This 2-1 defeat at Molineux means Forest remain winless on their travels this season and face the prospect of a very bleak Christmas.
Before this game the omens did not look good for Forest. Ignoring the current poor form we still had the small matter of no league win at Molineux since 1980 as well as the fact that Wolves had just sacked their manager, and I can’t remember the last time we beat a team who had just done that.
It was something of a pleasant surprise when Forest came out playing strongly; after all we haven’t put in first half performance all season and It made for an open and entertaining game marred only by poor defending from both sides.
Wolves scored first after the referee awarded a penalty in the 18th minute for Louis-Jean’s blatant shirt pulling on Carl Cort. Kevin Cooper stepped up and made no mistake as he blasted the spot-kick past Paul Gerrard.
Six minutes later Forest were back on level terms when Andy Reid’s corner found the head of Wes Morgan 10 yards out. Morgan’s header dropped to David Johnson who then hooked the ball over his shoulder and into the net.
The first half had been a close run thing, with both sides playing well and spurning opportunities, but it was Wolves who would go in at the break with the advantage when three minutes before the break Colin Cameron’s corner found the unmarked Mikkel Bischoff who made no mistake with his header.
Things looked promising during the break, sure, we were losing, but we were giving as good as we got and the game was fairly even. But then Forest failed to turn up for the second half.
It Meant Wolves dominated the proceedings with Forest barely getting a look in. The fact it remained 2-1 at the end of the game was down to luck, some good saves from Forest and poor finishing from Wolves.
Joe Kinnear had obviously spotted the pattern everyone else has seen this year, we don’t play in the first half, but turn it on in the second. In this game he managed to get them to turn it on in the first half and then switch off for the second.
It really is going to be a bleak Christmas if Joe and his new assistant to spot quickly that the side must play in BOTH halves of the game to stand any chance.
|
