Wolves Fans' Verdict v Nottingham Forest: A much needed point!

So we have our first point of the season against a Nottingham Forest team who have started well!

There was an absolute calamity in the early stages with our defending from a set piece, for some bizarre reason leaving Chris Wood unmarked to despatch a free header. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde responded quickly, picking one out from almost 25 yards to draw us level.

In a game where both teams probably could have won, our defence stood out, especially after conceding six the previous weekend. I thought we bounced back well to provide a solid defensive performance.

Part of this comes down to Craig Dawson’s reintegration to the first team.

I remember a time, a few years ago, maybe before my love for football was fully nurtured, learning the story of Jody Craddock. Mick McCarthy was trying to move in a different direction away from using Craddock, and he was sent on loan to Stoke with the potential of a permanent move.

Wolves struggled defensively, Craddock was recalled, and went on to be one of the team’s most influential players.

Dawson seems a similar character. Quietly spoken, leads by example and takes no nonsense as soon as he crosses the white line.

With Dawson being left out for the early stages of the season, it feels like he has had to convince Gary O’Neil of his continuing impact, and he certainly did that at Nottingham Forest with a stellar performance.

It is probably something for O’Neil to work around, with his high line not really complementing Dawson’s game. But his performance has more than certainly stated his case as to why he should play week in week out.

Clive Smith

That was more like it. That’s the Wolves we know and love. Very recognisable. Ironically it was a certain previous manager who initiated talk of our identity.

Not strictly a back five but our overall shape and organisation meant there was certainly not the gaping holes we had last weekend. Thank God eh!

The mood was upbeat and we carved out a good chance in the opening couple of minutes. A debut for Johnstone did not start all that well as we went a goal behind after only 10 minutes. Once our set-piece coach turns the page to defending set-pieces conceding goals from corners will hopefully dry up!

Forest didn’t apply a press so our scary passing at the back was less evident. Johnstone went long with many kicks and engagement on halfway was rewarding at times and less stressful to watch. We found through ball up the channels, usually through Cunha or Ait-Nouri, and that looked promising.

Meanwhile, something we’d not seen in a while popped up. A goal from outside the box and wow, take a bow Bellegarde.

When the game was allowed to flow it was a decent watch but the ref kept interrupting. Early cards for Bellegarde and Gomes (again) left us vulnerable down our right while, with an advanced Ait-Nouri, Toti struggled to stem the flow of crosses from our left.

Generally we coped well with balls into our box though. Semedo supported Dawson and Mosquera. Johnstone made a good save in each half.

Cunha had one of his impressive runs into the box but too many of our moves stalled before we progressed into their area. The final minutes of the game were frantic and end to end, there were half chances at both ends. We deserved our point, much needed obviously, being competitive throughout was good to see. Having strong options from the bench is certainly an upgrade from last season.

Dawson just pipped Lemina for MOTM. It was no coincidence that Toti and Mosquera looked better with Dawson alongside, and Semedo too.

It was a very physical game with Bellegarde and Larsen too frequently coming off second best.

Many of our new signings lack height, I hope it does not lead to us being constantly bullied. (We’ve seen it previously with Hwang, Silva, Vitinha, Podence and others). With officials seemingly allowing more and more physical contact to go unpunished, being strong is a mandatory requirement these days.

John Lalley

Transfer window closed; have Wolves been travelling Business Class or Budget airlines?

Time will tell; we desperately need the newcomers to make a significant impression from the very outset. A dominant central defender to replace Kilman should have been a priority and significantly, Dawson’s return at The City Ground was massively influential after the Chelsea fiasco.

Veteran he undoubtedly is but he has been inspirational; commitment, boundless determination and the innate understanding of the requirements of his position.

Wood’s opener for Forest was conceded through dismal marking, but gradually some semblance of order was restored and a decent result ensued.

It has been an erratic start to what is likely to be a challenging campaign. Post match, Gary O’Neil likened his team to ‘wild horses’ and of ‘being a little bit crazy’ who ‘all of a sudden are just off and gone.’

