Forest on fire as they down leaders Wolves

GOALS from Kieran Dowell and Ben Osborn secured Nottingham Forest a fine 2-0 win and a first defeat in 14 league matches for runaway Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday.

Forest’s win was the first for new manager Aitor Karanka and was even more surprising as they had not won in six league matches, failing to score in their last four.

Wolves still lead the table by nine points, Derby County having been held to a 0-0 draw by League Cup semifinalists Bristol City on Friday.

“We knew that this day could come. We must improve and have to bounce back immediately from this,” admitted Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

“I am responsible maybe for not telling the boys we still have a long way to go. Nobody can relax here.”

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock admitted he was disappointed he couldn’t get one over old rivals Sheffield Wednesday as the Bluebirds were left frustrated after a 0-0 draw at Hillsborough, but insisted: “At least we can get better.”

The 69-year-old said, despite picking up an away point that keeps them well in the Championship promotion race, he was kicking himself his men couldn’t find a killer touch to grab victory on the long trip north.

But the boyhood Blade and former boss of Sheffield’s other side, Warnock couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at struggling Wednesday under new boss Jos Luhukay.

The German had quipped he had never heard of Warnock before the match, but after the 0-0 draw the veteran said: “Any draw away from home is a good point, but I’m a bit disappointed because I thought it was a great opportunity to get three points. I thought we were ready to kick on.”

Elsewhere two of the form teams Aston Villa and Fulham recorded impressive wins, the former beating struggling Barnsley 3-1 and Fulham romping to a 6-0 thrashing of relegation-threatened Burton Albion. – AFP