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Wolves 5-1 Nottingham Forest |
Nottingham Forest were dealt an extremely harsh lesson on life in the Championship by promotion chasing Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ian Bakewell reports on what was another day to forget at Molineaux.Reality set in at 4:50pm on Saturday afternoon for Forest as the final whistle ended what had been a disastrous away day for Colin Calderwood’s side. The Reds’ do not have the best of records against the side from the black country, or sides beginning with ‘W’ for that matter, and were subjected to a relentless onslaught by Mick McCarthy’s impressive outfit. Calderwood described the challenge as their standard setter for the rest of the season, but his team buckled under constant pressure from the home side with former Forest target Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly exposing The Reds’ defence down both flanks. The Molineaux crowd had to wait only 14mins for the breakthrough when Kightly’s deflected cross fell kindly to the feet of David Jones on the edge of the area, and the former Manchester United youngster curled an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of a helpless Paul Smith’s goal. Things could have got worse sooner rather than later for Forest, but Chris Iwelumo headed Kightly’s cross over from six-yards, when it was easier to score. That was followed by Luke Chambers almost deflecting a cross into his own net, but the score remained 1-0 until Wes Morgan did score an own-goal to put the hosts out of sight with only 29mins gone. Lee Martin conceded an unnecessary free-kick in dangerous territory which Jones swung in at pace only for Smith to punch onto the back of the head of the unsuspecting Morgan, the ball looping into the back of the net. The Wolves fans were sensing a riot and began to party when the third hit the back of the net on 43mins. The brilliant Kightly was given too much time by a reluctant Forest defence and they were punished by an unstoppable 25 yard bullet in the top hand corner. Worse followed before the half time whistle when Chris Iwelumo was handed the simplest of finishes following good play by Jarvis. Forest to their credit came out and had a go at the start of the second period and got a consolation on 54mins when Martin’s ball into the box caused mayhem and Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey ricocheted onto his own defender Richard Stearman for an own goal giving the Forest faithful something to cheer. Unfortunately, the fight back went no further and Wolves sealed a 5-1 victory on 62mins when MoM Michael Kightly grabbed his well deserved second of the afternoon when he was given time and space to maneuver into the Forest penalty area where he skipped away from Ian Breckin and Wes Morgan to create room for an 18yard curler past Paul Smith to put the stamp on an afternoon of utter humiliation for the Championship new-boys. If things were already bad, worse followed when The Reds’ were reduced to 10 men when the injured Robert Earnshaw could not be replaced by Calderwood who had already made his three substitutions. Improvement relies heavily upon a change of strategy and formation. The full backs, Chambers and Bennett, were left vulnerable to two in-form wingers, the forward line was ineffective and the midfield failed to support both which only allowed Wolves to punish. Forest’s away form was poor by their standards last season and having made the division step-up, it’s difficult to see exactly where and when that first away win will come. A return to the City Ground in a fortnight’s time against Burnley should prove to be a much needed break for Calderwood’s men as they hope to continue their fine home form throughout the Championship season. Click to view author Ian Bakewell's profile Fancy writing for LiveFootball? Click here to find out more. |