space and was able to get a block in. It was an early chance for Wolves to open the scoring squandered.

Bellegarde mis-controlled the ball out wide and Hudson-Odoi looked to race clear. The Wolves’ midfielder tried to make up for his error by ‘taking one for the team’ as he brought the winger down. He left the referee with no choice but to produce a yellow card for the challenge. He was now walking a tightrope for the remainder of the game.

From the resulting free-kick Lemina headed it behind for a corner. As the cross came in, Wood was completely unmarked at the back post and headed it into the opposite corner. Johnstone tried to get a hand to it at full stretch but he could not keep the effort out. Of all the people to leave unmarked at a set-piece, the Forest striker is probably their most potent in the air.


The game started to become a little scrappy as both sides continued to give away possession. One such instance saw Wolves work the ball to Bellegarde some way from goal. With only one thing on his mind, he struck a superb shot into the top corner of the goal from outside the box. Sels could not get anywhere near it and the visitors had their equaliser.

That went some way to make up for the midfielder’s part in the build-up to the Nott’m Forest goal. The hosts had only been ahead for two minutes before they were pegged back. Gary O’Neil will be pleased with the fight his team showed, not letting their heads drop, and doing all they can to get back into this game. Away from home, this will be key to their finishing position this season.

Hudson-Odoi was then fouled just outside the box. Gibbs-White stood over the set piece and looked to bend one in the top corner. Johnstone did well to make up ground in his goal to claw it around the post. Forest’s skipper was celebrating an England call-up this week, becoming the first person to do so for the club since Stuart Pearce in 1997.

He may have to fight for set-piece duties soon. The club have signed James Ward-Prowse on loan from West Ham, known for his clinical free kicks. He holds the joint record for the number of free kick goals in the Premier League with David Beckham, some claim to fame. The midfielder was not signed in time to be eligible for this game.


Forest continued to pass the ball around and Gibbs-White lofted a ball into the back post. The defender was watching Wood, rather than the ball, when the cross dropped onto his arm. The hosts demanded a penalty but the referee was not interested and a subsequent VAR review decided there was nothing doing. As a result, the sides went into the interval all square.

Into the second half and Gibbs-White turned provider once again. This time he found Wood who rose to head the ball. The Kiwi seemed to think he had scored but Johnstone did brilliantly to get across his goal to tip the ball wide for a corner. He was having an impressive debut and keeping the visitors in this game at the City Ground.

Cunha won a free kick in the middle of the park and the playmaker got up to take the set-piece. He lifted it into the box and in almost a carbon copy, the ball dropped onto the arm of Wood who was not even looking at it. O’Neil was furious and sure they should have been awarded a spot-kick but the VAR review cleared any wrongdoing. At least we were seeing some consistency finally.

Nott’m Forest thought they had won it late on when a corner was flicked on at the near post and Johnstone saved. As the ball was recycled, Wood slotted home and wheeled away in celebration. Sadly for the home fans, the flag went up and it was ruled out for offside. The replay showed the striker had just strayed off as the ball was played to him.


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