Nottingham Forest's remarkable winning run continued on Monday night as they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0, marking the first time they have recorded six consecutive top-flight victories since 1979. With this latest win, Nottingham Forest is level on points with second-placed Arsenal, both having accrued 40 points after 20 games. Conversely, this defeat constitutes the first loss for Vitor Pereira as Wolves manager, leaving them precariously positioned at 17th place with 16 points.
Nottingham Forest asserted their dominance early, as former Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring just seven minutes in, much to the dismay of the home supporters. The home team attempted to respond vigorously, creating numerous opportunities but failing to capitalize, forcing Forest's goalkeeper Matz Sels to make several impressive saves.
Despite Wolves' initial pressure, the visitors struck again just before halftime when Chris Wood netted his eighth goal against Wolves, sending Forest to the break with a 2-0 lead. The match statistics reflected Wolves' struggle, showcasing their significant 1.35 expected goals (xG) yet failing to find the net.
After halftime, Nottingham Forest returned to their defensive best, drastically limiting Wolves' chances and securing their fourth successive clean sheet, adding to their total of nine clean sheets for the season. Taiwo Awoniyi sealed the deal with another goal deep in stoppage time, resulting from consistent pressure and counter-attacking play.
Matz Sels, the man of the match, showcased his goalkeeping prowess with five key saves, repeatedly thwarting Wolves' attempts to return to the game. Nuno Espírito Santo praised his players’ work ethic and emphasised the necessity for humility as the season proceeds.
"It feels good. We work very hard to achieve what we have," Nuno said post-match. He also noted, "We need to stay humble. We haven't achieved anything yet; we need to work until the end and this can lead us to good moments,” highlighting the competitive nature of the Premier League and the challenges still to come.
Looking forward, Nottingham Forest is set to encounter Liverpool on January 14, with Nuno confident about the morale following this performance. He remarked, "The performance and the results help with confidence -– you saw Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga today, they were confident and creating many problems (for Wolves)." The manager revealed they would first have to focus on their upcoming FA Cup tie against Luton Town, scheduled for Saturday.
Nottingham Forest’s impressive current form has raised the prospect of them challenging for even greater accolades, such as a potential return to the Champions League. With their dynamic attacking play and resilient defense, the team under Nuno Espírito Santo is poised for remarkable achievements as the season matures.
For their part, Wolverhampton Wanderers will need to regroup quickly, shifting their focus from Premier League struggles to the FA Cup, where they will face Bristol City this coming weekend. Despite the loss, the team displayed elements of promise during the match against Forest, particularly during the first half, which could provide them with the confidence they need to battle through their current challenges.