Match Report: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers. Bellegarde Stunner Cancels Out Wood Opener.

 For the fourth time since their promotion to the Premier League, Nottingham Forest couldn’t get past Wolverhampton Wanderers after another draw with the West Midlands side with the game finishing 1-1 at the City Ground. Two goals within two minutes of each other from Chris Wood and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde settled the game for the sides with Forest remaining unbeaten in the League. 

Nuno Espírito Santo named an unchanged team from the victory at Southampton in their last Premier League outing. There were two changes on the bench however with Ramon Sosa coming in for Andrew Omobamidele. Sosa impressed in the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United in the week. Alex Moreno also coming in for Harry Toffolo. Gary O’Neil made three changes to the side humiliated 6-2 by Chelsea. Sam Johnstone made his debut following a deadline day switch From Crystal Palace as he replaced Jose Sa. Matt Doherty and Hee-Chan Hwang came out the side for Craig Dawson and Nelson Semedo. 

It took ten minutes for the opening goal and it was Forest who conjured up the lead. An Elliot Anderson corner finding Wood at the back post and his header across the goal found the net. Two in two home games for the Forest number eleven with Anderson sending in a peach of a delivery for the goal.  

Just two minutes later, Wolves equalised. The ball fell kindly for Bellegarde outside the box and his thunderbolt of an effort from 25 yards out beat Matz Sels. A superb goal from the midfielder who stunned Forest with an instant response. 

Wolves then came close to taking the lead. Matheus Cunha this time taking range from distance but his low effort was just wide of the goal. The Brazilian looking to cause Forest problems again after scoring three against the Reds last season, two of which were at the City Ground. 

It was then the home side’s turn to almost take the lead. Former Wolves man Morgan Gibbs-White with a free kick from the left side that almost found the top corner but was well saved by new boy Johnstone. Gibbs-White looking to haunt his former side and impress following his call up to the England national team. 

That was it for the first half with the score level. Another fiery display between the sides with yellow cards being thrown about a lot. Forest started the better but after both goals, it fell more to an even half between the two Midlands sides. 

Wood came close to a second ten minutes into the second half. While inside the box, Gibbs-White lobbed the ball towards Wood and his header was brilliantly saved by Johnstone. The new keeper enjoying a very good debut following his move from South London. 

Cunha had another chance when the ball deflected into his path and he couldn’t quite curl the ball into the far corner. The former Athletico Madrid man being an ever threat against Forest and caused a lot of problems for Nuno’s side. 

Forest then thought they took the lead with just six minutes to go. A corner from the right side saw Gibbs-White brilliantly denied by Johnstone at the front post, the ball eventually found its way to Wood at the back post and he found the net. But referee Simon Hooper instantly called it for offside, which was agreed with by VAR. 

That was the final big moment and both sides had to settle for the point. Forest remain unbeaten ahead of the international break but would be disappointed not to have at least picked up seven points. The Reds travel to Anfield to play Liverpool after international break. Wolves pick up their first point of the season after a very difficult opening two games with a very good defensive performance. Wanderers next face Newcastle where they will look for their first win of the season. 

Match Report: Southampton 0-1 Nottingham Forest. Gibbs-White Goal Gives Forest Delight On The South Coast.

Nottingham Forest secured their first win of the Premier League season after beating newly promoted Southampton at St. Mary’s stadium.  A Morgan Gibbs-White goal in the second half gave the Reds all three points as they look to start the season of strongly. 

Russell Martin named an unchanged side from their opening day defeat to Newcastle United. Former Forest academy graduate Ben Brereton Diaz making his home debut for the Saints alongside Adam Armstrong up front. Nuno Espírito Santo made two changes from the draw with AFC Bournemouth. Summer signings Elliot Anderson and Nikola Milenkovic were given their first starts as they replaced Danilo and Willy Boly. It was confirmed in the week that Danilo suffered a broken ankle in the draw against the Cherries. 

It was Forest who came close first in the game. Ola Aina with a cross from the left side which found Chris Wood but his header was easily held by Alex McCarthy. Wood looking to build on his opening day strike against Bournemouth. 

Forest came close again as Wood picked up the ball after a corner and put the ball across goal but new boy Milenkovic was just out of reach from scoring on his debut. 

Southampton’s best chance of the half came when Kyle Walker-Pieters drifted centrally with the ball from the left and his shot from outside the box was saved by Matz Sels.

