Wolves vs Nottingham Forest preview as Rob Edwards seeks response at The City Ground

Wolves head to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest on Wednesday as Rob Edwards seeks a response after the terrible defeat against Chelsea.

Both sides are coming into the game off the back of disappointing 1-3 defeats, with Forest losing to Leeds United and Wolves falling to Chelsea. The pressure is mounting on managers Sean Dyche and Edwards to turn their fortunes around.

For Forest, a win could provide a crucial buffer against the chasing pack.

For Wolves, it’s about survival and finding a glimmer of hope in a dismal season.

The history between the two sides adds an extra layer of intrigue. Forest are aiming to complete their first league double over Wolves since the 2012/13 season and their first in the top flight since 1980/81.

Form and fortunes: A tale of two struggles

It’s been a tough campaign for both teams.

Wolves’ season has been nothing short of a nightmare. With just one win and a staggering 18 defeats, relegation is all but certain. Edwards now faces the difficult task of trying to galvanise a squad that seems to have lost its way.

Wolves’ away record has been particularly dire, with no victories on the road this term.

Forest have shown some resilience in recent weeks, with two wins, two draws, and just the one loss in their last five encounters.

This form has given them a fighting chance of staying up. However, defensive frailties, as highlighted in their recent loss to Leeds, remain a concern for Dyche’s men.

Key players and tactical battles

Morgan Gibbs-White will be a player to watch for Forest. The former Wolves midfielder has been in decent form, netting twice in his last four league appearances against his old club.

No doubt, he’ll be determined to heap further misery on his former club.

For Wolves, the challenge is to find some attacking impetus. With only 15 goals scored all season, the forwards need to step up.

Edwards needs a spark from his attacking players to break through Forest’s backline, which has been known to concede under pressure.

What to expect from the clash

Forest will be buoyed by their home advantage and the prospect of pulling further away from the relegation zone.

The Reds are expected to win. And they will do that with ease if Wolves turn in the kind of shambolic performance they did against Chelsea.

One can only hope that Wolves can pull something out of the bag and record a first win over Forest since October 2022.

The game should be a tense, low-scoring affair, with both sides likely to prioritise defensive solidity over attacking flair.

There is also the possibility we could see some meaty challenges flying in, as this fixture has had some real bite to it in recent years.