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Wolves 0 Nottingham Forest 2 – Report and pictures

Wolves' unbeaten league run ended as Nottingham Forest won 2-0 at Molineux.

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Forest took a two-goal lead into the break after netting quickfire goals just before half time through Kieran Dowell and Ben Osborn.

Wolves sent on Helder Costa and Rafa Mir but failed to produce a meaningful chance on a disappointing afternoon at Molineux.

Analysis

An erroneous, off-colour performance which produced only five shots and resulted in a deserved 2-0 loss....this isn't the Wolves we know.

Wolves have been excellent at bouncing back from defeats this season but the reaction Nuno requested after the FA Cup reverse to Swansea just wasn't forthcoming, writes Tim Spiers at Molineux.

Nuno's team were flawed all over the park. Creativity was lacking, imagination was in short supply, even basic passes were beyond them at times in what was a disconcertingly mediocre display.

Throwing attackers at the problem didn't produce a solution. Wolves ended the game with five forwards on the pitch in a formation that resembled an upside down Christmas tree but they shockingly failed to seriously test keeper Jordan Smith for the entire 90 minutes.

Fatigue? Are teams working them out? Just an off day? You can't call it the latter as two poor performances had preceded this.

Nuno's charges have set extremely high standards this season and while their lead is a very healthy nine points, they need to return to something resembling those levels if they're not to become a realistic target for Derby, Cardiff, Villa and co to catch.

There's little no need for concern yet after one defeat in three months. Improvements are needed and you'd certainly back Nuno to promptly find them, as he has done all season.

Match report

Ivan Cavaleiro got the nod over Helder Costa for his first start since the 2-2 draw at Millwall on Boxing Day, while Leo Bonatini was preferred to Rafa Mir up front.

Nottingham Forest were skippered by ex-Wolves defender Michael Mancienne, but Daryl Murphy missed out through injury.

Wolves came into the game in a mini slump by their high standards this season and they initially looked intent on putting that right after making a bright start.

Diogo Jota, who was lively from the bench at Swansea in midweek, took Bonatini's smart pass and cut inside before curling a beautiful effort inches past the post with nine minutes on the clock.

It should have set the tone for the rest of the half, but instead Wolves were sluggish and sloppy in possession and barely offered a goal threat.

Ruben Neves seemed to be the only one playing, particularly with some searching passes which found Matt Doherty with pinpoint accuracy.

Elsewhere Wolves were pretty anonymous. Nuno was furious with Cavaleiro and twice lectured the forward, while the two wing backs were off target with their crosses.

Forest certainly weren't shy in letting Wolves know they were in a game, earning two very deserved bookings for crunching fouls on Cavaleiro and Jota as they became the latest team to target Wolves' flair players.

It seemed to work because Wolves went into their shells and the visitors gradually got a foothold in the game.

By the time they took the lead they had already twice gone close, with Doherty heading inches wide of his own post and then Osborn flicked up a free kick and volley marginally off target via a deflection.

That led to a corner and from that Forest broke the deadlock on 40 minutes with Dowell's effort taking a wicked deflection and wrong-footing Ruddy.

Three minutes later it was 2-0. There was no fortune about this strike though – a 15-yard curler into the top corner from Osborn which sent the visiting fans into raptures and the rest of Molineux into shellshock,

It was only the second time Wolves had fallen behind all season, with the first occasion being during their only home defeat, to Cardiff.

Something needed to change at half time but no one was expecting to see both Douglas and Doherty withdrawn. Costa and Gibbs-White were introduced as Nuno, in what could moderately be described as a bold move, went for the hitherto unseen 3-2-3-2 formation with Cavaleiro and the two subs playing behind Jota and Bonatini.

Initially the impact was minimal with Forest actually going close again when Danny Fox's header was tipped over by Ruddy.

The effort and endeavour was there and Wolves began to push Forest deeper but their final ball was lacking. Costa sent successive crosses into the South Bank and Cavaleiro's aim was also off.

GIbbs-White tried to take the initiative, riding a challenge and bursting forward to see up Bonatini who curled over.

With 15 minutes to go Wolves still hadn't meaningfully tested keeper Jordan Smith in the entire game. Costa fell over when trying to get to the byline in what summed up his contribution, although barely anyone looked themselves in what was a puzzlingly flawed performance from Nuno's team.

Rafa Mir replaces Ruben Neves meaning they now had five forwards on the pitch, but keeper Smith had barely a thing to do as Forest saw the game out comfortably.

Key moments

40 – GOALKIERAN DOWELL takes aim and his effort deflects past a wrong-footed John Ruddy.

43 – GOAL – Wolves don't clear their lines and BEN OSBORN sends a 15-yarder into the top corner.

Line ups

Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Bennett, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty (Gibbs-White, 45), Saiss, Neves (Mir, 79), Douglas (Costa, 45); Cavaleiro, Bonatini, Jota. Subs: Norris, Batth, Miranda, N'Diaye, Mir.

Goals: sdf

Nottingham Forest (4-1-4-1): Smith; Lichaj, Worrall, Mancienne, Fox; Bouchalakis; Cash, Bridcutt (Clough, 69), Osborn, Dowell (Darikwa, 83); Brereton. Subs: Henderson, Mills, Traore, Carayol, Vellios.

Goals: Dowell (40), Osborn (43)

Attendance: 29,050

Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)

League position

1st (62 points from 28 matches)