Nottingham Forest vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest’s bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League faces a challenging task as they entertain mid-table Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground.
A disheartening 3-1 loss at Tottenham last weekend condemned Nottingham Forest to their seventh Premier League defeat in 2024 – more than any other side this calendar year. As the pressure intensifies on manager Nuno Espirito Santo, with the Tricky Trees stuck level on points with 18th-placed Luton, the impending home return is a blessing. Espirito Santo’s men have won two of their last four league matches at the City Ground (D1, L1), where they’ve avoided defeat in back-to-back competitive meetings with Wolves (W1, D1 – 90 minutes only). A 3-1 triumph against Fulham in their most recent home league outing means Forest can record two consecutive such wins for the first time this season.
In the meantime, Wolverhampton’s quest for European football has taken several blows, with a three-game winless league run (D1, L2) leaving them six points below sixth-placed Manchester United. Playing on the road has been particularly challenging for Wolves lately as they’ve lost twice on their last three Premier League travels (D1), with both defeats coming by 2+ goals ‘to nil.’ Wolves’ defensive frailties require Gary O’Neil’s undivided attention after his men kept just two clean sheets in their last 32 top-flight games on the road, increasing the likelihood of both teams scoring in a fourth consecutive H2H.