A towering header from Brazilian striker Igor Jesus was enough to secure a vital three points for Nottingham Forest, piling further misery on a woeful Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Premier League clash desperately short on quality.
VAR Controversy Mars Turgid Affair
For 72 minutes at the City Ground, the contest lurched between the laborious and the ludicrous, with two lengthy VAR interventions sucking any remaining life from a poor spectacle. The home side thought they had taken the lead in the first half when Jesus powered home a header, but a delay of over five minutes resulted in the goal being chalked off for offside against Dan Ndoye, who was deemed to be impeding goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
Frustration boiled over again after the break when another stoppage was required for a VAR check on a potential penalty, which also confirmed Ryan Yates was offside in the build-up. "It's not football any more," roared the travelling Wolves supporters from the South Bank, their disillusionment with the state of their team and the modern game clear.
A Moment of Quality Decides It
When the decisive moment finally arrived, it came from a rare piece of genuine quality. Omari Hutchinson, on his first league start for Forest, cut inside onto his left foot and delivered a delicious cross into the penalty area. Jesus rose highest above defender Emmanuel Agbadou, beating the erratically advancing Johnstone to the ball to nod home his first Premier League goal.
Wolves had their chances to level, most notably when Jhon Arias headed wide from close range just after half-time. Head coach Rob Edwards crouched in his technical area in disbelief, a moment that felt costly as his side failed to register a shot on target until deep into stoppage time. Substitute Marshall Munetsi's scooped effort was easily gathered by Matz Sels, summing up a tame attacking display.
Positives Hard to Find for Struggling Wolves
This was a match between the teams that started the day 17th and 20th in the table, and it showed. The wait for a win and a clean sheet for Wolves now extends to six long months. While there were committed displays from the likes of David Møller Wolfe, and Agbadou enjoyed one of his better games this season, Edwards's side were largely feeble.
Forest, by contrast, looked the more assured throughout. Neco Williams forced a fine save from Johnstone with a first-half free-kick, and they ultimately seized their moment through Jesus. The victory provides a crucial boost in their battle for survival, while Wolves are left clinging to scant positives as their dismal season continues.
