- Forest lose in the Carabao Cup to Premier League Wolves
- A young Reds side including seven Academy players hold a strong Wolves line up for an hour at The City Ground before slipping to defeat
Forest made ten changes from Saturday’s one goal defeat at Stoke and fielded a very youthful side after the success against Bradford in the last round of the Carabao Cup.
Seven Academy players featured in the starting XI, including each of the back four. James Garner played his first match since his return on loan from Manchester United, with Lewis Grabban replacing Lyle Taylor up front and only 18 year old Fin Back keeping his place from Saturday’s starting line-up.
Wolves fielded a strong XI, with the same back three as played against Tottenham on Sunday, including England cap Conor Coady as captain and the likes of Joao Moutinho in midfield and the £35m forward Fabio Silva.
Wolves had plenty of early possession and created the first clear chance of the match in the sixth minute. Rayan Ait-Nouri beat Fin Back down the left and cross reached Daniel Podence near the penalty spot but his shot was brilliantly pushed away by Ethan Horvath.
Three minutes later, Podence was close again. Breaking onto a delightful lofted pass from Moutinho, the Portuguese international’s back heel was saved by Horvath and cleared from the goal-line by the covering Baba Fernandes.
Ait-Nouri then forced Horvath into a routine low save before Forest’s first shot in anger arrived after 17 minutes. The ball broke to Grabban in the box following a Colback free-kick and his fierce shot was blocked by Leander Dendoncker for a corner.
Midway through the half it was Podence again causing problems, bursting into the box and only denied by another excellent Horvath save, this time with his feet. The ball then bounced off the inside of the far post and fortuitously back into the American’s arms.
The young Reds side were defending manfully against their more experienced Premier League opponents with Ait-Nouri and Podence posing a constant threat to the Reds’ Academy back four and Fernandes and Riley Harbottle being called on to clear numerous crosses into the box.
Ten minutes before the break Silva headed wide from a Podence chipped cross and although Wolves continued to press, Forest held out until half time with the game goalless.
HT: Forest 0-0 Wolves
Forest forced the first corner of the second half due to the persistence of Fin Back and Ollie Hammond down the right and from Jack Colback’s corner, a James Garner flick caused panic in the Wolves box.
Seconds later, Jayden Richardson and Ateef Konate combined down the left and from Konate’s deep cross, Hammond headed back across the face of goal and just wide as the crowd warmed to the efforts of The Reds’ youngsters.
On 53 minutes, Wolves fashioned their first opening of the half as Daniel Podence shot over Ethan Horvath’s crossbar from the edge of the box.
Despite their attacking riches, Wolves had yet to score this season but just before the hour mark, they finally got their goal. After forcing successive corners, a deep cross from Ki-Jana Hoever was turned in at the far post by Romain Saiss.
Seconds later the visitors doubled their lead when Riley Harbottle was dispossessed and Podence found space in the box to steer the ball with ease past Horvath.
Lyle Taylor then replaced Lewis Grabban but Wolves continued to press with Fabio Silva’s shot tipped over the bar by Horvath. From the resulting corner, Horvath again saved well, this time from a powerful Leander Dendoncker header.
Wolves depth of squad on the night was such that Podence was replaced by Francisco Trincão, on loan from Barcelona, and seconds later Saiss looked certain to score his second but Horvath scooped the ball off the line. After 75 minutes, the US international then saved a low shot from the same man.
The Reds were doing well to contain Wolves who continued to attack with purpose despite seemingly having the game won and, with ten minutes left, Trincão curled a shot just over the bar.
With Reds legs tiring, the speedy Adama Traore was the second Wolves substitute and a sweeping move resulted in substitute Trincão scoring the third from ten yards with four minutes remaining.
Moments later, Morgan Gibbs-White found space in the box to place a right footed shot past Horvath to make it four.
FT: Forest 0-4 Wolves
MATCH STATISTICS
Forest (4-1-4-1): Ethan Horvath; Jayden Richardson, Riley Harbottle, Baba Fernandes, Fin Back; Tyrese Fornah; Ateef Konate, Jack Colback, James Garner (Cafu 73’), Ollie Hammond (Alex Mighten 73’); Lewis Grabban (c) (Lyle Taylor 61’)
Substitutes not used: Jordan Smith (GK), Tobias Figueiredo, Joao Carvalho, Jordan Gabriel
Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Romain Saiss, Conor Coady (c), Max Kilman; Rayan Ait-Nouri (Adama Traore 82’), Leander Dendoncker, Joao Moutinho, Ki-Jana Hoever; Morgan Gibbs-White; Fabio Silva (Luke Cundle 89’); Daniel Podence (Francisco Trincao 66’)
Substitutes not used: Andreas Sandergaard (GK), Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez, Nelson Semedo
Goals: Romain Saiss (58’), Daniel Podence (60’), Fransisco Trincao (86’), Morgan Gibbs-White (88’)
Referee: Andy Davies
Attendance: 10,769 including 3,169 Wolves fans