2023-24 Premier League: Week 16 – Wolves vs Nottingham Forest

Wolves meet Nottingham Forest at Molineux in a Premier League mid-table Midlands derby.

Victory could see Wolves climb to 10th in the table if Brentford lose elsewhere, whilst Forest will move up to 15th with a win if Bournemouth lose at Manchester United.

 

Team News

Embed from Getty Images

Jose Sa is set to return for Wolves after he missed their midweek win over Burnley with a back injury.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (ankle) is a doubt but Jonny (personal), Joseph Hodge (shoulder) and Pedro Neto (hamstring) are still ruled out.

Forest

Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) and Willy Boly (muscle) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Wolves host Forest in a 3pm GMT kick-off on Saturday 9 December at Molineux, untelevised live in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Wolves are unbeaten in their two previous Premier League meetings against Forest (W1, D1).
• Forest lost 1-0 in their only previous Premier League visit to Wolves in October 2022.
• Both of Wolves’ two goals against Forest last season came in the second half.
• Sasa Kalajdzic has been utilised as a substitute more than any other Wolves player this season (9).
• Seven of Forest’s last 12 conceded goals were scored in the second half (L4).

 

Prediction

Although recent results have been inconsistent, Wolves are unbeaten in their last five games at home but they will need to be more polished here than they were in their win over Burnley, because their end product was their sole weak point in the overall performance.

Forest meanwhile were simply awful defensively at Fulham with a series of sloppy errors and need to show more solidness quickly and better finishing, particularly if want to keep Steve Cooper in charge because he hasn’t really done much wrong from a managerial view.

Wolves though have the confidence which Forest are lacking and with the visitors having not won in their last five away games, it is hard to see them delivering the goods here unless they turn in a decent performance so a draw might be their best hope if can hold out at the back.

Prediction: Wolves 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Result: Wolves 1-1 Nottingham Forest