Bizarre; last week he identified Rayan Ait-Nouri as taking a walk on the wild side with alarming consequences and at Nottingham Yerson Mosquera’s late bout of indulgence, the coach described as ‘madness.’

All sounds a bit chaotic with individuals going off script and inviting self-destruction. O’Neil is noted for meticulous preparation and attention to detail; maybe some disciplined and intensive routines at Compton with each individual being made fully aware of their roles and responsibilities might help!

Adam Virgo

A good point that was very much needed after our first two results and with the fixtures we have coming up.

The game was very open in the first half but we probably just edged it, however 1-1 at half time was fair. A poor goal to concede from a corner, you can’t be leaving Chris Wood in acres of space at the back post and no shock that he scored because he always does against us.

A fantastic response by scoring two minutes later. An absolute worldie from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde which is definitely one of the best goals so far this season.

Second half Forest were the better side and looked more likely to score but thankfully we dealt with their threats and stayed strong until the end.

Lemina, Dawson and Semedo were the stand-out players and Sam Johnstone made a couple of big saves to keep us level too.

We definitely have things that need working on defensively and going forwards but there were some positives to take from the game and hopefully everyone can stay fit over the international break as we have some more tough games ahead of us.

Matt Gallimore

After the second half capitulation versus Chelsea, a game at The City Ground against Forest felt like a good opportunity to try and get some points on the board and kick-start our season.

The big question was if we would stick with the four at the back experiment or revert back to type and a back five. Clearly O’Neil wants to persist with a four but as we all envisaged, some changes needed to be made. Toti out to left back shored that side up but the biggest improvement was Dawson at centre back. Even at the age of 34 he is the best defender at the club and what he lacks in pace, he makes up for in positional sense, leadership and total dominance in the air. He was superb!

In a game where quality was lacking, it needed effort and determination and no one embodied that more than Mario Lemina. He was everywhere, winning tackles, driving us forward and then getting back to defend. I thought it was a brilliant captain’s performance. After the signing of Andre there was talk that Lemina might be the one to make way. That won’t happen.

So, all in all, a good point to take away but lots to work on in the coming weeks. O’Neil spoke in his pre match press conference about trying to find a formation and shape to enable us to get the best out of the players we have, and that will be needed moving forwards.

Will Sa or Johnstone be number one? How can we keep it tighter at the back without losing attacking intent? And what is the best position for Ait Nouri?

A lot of questions and dilemmas for O’Neil to solve, but after asking for more depth at the end of last season, he now has those in abundance.

It’s up to Gary to come up with a recipe. Time to cook!

Harry Lee

That was a bit more Wolves like, wasn’t it? A system and patterns of play we are much more familiar with!

Predominantly reverting back to a 3/5 hybrid brought the best out of Ait-Nouri in an attacking sense, he and Cunha dropping deeper caused problems for their defence, especially in the first half.

Changes in the second half suggest the formation will continue to be fluid, with Hwang coming on for Ait-Nouri 60 minutes in showing that.

The flexibility with the system and personal will be needed, as we now have arguably the best set of defensive midfielders in the league with Lemina and Gomes joined by the exciting Andre! How do we fit them all in?

Yes, only a point in end, with plenty of defending to do in the second 45, but a very important first of the season, against a Forest team who have started well.

Special mention to Craig Dawson, for what he lacks in pace, he makes up for in pure defending. A real leader whose presence in the back line will be a comfort to the team.

The fixtures aren’t getting any easier, but the deadline day additions of Forbs, Andre and Johnstone should add much needed quality and competition.

Elen Young

Feels like we were lucky to come away with a point, and the second half was far too nervy.

That goal from Bellegarde was unreal, and such an unreal piece of skill. Going forward we still look exciting but I’d like to see more of Rodrigo Gomes, considering how he looked in pre season.

Defensively, we still look pretty leaky but Dawson made a big difference. I’d be starting Dawson every week and if he hadn’t been there to martial the defensive I doubt we’d have come away with a point.

Johnson was impressive and made some excellent saves, but I didn’t see him as a notable improvement on Sa but in fairness he’d barely been with the team for 24 hours.