Nottingham Forest face Wolves in what should prove to be a six pointer in the battle to avoid Premier League relegation.
Nottingham Forest return to the City Ground to face Wolves on Wednesday night knowing that margin for error in the relegation battle is thinning rapidly. Sitting 17th in the Premier League and only three points clear of the drop zone, the hosts face a side anchored to the foot of the table in a meeting that carries far more weight than the gap between the teams might suggest.
Forest’s recent form has done little to ease anxiety. A 3-1 defeat away to Leeds United last time out followed a frustrating home draw against Crystal Palace, leaving Sean Dyche’s side without a win in two matches at a moment when points are at a premium. Their overall record of seven wins, five draws and 13 defeats from 25 league games, reflects a season spent treading water rather than pulling clear.
Home form has been part of the problem. Nottingham Forest have collected just 12 points from 12 matches at the City Ground, ranking among the weaker home records in the division. However, this fixture offers a rare opportunity to reset, as Wolves arrive with the Premier League’s worst away record, having taken just three points from 12 road trips without registering a single victory.
Despite the urgency surrounding league survival, Forest’s focus is not solely domestic. A Europa League knockout playoff against Fenerbahce looms later this month, adding an additional layer of squad management to Dyche’s planning. Still, with West Ham breathing down their necks, the immediate priority remains avoiding being dragged into the bottom three.
Wolves’ situation is considerably bleaker than Nottingham Forest’s. Rooted to the bottom of the table with just eight points, Rob Edwards’s side are 18 points adrift of safety and increasingly resigned to the prospect of Championship football next season. Their return of one win, five draws, and 19 defeats tells its own story, and even a productive January transfer window has so far failed to shift momentum.
The visitors arrive in Nottingham off the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea, their third consecutive loss in the league. Their only Premier League win this season came against West Ham at the start of January, and confidence has been further eroded by a prolonged winless run against Forest. Wolves have not beaten Nottingham Forest in seven meetings across all competitions, including a 1-0 defeat at Molineux earlier this campaign.
History also favours the hosts. Wolves have not won a league match at the City Ground since September 2017, when the two sides met in the Championship. That drought underlines the scale of the challenge facing Edwards’s men, particularly given their struggles away from home.
This contest may lack glamour, but its significance is undeniable. For Forest, it represents a chance to take a decisive step toward safety. For Wolves, it is about pride, resistance, and delaying the inevitable for as long as possible. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest head into Wednesday night’s clash with Wolves with several key selection issues to monitor. The biggest boost could come at the back, where Murillo is pushing to return from a calf injury and will be assessed ahead of kick-off. Neco Williams is available again after serving a suspension and is expected to slot straight back into the defensive unit.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels faces a late fitness test due to a painful hip issue, and a decision on his involvement will be made close to matchday. Forest will definitely be without John Victor, Chris Wood, and Nicolo Savona, all of whom remain sidelined through injury. There are no new suspension concerns beyond Williams’s return.
In midfield, Elliot Anderson is set to feature despite continued speculation linking him with a high-profile move away from the club. His energy and ball-carrying ability remain central to Forest’s build-up play. Further forward, Lorenzo Lucca is pushing for a full debut at centre-forward after opening his Forest account in the recent defeat to Leeds United, a performance that strengthened his case to lead the line from the start.
Tactically, Forest are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, prioritising structure and width while supporting a physical focal point up front. Stefan Ortega is likely to start in goal if Sels is unavailable. The back four should see Ola Aina at right-back, Murillo partnering Nikola Milenkovic in central defence if declared fit, and Neco Williams operating at left-back, providing both defensive reliability and overlapping runs.
In the double pivot, Elliot Anderson is expected to line up alongside Ibrahim Sangare, a pairing designed to balance mobility with defensive cover. Ahead of them, Dan Ndoye should operate from the right flank, Morgan Gibbs-White is likely to occupy the central attacking midfield role as Forest’s primary creative outlet, and Nicolas Dominguez is expected to start from the left, offering work rate and intelligent movement inside.
