Wolves 1-1 Nottingham Forest. Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper remains under pressure despite his side battling out a draw away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Harry Toffolo put Forest ahead with his first goal for the club, only for the hosts to peg them back via Matheus Cunha’s low strike.
It means that Forest have only won one of their past 12 games and are four points above the relegation zone.
Wolves, meanwhile, rise to 12th in the Premier League.
Toffolo put Forest ahead at Molineux after 12 minutes. The left wing-back rose to head home Neco Williams’ deep cross, beating the covering Wolves defenders.
But the hosts upped their game and equalised following a slick passing move, culminating in Pablo Sarabia cutting back for Cunha, with the Brazilian applying the finish.
Cheikhou Kouyate should have put Forest ahead shortly before half-time but was denied, one-on-one by Jose Sa, who returned in goal for Wolves after missing Tuesday’s win over Burnley with a back spasm.
Anthony Elanga smacked the bar from eight yards out early in the second half and Toffolo missed a golden chance with another header as Forest dominated while seeking a much-needed winner.
Despite a spirited display from his side, Cooper’s position remains under threat and the Forest manager was visibly emotional as he thanked the away fans after full-time, waving and thumping his chest.
Cooper appears to be on borrowed time as Forest manager despite Saturday’s result, which came on the back of a 5-0 defeat by Fulham on Wednesday.
If the man who guided his side back to the Premier League in 2022 is to leave the club, he will not go without trying everything first.
Cooper made seven changes to the starting XI from the side thumped at Craven Cottage, including a change of goalkeeper with Matt Turner returning and, crucially, a change of formation to a 3-5-2 after playing a back four against Fulham.
That change of shape was crucial in putting Forest ahead, as the wing-backs combined for the opener – Williams’ cross from the right met by Toffolo steaming in from the left.
It delighted the noisy and sizable travelling support, who sang Cooper’s name from the opening seconds to after the final whistle.
But despite all those changes, Forest remain porous at the back and were cut apart when Wolves got their passing moves going. They have now conceded 12 goals in their past four away league matches – and were grateful to Turner who made a good low save from Cunha in the second half.
While several of Wolves’ games this season have been defined more by VAR than action on the field, Gary O’Neil’s side are capable of playing some very good football.
Central to that is Cunha, who has become the fourth Brazilian to score or assist in five consecutive Premier League games, after Arsenal players Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli and former Manchester City midfielder Elano.
Wolves have now scored in 15 consecutive Premier League matches, as they climb further away from what looked like early relegation worries.
It also gave Gary O’Neil reason to cheer in his 50th Premier League game.
source – BBC
