Nottingham Forest made it six successive Premier League wins with a 3-0 win over Wolves at Molineux.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s strike against his former club silenced the home crowd and Jorgen Strand Larsen had three good chances to equalize for Vitor Pereira’s side but doubled the lead before half-time. It was clinical Chris Wood.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s stoppage-time goal made it three goals to take Nuno Espirito Santo’s Arsenal to their sixth successive Premier League win and leave their cheering supporters dreaming of next season’s Champions League.
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Morgan Gibbs-White torments his former club after giving Forest the lead at Molineux.
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Chris Wood doubles Nottingham Forest’s lead.
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Taiwo Awoniyi added a third late.
Wolves will be content to maintain their Premier League status. The defeat was their first since Pereira took charge, but they were kept out of the relegation zone only on goal difference despite a squad depleted of key players such as the suspended Mateusz Cunha.
Forrest’s red machine is rolling.
Matz Sels put in a great performance, making some special saves to keep Forest’s clean sheet. This shows that Nuno’s men did not get this done on their own. However, it was no surprise that they maintained control of the game after Gibbs-White’s goal.
England manager Thomas Tuchel gave Forest the advantage and they never gave it up. That’s what this team is doing now. Confident, mature and comfortable with or without football.
Wood didn’t have the opportunities that Strand Larsen enjoyed, but he didn’t need them. Forest supporters chanted at the end of the game that they were coming for Liverpool. Why not? The win moved them to within six points of the Premier League leaders.
Nuno avoids talk of title race
Nottingham Forest president Nuno Espirito Santo’s exchange at the press conference:
Q: Liverpool is next. Are you competing for a title?
A: “We play Luton in the FA Cup at the City Ground. It’s a big opportunity for us. It’s a great opportunity for us. I’m sorry I can’t answer your direct question, but this is reality.
“We need to prepare well. The FA Cup is important. It’s a good opportunity to give everyone time because it’s going to be a very long season.”
“We need every player with time, stamina and rhythm. Luton first.”
Q: The rest of the countries are currently looking at the league table. When do you think that will be possible?
A: “Well, probably towards the end of the season. I’ll probably take a look.”
Q. When the season ends?
Answer: “Yes.”
Q: “Not when you’re in the Champions League, when you’re playing the last four games?
A: “No. We’ll take a look at it when the season is over. We’ll take a look at it when the season is over. I promise we’ll look at it.”
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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo says his side have achieved nothing yet.
Weakened wolves are very short.
Wolves have performed better under Pereira, but after this game it became a little clear to the Portuguese the scale of the task still facing him and the lack of depth in the squad. With three of their four senior centre-backs injured, Wolves were significantly short-handed in defence.
They were also without captain Nelson Semedo and star midfielder Andre, who of course has been outstanding in Cunha this season. Without too many key players, this was probably a half-hearted effort from Wolves.
Cunha is expected to return for the next Premier League game against Newcastle, but Pereira will need more than that. Among the defenders, Emmanuel Agbadou is expected to join. Pereira will hope they can make a difference.
