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Nottingham Forest V Wolves: Match Preview
WATCH FOR OUR THOUGHTS AHEAD OF FOREST V WOLVES
TEAM NEWS
Wolves head into the trip to Nottingham Forest with a few key fitness worries to manage. Hwang Hee-chan is ruled out with a calf problem, and he is set to have another scan in a few weeks as the club keeps a close eye on his recovery. Andre is a doubt and will face a late fitness test after being monitored in the build-up to the game. There is some encouragement with Toti Gomes, who is improving, but he is still not training with the squad yet, so his availability for Forest remains unclear.
Nottingham Forest also have a few fitness calls to make ahead of Wolves at the City Ground. Centre-back Murillo is touch and go after missing the Leeds game with a calf problem, and Sean Dyche says the club will know more after a final check before deciding if he can be involved. Neco Williams, returns to contention after serving a one-match suspension. Forest are likely to still be without goalkeeper Matz Sels, though, with Dyche suggesting his groin issue is improving but not something expected to clear up in a matter of days.
ROB EDWARDS
Hwang Hee-chan is out with a calf issue and will be scanned again “in a few weeks”, while Toti Gomes also remains sidelined but is back doing individual training. Edwards said Andre is jogging and will be given “as much time as possible”.
On Hwang, Edwards was asked why managers trust him so much while some fans are frustrated: “He is a really intelligent footballer. He may make a mistake or two and people jump on that as well. He doesn’t complain or moan – he just gets his head down and works hard on it. I understand the situation we are in and there will be a lot of negativity around. He has taken a little bit of stick but he’s strong mentally and is a great person around the place. He really does get the game. Sometimes it can affect him and others.”
Adam Armstrong “has made a really impressive start”, and Edwards added: “I thought he was excellent in the game and in the training sessions as well. He’s really clean in everything he does. His football is good. He can drop into spaces and give us a link, and on the line is a goal threat as well.”
Following the weekend’s 3-1 defeat by Chelsea, where Wolves were 3-0 down inside 40 minutes: “There wasn’t maybe as much wrong in the first half as people think. And maybe the second half wasn’t as good as some people think.”
Wolves are the lowest scorers in the league by a nine-goal distance and asked about offensive play, Edwards said: “The creating stuff, it’s the harder thing to do. When we came in we knew we had to be more solid, but to win football matches you have to create as well. We haven’t been able to do that consistently. We need to be better, there’s no doubt about that.”
On facing Forest: “It’s a good game for us. All the pressure now for obvious reasons is on them. Being at home as well, expectation is on them. We can go there and try as always to attack the game and be brave, maybe with a little less pressure on.”
Following their 1-0 win at Molineux in December, Nottingham Forest are looking to complete their first league double over Wolves since 2012-13, and first in the top-flight since 1980-81.
Wolves have lost their last two meetings with Nottingham Forest, having lost just one of their previous 14 against them in all competitions (W6 D7).
Nottingham Forest are winless in their last nine home games against Wolves in all competitions (D5 L4), with each of the last four being drawn.
Nottingham Forest lost 3-0 at home to West Ham in August when the Hammers were bottom of the table. The last team to lose at home to two different 20th-placed sides in a Premier League campaign were Everton in 2022-23 (vs Wolves and Southampton).
Nottingham Forest have alternated between winning (3) and losing (2) their last five midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games, beating West Ham 2-1 last time out.
Wolves are winless in their last six midweek (Tues, Weds, Thurs) Premier League away games (D3 L3), since a 4-1 win at Brentford in December 2023.
Nottingham Forest are winless in their last four Premier League home games, with two defeats followed by two draws. They last drew three in a row at the City Ground in October 2023.
Wolves are winless in their last 14 Premier League away games (D3 L11), having won four in a row on the road before that. It’s their longest run without an away win in the competition since the 2003-04 campaign, when they failed to win any of their 19 (D7 L12).
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White has scored two goals in his last four Premier League appearances against former side Wolves. Only against Brighton (4) and Manchester United (3) has he scored in more different games in the competition.
Wolves have scored just five away goals in the Premier League this season, their lowest return after 12 away games in their league history. However, none of the last four teams to have five or fewer goals after 12 Premier League away games have been relegated that season (Nottingham Forest 2022-23, Brighton 2017-18, Aston Villa 2014-15, Crystal Palace 2013-14).
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Tim Robinson. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Constantine Hatzidakis. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: James Bell. Assistant VAR: Akil Howson.
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Nottingham Forest V Wolves: Match Preview