WOLVES battled to earn their first point of the season as Forest maintained their unbeaten start.
In the end both sets of fans left satisfied – despite moaning like hell about a couple of controversial penalty claims – one for each side.
At least referee Simon Hooper was consistent as he ruled that Jorgen Strand Larsen and Chris Wood were both innocent men – despite the ball clearly striking both of them on the arm.
But when the dust finally settled on this rip-roaring 90 minutes no great ‘arm had been done to either of these Midlands rivals.
And Wolves even had a rare long-range banger to celebrate – their first goal from outside the box for a staggering 47 games!
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil decided to throw in new £10million goalkeeper Sam Johnstone for a rapid debut, while the man he replaced, Jose Sa never even made the bench.
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However Wolves were busy at the other end of the park as they almost snatched an early lead after two minutes.
Mattheus Cunha played in Rayan Ait-Nouri whose first shot was blocked by Matz Sels and his second attempt was brilliantly blocked on the line by Murillo.
Having survived that early scare Forest recovered and opened the scoring after 10 minutes.
Elliot Anderson’s deep corner picked out Chris Wood who soared above Toti Gomes to power a header which evaded Johnstone’s grasp on its way into the far corner of the net.
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Wolves claimed Anthony Elanga was offside and interfering with Johnstone’s view but a VAR check proved Cunha had played the winger onside and the goal rightly stood.
Wolves should have been more upset at which marker allowed Wood a free run at Totti.
It was the ninth goal O’Neil’s men have conceded in their third Premier game.
But to their credit they hit back almost immediately with an absolute peach of an equaliser.
Toti’s throw was headed on by Jorgen Strand Larsen, Ibrahim Sangare slashed the ball into the air and Mario Lemina poked the ball through to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
And the French forward unleashed a sensational screamer which swerved and dipped on its way into the top corner to leave Sels helpless from 25 yards.
That strike had certainly been a long time coming as it was the first Wolves had managed from outside the penalty area for 47 games!
Cunha tried his luck from the same range but Sels had it cobvered as it sped wide.
Morgan Gibbs-White came in for his usual mix of banter and abuse from Wolves fans who have made him Public Enemy No.1 since he swapped Old Gold for Garibaldi Red.
But Forest fans retaliated with chants of England’s, England’s No.10 in recognition of MGW’s call up to Lee Carsley’s first Three Lions’ squad.
And the midfielder showed why with a superb knuckleball free kick which Johnstone did brilliantly to push away as it sped for the top bin.
Forest fans howled in fury at ref Simon Hooper as they claimed for a penalty just before half-time.
Gibbs-White clipped the ball towards Wood and Strand Larsen diverted it with his arm but despite Forest’s pleas, the ref waved play on and VAR supported him.
This was a game which roared from end to end as both sides tried to grab a crucial winner.
Sels required treatment after bravely saving at Cunha’s feet, then at the other end a brilliant piece of improvisation saw Gibbs-White clip the ball to Wood whose header was brilliantly saved by Johnstone.
Wolves sub Tommy Doyle fired in a ferocious hit which threatened to knock Murillo’s block off as the Brazilian headed it for a corner.
With 14 minutes remaining Hooper was at the centre of another penalty controversy.
This time it was Wolves who yelled for a spot kick when Dawson and Wood grappled in the box as they challenged for a Doyle free kick.
The ball definitely came off Wood’s trailing left arm but the striker was facing the other way and Hooper decided there was no intent.
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Forest thought they had nabbed all three points with five minutes remaining when Wood fired the ball beyond Johnstone from Murillo’s pass.
But the big Kiwi had strayed offside and both sides had to settle for a share of the points.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
