Forest throw away even more points as Cunha gives Wolves bite
NOTTINGHAM FOREST are relying on their lawyers to defend better than their footballers, after throwing away a win that could have been vital in their fight against relegation.
The draw means Forest are only one clear of the drop zone, when Nuno Espirito Santo’s side might have given themselves more breathing space.
They hope they may regain some of the four points they were docked for breaking spending rules. What they cannot have back, however, are the 50 they chucked away when in winning positions.
Nuno said: ‘The first goal was too soft and on the second we should have done better individually. The way we concede was disappointing because we were the better team offensively.
‘It’s a missed opportunity. We are all sad and disappointed. We are in a fight and it is a tough one but we will give it our all.’
Leading 2-1 just after the hour, Forest allowed Max Kilman a free header from Pablo Sarabia’s corner.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels pushed it against Wolves substitute Hwang
Hee-chan, and Matheus Cunha forced in his second goal.
On his first start since February, following a hamstring injury, Cunha also scored one of the goals of the season.
Murillo had just denied Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes with a stunning goalline clearance when Cunha picked up the ball inside his own half, glided beyond Andrew Omobamidele and found the top corner with a tremendous strike from a tricky angle.
When Forest won a corner in first-half stoppage time, Morgan Gibbs-White’s header found the far corner, though Jose Sa felt he should have saved it.
Gibbs-White performed his usual ‘fingers in ears’ gesture in front of the Wolves supporters, then kissed the badge, and was duly reprimanded by Sarabia as he walked back to his half.
Nuno’s men led early in the second half. Sliding to cut out Chris Wood’s pass to Gibbs-White, Matt Doherty felled his former teammate and the ball ran loose to
who steered it past Sa from close range. That lead lasted only five minutes, as Forest’s weakness from set pieces was exposed again, with Cunha scrambling home his second.
Forest substitute Divock Origi’s dreadful cross in stoppage time, with Wood unmarked, ensured the game ended level.
Wolves’ European challenge has faded due to an injury crisis that manager Gary O’Neil has never experienced in his career. Even though Cunha and Hwang were available again. O’Neil said he had only 12 players from which to pick his 10 starters. ‘Most clubs have like-for-like players to allow them to rotate,’ O’Neil said. ‘But we showed great character.’