That was it for the first half with Forest being the better of the two sides. Nuno’s side would have been disappointed not to find the back of the net after having twelve shots, compared to the Saints’ two. Last season’s Championship play off winners struggled to make an impact on the game as they were still getting used to top flight football. 

With 20 minutes to go, Forest took the lead. Callum Hudson-Odoi with a cross to the back post which found Gibbs-White and his headed effort fell back to him and he found the net from close range. The Forest favourite getting the Reds going on the road with his first of the season. It took the midfielder until November to score his first last campaign. 

The Reds almost netted a second three minutes later. Anthony Elanga bursting down the right side and entering the box but was denied by McCarthy at his near post. 

The chances kept coming for the away side. This time Hudson-Odoi with his trademark cut in from the left side and his shot was well saved again by McCarthy. Saints fans have their keeper to thank for as it could have been a different scoreline without him. 

That was the final big action of the game as Forest claim their first three points of the season a superb performance from the East Midlands outfit, in which they had 23 shots on goal. A win and a draw to start the season with their next game being Newcastle under the City Ground lights in the Carabao Cup. Southampton struggling to re-adapt to Premier League life as it’s now back to back 1-0 losses for Martin’s side. The south coast side are also in Carabao Cup action next as they travel to Championship side Cardiff City. 

Match Report: Nottingham Forest 1-1 AFC Bournemouth. Semenyo Strikes Late To Deny Forest Win.

 

Nottingham Forest and AFC Bournemouth had to settle for a point on the opening day after a 1-1 draw at the City Ground. Chris Wood had his first half strike cancelled out by a late Antonine Semenyo goal as both sides couldn’t find an opening three points.  

Nuno Espírito Santo didn’t hand any starts to any of the summer signings. Carlos Miguel, Elliot Anderson, Jota Silva and Eric Da Silva Moreira all got places on the bench whilst Nikola Milenkovic had a suspension carry over from Italy. Ramon Sosa, who signed the night before the game, wasn’t involved. Andoni Iraola gave a debut to Dean Hujisen with other signings Julian Araujo and Daniel Jebbison both on the bench. Big money signing Evanilson wasn’t involved. 

Just six minutes in, Forest were forced into an early substitute. Midfielder Danilo was forced off on a stretcher after an awkward land and he was replaced by captain Ryan Yates, who signed a new contract in the summer. 

Substitute Yates made a big impact as he was involved in opening the scoring for the Reds. The midfielder latching onto a bouncing ball and getting a shot away which was pushed away by Neto into the path of Wood who found the net. Last season’s top scorer getting off the mark and opening Forest’s account for the new season. 

Anthony Elanga came close to doubling the lead a few minutes later. His low shot from the edge of the box well saved by Neto. The Reds looking very dangerous in the early stages. 

Bournemouth then thought they found an equaliser. A smart corner routine saw the ball played back to taker Lewis Cook and his low ball in caused confusion and eventually fell to Dango Outtara who found the top corner. But after a VAR check it was deemed that Cook was offside when the ball was played back to him so it kept the score at 1-0. 

That was it for the first half with Forest on the right side of the scoreline. A decent half from the Reds as they kept pushing for a goal but they still looked vulnerable from set pieces, an achilleas heal for Nuno’s side last season. Bournemouth struggled to create anything clear cut and were missing the presence of last seasons top scorer Dominic Solanke, who completed a move to Tottenham Hotspur over the summer. 

It was Bournemouth with the first chance of the second half. Marcus Tavernier tested his luck from distance but his shot curled wide of the far post. 

Forest almost doubled their advantage when Callum Hudson-Odoi’s corner was met by Willy Boly and his header was brilliantly saved by Neto. The defender scored in the Reds final home game of last season in a 3-2 defeat against Chelsea. 

But Bournemouth did what they always do at the City Ground and scored late on. Substitute Ryan Christie breaking down the left and sending a low ball into the box which came for Semenyo after a failed clearance and he found the equaliser. The former Bristol City man scored eight goals last season and he got his campaign up and running at the City Ground. 

That was the final action of the game with Bournemouth securing a late point. Forest with a poor second half as they couldn’t hold on to a first opening day win in the Premier League since promotion. The Reds travel to newly promoted Southampton next where they will look to start their away travels with a win. Bournemouth’s substitutes playing a key part in their triumph for a leveller as they cause Forest more late heartbreak. The Cherries next host Newcastle United in their first home game.