Nottingham Forest 2 Wolves 2: Hosts stay out of relegation zone but drop more points in race for survival
NOTTINGHAM FOREST’S Achilles heel came back to haunt them as they conceded their 22nd set piece goal of the season!
Considering Nuno Espirito Santo‘s men have leaked a total of 58 goals that ratio is likely to cost them their place in the Premier League unless they can rectify it – FAST!
In the end, a point was enough to keep Forest out of the bottom three.
But how they could have done with grabbing three crucial points, which were there for the taking.
If only they had prevented Matheus Cunha from pouncing in the box after Max Kilman got his head to Pablo Sarabia‘s corner.
In the end a share of the points was probably a fair reflection as Wolves cashed in on their own ability to profit from set-pieces – only Everton and Luton score with a higher percentage than them.
Unless Forest finds a formula soon it will be set pieces rather than deducted points which sends them down!
After a drab opening spell things started to hot up due to some sloppy distribution from both sides.
First Nelson Semedo carelessly passed the ball straight to Forest forward Gio Reyna, who gratefully accepted the gift.
However the American drilled his low shot just wide from 25 yards to narrowly miss out on marking his first start for Forest with a goal.
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At the other end Matheus Cunha lashed an angled shot narrowly over before it was Forest’s turn to live dangerously.
Andrew Omobamidele played the ball out to Ryan Yates who gifted the ball straight to Joao Gomes inside the Forest box.
The Brazilian’s shot beat Mats Sels. But he was denied by his fellow Brazilian Murillo who reacted brilliantly to head the ball off the line and Sarabia fired the rebound wide.
It was a mighty let-off for the home side.
However Wolves had their own lucky escape moments later when Mario Lemina was fortunate to see a yellow card, rather than red, following a dreadful over the ball tackle which left Yates writhing on the turf.
Forest felt they should have had a penalty when Reyna sent Neco Williams clear in the box.
Just as he was in the act of shooting, Matt Doherty gave him a one-handed shove to knock him off balance, causing the right-back to screw his shot wide.
But despite Williams’ protests ref Craig Pawson remained unmoved.
Three minutes later Wolves broke the deadlock with a goal which left Forest’s defenders with faces as red as their famous shirts!
Callum Hudson-Odoi overhit a cross straight into Jose Sa’s gloves and the keeper sprang a quick attack with a rapid throw out to Cunha who was 12 yards inside his own half – at least 60 yards from goal.
But the Brazilian carried the ball deep into the Forest box where Omobamidele should have kept forcing him wide.
Instead he allowed Cunha to cut inside himself and Ryan Yates and the Wolves forward curled a shot which Sels got his fingertips to but failed to prevent finding the top corner of his net.
Forest’s response was instant as they levelled in first half stoppage time.
Reyna’s corner kick was met at the near post by Morgan Gibbs-White whose glancing header bounced beyond Jose Sa, who seemed distracted by Gomes in front of him.
MGW celebrated with his fingers in both ears – a bit of goading which started following a penalty shoot-out win against Wolves last season.
And Forest seized the lead 12 minutes after the break with an opportunist strike.
Danilo fed Gibbs-White whose attempted pass cannoned back to him off a Wolves player.
The midfielder went down in the box, sandwiched between two Wolves shirts.
But before his penalty claims could be heard Danilo pounced on the loose ball to stroke it beyond Sa.
It was crucial for Forest to hold on to their lead now – instead they conceded within five minutes.
Not surprisingly, it came from a set-piece.
Pablo Sarabia’s corner was won by Max Kilman whose header was deflected and Sels could only pat the ball out.
In the ensuing scramble Cunha managed to poke the ball home, through Murillo’s legs and a VAR check agreed the goal should stand.
Forest pushed for a crucial winner but the closest they came was a Danilo curling shot which Sa touched over.
And when sub Divock Origi squandered a late break by passing behind Chris Wood, to the disgust of Forest fans, their final chance disappeared.