Leading the line, Lorenzo Lucca is poised to start as the lone striker, tasked with occupying Wolves’ centre-backs, offering a target for crosses, and converting the chances created behind him. This setup reflects Forest’s need for control and efficiency in a fixture where three points could prove decisive in the survival race.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Lucca
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves arrive at the City Ground with further disruption to their attacking options. Hwang Hee-chan is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury against Chelsea at the weekend, removing one of the visitors’ most direct goal threats. Defensively, Toti Gomes remains unavailable due to a thigh problem, while there is cautious optimism surrounding Andre Trindade, who is recovering from a calf injury and will be assessed ahead of kick-off to determine whether he can feature in central midfield. There are no suspension concerns to report.
With Hwang unavailable, Wolves may be forced into a reshuffle across the attacking line. Angel Gomes is a candidate to be redeployed into a wider role, offering technical quality and ball retention in advanced areas. Another player expected to retain his place is Mateus Mane, whose recent performances since breaking into the first team have drawn attention from several major clubs. The young attacker’s confidence and willingness to take on defenders have been among the few bright spots in a difficult campaign.
From a tactical perspective, Wolves are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to maintain compactness while seeking moments on the counter. Jose Sa should start in goal. The defensive line is likely to consist of Matt Doherty at right-back, Yerson Mosquera partnering Santiago Bueno at centre-back, and Hugo Bueno operating from left-back, offering energy and overlapping support.
In midfield, Joao Gomes is expected to anchor the double pivot, providing ball-winning and intensity, potentially alongside Andre Trindade if he is passed fit. Should Andre be unavailable, Wolves may be forced into a more conservative midfield setup. Ahead of them, Angel Gomes is likely to start on the right flank, Adam Armstrong should operate centrally as the attacking midfielder, and Mateus Mane is expected to start from the left, tasked with carrying the ball and driving transitions.
Leading the line, Tolu Arokodare should continue as the central striker, providing physical presence and a focal point for Wolves’ attacking play. This setup reflects a side likely to defend deep, absorb pressure, and look to exploit moments in transition, a pragmatic approach in a fixture where resilience will be essential.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, S Bueno, H Bueno; J Gomes, Andre; A Gomes, Armstrong, Mane; Arokodare
Key Stats
- Nottingham Forest sit 17th, just three points above the relegation zone, making this a must-win fixture in their fight for Premier League survival.
- Nottingham Forest have taken only 12 points from 12 home league matches, giving them the 16th-best home record in the division this season.
- Wolves have the worst away record in the Premier League, collecting just three points from 12 away matches and failing to win on the road.
- Wolves have won just one Premier League match all season, leaving them bottom of the table with eight points after 25 games.
- Wolves are winless in their last seven meetings with Forest in all competitions, including a 1-0 defeat at Molineux earlier this campaign, and have not won a league game at the City Ground since 2017.
Player to Watch
Morgan Gibbs-White
In a fixture defined by urgency and consequence, Morgan Gibbs-White’s influence could prove decisive for Nottingham Forest. The playmaker remains the creative heartbeat of Sean Dyche’s side and is likely to shoulder much of the responsibility for turning possession into purpose on Wednesday night.
Operating in the central attacking midfield role, Gibbs-White thrives when Forest play on the front foot. His ability to receive between the lines, draw defenders, and release runners early makes him Forest’s most reliable source of invention. Against a Wolves side expected to sit deep and defend compactly, his vision and willingness to take risks in tight areas may be crucial in unlocking resistance.
There is also an added edge to this match-up. Facing his former club, Gibbs-White often looks keen to assert himself, combining intensity with technical quality. Set pieces further enhance his importance, as his delivery remains one of Forest’s most consistent attacking weapons, particularly valuable in games where open-play chances are at a premium.
If Nottingham Forest are to translate pressure into points and take a significant step toward safety, Gibbs-White is the player most capable of providing the moment of clarity or quality that shifts the balance in their favour.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
With the stakes rising sharply at the bottom of the table, Nottingham Forest enter this contest knowing it represents one of their clearest opportunities to put daylight between themselves and the relegation zone. Home advantage, combined with Wolves’ struggles away from Molineux, tilts the balance firmly toward the hosts.
Wolves have shown effort but little consistency, and the loss of Hwang Hee-chan further blunts an already limited attacking threat. Forest, by contrast, possess more control in midfield and greater variety in the final third, particularly through Morgan Gibbs-White.
