Always Wolves
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MATCH REPORT Nottingham Forest Wolves by Always Wolves 2 minutes ago
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Wolves: Under Siege, Sa Secures a Point
Stretch discusses Wolves 0-0 draw with Forest
Wolves v Forest is one of the great traditional unglamorous fixtures and will carry many memories of past encounters for many long in the tooth Wolves fans, not least the league cup victory. This encounter represented a much less important prize for the down and out Wolves but a critical chance for Forest to get an essential 3 points, so the game mattered. It was raining, cold, midweek and on the TV and with little to play for every single Wolves fan that helped pack the away end should be commended, bravo.
After starting with a back four against Chelsea with disastrous results most fans were expecting a return to three centre halves and this is what the manager delivered. The unfortunate injury to Hwang forced the change with Krejci returning to the back 3. Unfortune or not surely that is an upgrade. The formation being 3 4 1 2 with Mane behind Armstrong and Tolu.
Edwards had warned that Forest would start with a high tempo and press with their obvious need and home support backing them to get 3 points. So the big question was, could Wolves stand firm quieten the crowd and gradually get a foothold in the game.
Team : Sa, S Bueno, H Bueno, Mosquera, Krejci, R Gomes, J Gomes, A Gomes, Armstrong, Mane, Arokodare
First Half
As Edwards had predicted Forest started at a fast pace and within seconds created space for a dangerous cross. In the first ten minutes Wolves barely touched the ball and visits to the opposition half were even rarer. There were efforts to try and keep calm and play the ball out via Krejci but Wolves as a team lacked the guile or quality to pass through the Forest press. On most occasions the ball ending at the feet of Krejci to hit the ball long and whilst Tolu fought for everything he was left to win the first ball and the second. Inevitably the ball was coming straight back at Wolves and the Forest pressure was relentless.
The shot and corner stats were rising at an alarming rate with the only saving grace being that Sa had not really been called into action, such was the waywardness of Forests forwards. Forest continued to press and the times Wolves did get the ball they were clueless on how to keep it, simple passes were finding the feet of a Forest player. The Forest goal was surely coming.
After 25 minutes Wolves finally had an attack with Rodrigo Gomes nearly losing his man but at least we had a corner to shout about. The corner came to nothing and normal business resumed.
A deep free kick launched by Sa was repelled and Forest broke with 6 men bearing down on Hugo Bueno, there was surely only one outcome. But no, Forest showed their ineptitude by managing to crash the ball over the bar, neither Sa or Bueno contributed to the escape, Forest contrived to miss this all by themselves. Would this spark Wolves into action unfortunately not.
It was very late in the half when a Bueno cross found the head of Tolu but it flashed wide, at least we had a first half attempt.
This was a shocking half of football for Wolves with Forest breaking records for shots and corners yet somehow it was nil nil. It can only get better from here.
Second Half
There were no personnel changes to either team but Edwards tweaked the formation with Mane moving to the right and Armstrong to the left giving a 3 4 3 look to the team. As the front 3 had rarely touched the ball it made sense to make this switch to stifle the two Forest full backs from having complete freedom to go forward.
The initial minutes were better for Wolves and it was they who forced the first corner although no chance created. Despite that Forest soon regained their dominance that said things were a little more even with the tactical changes enough to subdue Forest’s attacking plan. The game drifted through a very scrappy period.
With little happening on 60 minutes Edwards swopped both full backs bringing on Wolfe and Tchatchoua presumably an attacking change although it was hard to tell. It did spark Mane into his first meaningful contribution with a very clever turn but unfortunately a wild shot. There was another attempt by Angel straight at the keeper but these were isolated efforts amongst the constant pressure from Forest.
The game did become more stretched towards the end with Forest and their fans now turning from anxious to angry but Wolves were limited to Mosquera long throws which did not remotely threaten a goal.
A corner and a goal mouth scramble led to a good save from Sa, one of the few he actually had to make. Bellegarde entered the fray surprisingly for Angel rather than Armstrong, who had contributed very little, and who was occupying the position Bellegarde slotted into. Thus this meant Armstrong moving to the right dropping Mane back to midfield.
And so we arrived at injury time still level and set to steal a point when all of a sudden Tolu broke and set up Mane for a great chance but his shot was easily saved. Maybe he had some better options to pass to but who can blame him for taking it on. It would have been the most unjust of three points
REFLECTIONS
From a Wolves perspective this was a terrible game in which we were battered for 90 minutes conceding 35 shots. Yet Forest will be beyond disappointed and they only have themselves to blame for not winning. The failure to win proving too much for the trigger happy chairman and Dyche has gone. Football is about results but Dyche sent out a team that created 35 chances and he cannot be expected to kick the ball in the net himself. Forest look very good candidates to join us in the Championship. Wolves currently already look like a Championship team.
Started in 1970 standing on a stool in South Bank and have been screaming at referees ever since. Worked my way round the ground, Billy Wright, North bank and now made it to the Steve Bull. Moving as various friends came and went as well as accommodating age changes of the pesky kids who are also bitten. As passionate as ever despite the stress of VAR shortening my life expectancy.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Wolves: Under Siege, Sa Secures a Point
Pukka