Wolves thumped

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Nottingham Forest 3

These are strange and slightly troubling times at Molineux. Ten points from the last ten games, an attack firing blanks, a defence leaking goals and the Club’s best left back (Scott Golbourne) not even on the bench. The confidence that was garnered from a rousing promotion season has now all but evaporated and Wolves find themselves at a pivotal point in their season. For the first time since he arrived Manager Jackett will be feeling the pressure of the expectation that he has created.

As for the game this was an encounter which both teams needed to win, their records coming in to the match poor and somewhat denting seemingly good starts to the season. After an opening quarter in which nary a chance was created the game opened up although it was the visitors who looked the more dangerous. On 29 minutes Carl Ikeme parried a fine strike from Henri Lansbury onto the post and then from the rebound Britt Assombalonga made a hash of his effort scuffing it wide. Within a minute Ikeme was in action again denying Matty Fry with an excellent save when the ex Walsall midfielder was well placed. Wolves then, through David Edwards, had a goal disallowed for offside but bar that opportunity they created very little. In midfield Kevin MacDonald was out of sorts and his half back partner Tommy Rowe was anonymous. I don’t know what Rowe does. He’s not a hard man, he can’t beat a player and he never looks like playing a ball that will open up a defence. Other than that he’s excellent.

Though Forest had shaded the first half there was no hint of the drubbing that they were about to inflict. Within five minutes of the restart they had squandered two good opportunities when well placed and the warning lights were flashing. They continued to flash until minute 65 when the Wolves defence was opened up with the most delightful move, Jamaal Lascelles and Fryatt linking beautifully before the latter side footed the ball across the six yard box to Assombalonga who stroked the ball into an open net. Forest continued to press and two minutes later were two nil up when Fryatt headed in from a corner.

Wolves should have got one back in the 80th minute when van la Parra’s pull back from the bye-line was met by Rowe, the goal at his mercy, but his strike struck a Forest body. Four minutes later the Wolves defence was opened up for a third time when a square ball was met by Henry Lansbury who side footed home from the edge of the box. And with that the stands emptied.

Wolves need to get back to the semblance of the side that brought them up. Which means a return for Golbourne, Michael Jacobs and the inclusion of George Saville in place of Rowe. But hell, what do I know.

Wolves: Ikeme 7, Doherty 6, Batth 5, Ebanks Landell 6 Sub Stearman 5, Ricketts 5, Henry 5 Sub McAlinden, MacDonald 6, Rowe 4, Sako 5, Edwards 6 Sub van la Parra, Graham 6

Nottingham Forest: Darlow 6, Lichaj 6, Mancienne 6, Lascelles 7, Fox 6, Burke 7, Fryatt 7 Sub Blackstock, Antonio 6 Sub Patterson, Osborn 6, Lansbury 8, Assombalonga 8 Sub Tesche

Attendance: 25,513

Referee: Paul Tierney 8

MB