Nottingham Forest 2-2 Wolves: Matheus Cunha double denies struggling hosts

Nottingham Forest supervisor Nuno Espirito Santo described his workforce’s draw with Wolves as “a missed alternative” to maneuver three factors away from the Premier League relegation zone.

Forest journey to fellow strugglers Everton subsequent weekend, whereas the Hatters host Brentford.

“We have been the higher workforce at this time and will have received the sport,” Nuno informed BBC Match of the Day.

“We didn’t enable many possibilities, however the ones we did enable we defended badly. Offensively we have been good – it isn’t simple to play in opposition to a again 5 with little areas.

“However we created sufficient possibilities to win the sport. It should be a combat till the tip of the season and we’re right here to provide it our all.”

Wolves ahead Cunha, making his first begin since struggling a hamstring damage in early February, shocked the house followers with a aim of the best high quality late within the first half.

Carrying the ball from inside his personal half to the sting of the Forest penalty space, Cunha skipped between Andrew Omobamidele and Ryan Yates earlier than rifling an unstoppable shot previous goalkeeper Matz Sels into the highest nook.

Former Wolves playmaker Gibbs-White drew Forest degree simply six minutes later, heading house Giovanni Reyna’s nook in first-half stoppage time earlier than celebrating in entrance of the travelling followers.

Nuno’s aspect swept forward within the second half when Danilo powered a low shot past Jose Sa from shut vary, however Cunha bundled house a free ball from a nook to salvage a degree for Gary O’Neil’s males, who stay simply exterior the highest half of the desk.

A degree gained or two dropped for Forest?

Forest are nonetheless ready on an attraction date for his or her four-point revenue and sustainability punishment, however Premier League security stays firmly of their arms regardless of this failure to guard their second-half benefit on the Metropolis Floor.

The hosts have been the brighter of the 2 sides within the early phases and Yates had a shot deflected vast from the sting of the penalty space earlier than Callum Hudson-Odoi curled over the crossbar from an analogous place.

United States worldwide Reyna, making his first begin since becoming a member of on mortgage from Borussia Dortmund, additionally dragged a shot narrowly vast after gathering Nelson Semedo’s stray move close to the sting of the field.

Nuno may have been annoyed together with his workforce’s defending within the build-up to Cunha’s opener, with Omobamidele and Yates failing to cease the Brazilian getting into the penalty space.

However after deservedly drawing degree via Gibbs-White, Danilo drilled Forest in entrance for the primary time after Matt Doherty inadvertently diverted the ball into the midfielder’s path whereas trying to dispossess Gibbs-White.

Their lead lasted simply 5 minutes, nonetheless, with Cunha changing from point-blank vary after Sels parried Toti Gomes’ goal-bound header into the ahead’s path.

Forest have now dropped 50 Premier League factors from successful positions for the reason that begin of final season, greater than some other workforce.

Whether or not this was a degree gained or two dropped will solely turn into clear on the finish of the marketing campaign.

4 video games with out victory for Wolves

Wolves have had a wonderful marketing campaign beneath O’Neil, however after going 4 league video games and not using a win for the primary time in 2023-24 their season is in peril of tapering off.

They have been on the again foot early on however have been virtually gifted an opener when Yates gave the ball to Joao Gomes contained in the Forest field. His shot was cleared off the road by Murillo earlier than Pablo Sarabia lashed the follow-up try vast.

Gibbs-White’s equaliser simply six minutes after Cunha’s second of magic means Wolves have now didn’t hold a clear sheet of their final six away league matches, final doing so within the goalless draw at Brighton in late January.

Forest’s second aim was simply as poor from a Wolves perspective, Doherty enjoying an unintended one-two with Gibbs-White and diverting the ball into the unmarked Danilo’s path.

The house aspect regarded the likelier winners within the latter phases, after Cunha’s second jolted them, however O’Neil’s workforce held on for a share of the spoils.

With three consecutive house video games developing in late April, O’Neil and his gamers might be hopeful of returning to successful methods earlier than the tip of the month.