Wolves player ratings from Nottingham Forest defeat include two ‘appalling’ 4/10s but one ‘stunning’ 8

Goals from Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi earned the visitors all three points, moving Forest to within goal difference of Arsenal in the Premier League top three. Wolves, meanwhile, remain outside the relegation zone but will be looking over their shoulders at Ipswich Town, who are level on 16 points with just one inferior goal difference.

It took only seven minutes for Forest to take the lead under the lights as none other than former Wolves star Gibbs-White converted emphatically from an Anthony Elanga cutback. Elliot Anderson kickstarted a ruthless counter-attack for Forest, passing to Gibbs-White who dribbled around 40 yards before playing a one-two with Elanga and firing first time into the net when the ball returned to his feet.

Jorgen Strand Larsen had a huge chance to equalise for Wolves as he fed onto a skewed Hwang Hee-Chan shot in the six-yard box but shot straight at Forest defender Murillo. Rodrigo Gomes then went close to scoring a stunner as the Portuguese flicked the ball over a defender’s head and struck vivicoulsy on the volley, but Matz Sels made a fine reaction stop. Strand Larsen failed to convert shortly after from a tremendous Rodrigo Gomes cross, somehow heading straight at Sels.

Wolves were made to rue their missed chances as Forest doubled their lead just before the break, Wood scoring his 12th league goal of the season. Callum Hudson-Odoi skinned Doherty with ease, dribbled 20 yards to the byline and cut the ball back for Wood to divert into the net. The visitors were reeling from not being awarded a penalty ten minutes earlier as an Ola Aina cross was blocked by Rayan Ait-Nouri’s extended arm but the frustrations eased when they made it two to the good anyway.

Wanderers dominated possession for much of the second period but Forest sat in to form a low block, reducing the chances Pereira’s men could create. Strand Larsen was the only one to see another sight of goal as he forced an important diving save from Sels. Forest did well to relieve the pressure incrementally as the likes of Hudson-Odoi and Elanga provided energy on the transition.

It was from one of those counters that Nuno’s side found their third goal as substitute Awoniyi rounded off an excellent team goal, converting from a squared James Ward-Prowse pass. Mario Lemina simply had to do more to stop the original through ball to Ward-Prowse as he was wrong-footed and slipped, affording Forest acres of space to make it 3-0. Wolves and Pereira are forced to return to the drawing board.

Player ratings

Jose Sa - 5

Couldn’t do a great deal the first goal as it took a slight deflection off Bueno. Perhaps made a rash decision to rush out for the third and lacked with distribution at times as he put his teammates under unnecessary pressure.

Pedro Lima - 7 (off 59’)

Created a couple of good chances, including for Strand Larsen as he swung in a pinpoint cross in the first period. Not bad at all for his first Premier League start!

Santiago Bueno - 5

Positioned poorly for Gibbs-White’s opener and saw the shot deflect off his trailing leg and into the net. Put in the odd good interception.

Matt Doherty - 4

Defended appallingly for Wood’s goal as he was both outpaced and outmuscled by Hudson-Odoi, who got goal-side far too easily. Nearly made an error leading to goal late on as he let a long ball bounce and Awoniyi went close to taking advantage.

Rayan Ait-Nouri - 5

Defended poorly for the opening goal conceded as he didn’t do a thing to stop Elanga from cutting the ball back to Gibbs-White. Lucky to not give a penalty away as Aina’s cross clearly struck his arm.

Joao Gomes - 6

Battled hard to break up the play when possible but was dribbled past too easily on several occasions.

Tommy Doyle - 5 (off 59’)

Made several loose giveaways but occasionally completed a few helpful cross-field passes. Booked for a lunge on Elanga, stopping a counter.

Rodrigo Gomes - 8*

Added impetus to Wolves’ attacks and got fans off their seats with flair and clever passes. Unfortunate not to score a skillful goal as he flicked and volleyed, forcing a strong save from Sels. Got back to do his defensive duties effectively, too, tracking back to make crucial interventions to stop Forest breakaways.

Goncalo Guedes - 5 (off 75’)

Direct with his running but unsuccessful with many of his dribble attempts. Gave the ball away with a poor header at the start of Forest’s counter for the Gibbs-White goal, too.

Hwang Hee-Chan - 7 (off 75’)

A driving force in attack and created the superb chance for Strand Larsen in the first half. Shanked a decent chance wide, though.

Jorgen Strand Larsen - 5

Very involved but unable to score. Missed a sitter in the first half as he only had Murillo to beat with Sels in no-man’s land but failed to score. Squandered two other opportunities before the break as he swiped at a Lima cross but scuffed the ball before heading straight at Sels from a Rodrigo Gomes delivery. Had a better shot saved in the second half.

Mario Lemina - 4 (on 59’)

Couldn’t have defended much worse for the third goal as he misread the situation and slipped.