Snoozefest part deux

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Nottingham Forest 1

Though Tuesday’s win against Burnley lacked the unalloyed joy of that against Tottenham Hotspur three weeks earlier, it was no less important, ensuring that nine points remains the gap between Wolves and the bottom three. You could see from Gary O’Neill’s pitch side reaction how much the win meant, with the added bonus that confidence within his squad can be maintained. For once it starts to slip, it is hard to regain with damaging consequences. That said there are no easy games in the Premier League and of late Wolves have struggled to impose themselves on today’s visitors Nottingham Forest. The tie was further complicated by Forest employing a couple of Wolves cast offs for whom raising their game to prove a point will come easy. Thus did another uneasy afternoon beckon.

Which is how it panned out though Wolves rode their luck when, with half time beckoning Cheikhou Kouyate failed to slot home when one on one with Jose Sa. Then in the 69th minute Harry Toffolo headed over when it appeared easier to score than to miss. The Forest striker had however given the visitors their lead when with fifteen minutes gone he headed home Neco William’s deep cross. The goal roused the home side from their torpor when fifteen minutes later Paula Sarabia’s fine cut back from the bye line was slotted home by Mattheus Cunha.

But for the second game in a row this was a poor Wolves performance in which retaining possession in their own half has become a tedious template. Without Pedro Neto, who provides the pace to take on opposition defences from the half way line, I am not convinced that 3-5-2 is working. It leads Wolves to play too deeply resulting in boring possession and minimal threat. Only once during the second half did the home side get beyond the Nottingham Forest back line and only Cunha, through his own endeavour, had a shot on target. Nor am I convinced that Matt Doherty should remain on the bench. Nuno recognised his qualities but O’Neill does not. He should play as a wing half at the centre of midfield thus allowing a 4-3-3 set up in which Toti, who looked less than assured, could be discarded.

Before the game I said that a draw would be a good result. We achieved the draw but the performance was worrying. With two difficult games before Christmas, a couple of points will be good.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa 6, Semedo 7, Dawson 6, Kilman 6, Gomes 5, Bueno 6 Sub Doherty, Gomes 5, Lemina 6, Sarabia 6 Sub Bellegarde, Cunha 6 Sub Traore, Hee-chan 6

Nottingham Forest: Turner 6, Boly 6 Costa dos Santos 7 Sub Felipe, Niakhate 6, N Williams 6, Yates 6, Mangala 6, Kouyate 6, Sub Danilo, Toffolo 6, Elanga 6 Sub Wood, Gibbs-White 6

Attendance: 31,543

Referee: Samuel Barrott 8

©Mark Brennand