Nottingham Forest vs Wolverhampton Wanderers – News and Probable Lineups

As Nottingham Forest prepares to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground on Wednesday night, they will be looking to enhance their chances of staying in the Premier League.

Currently, Forest sits in 17th place within the Premier League standings, holding a three-point lead over 18th-placed West Ham United, while Wolves find themselves at the bottom of the table, trailing their opponents by 18 points.

Match overview

The hosts come into this fixture on the heels of a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Leeds United, following a draw with Crystal Palace at home.

Managed by Sean Dyche, the team’s record shows seven wins, five draws, and 13 losses from their 25 league matches this season. With 26 points, they find themselves in 17th place, just three points above West Ham, who are set to face Manchester United on Tuesday night.

Nottingham Forest has only managed to secure the 16th-best home performance in the league this season, amassing 12 points from 12 matches. They will, however, be up against a Wolves side that possesses the worst away record, having gathered only three points from 12 away games without a single victory.

This match holds significant importance for Forest in terms of their relegation battle, though it is not their only priority this season.

Indeed, Dyche’s squad is also set to compete against Fenerbahce in the Europa League knockout round playoffs, scheduled to commence in Turquia on February 19.

For Wolves, their current record includes one win, five draws, and 19 losses across 25 matches, placing them at the very bottom of the Premier League with just eight points, leaving them 18 points adrift of safety.

Unless an extraordinary turn of events occurs, Wolves are gearing up for Championship football next season, with ambitions to secure an immediate return to the Premier League, especially in light of the signings made in the January transfer window.

Rob Edwards’ team approaches this fixture following a 3-1 home loss to Chelsea and have now experienced three consecutive defeats in the top flight of England, with their sole league victory coming against West Ham in early January.

Wolves have not succeeded in winning their last seven encounters against Forest in all competitions, including a 1-0 setback in their previous matchup at Molineux earlier in the season.

The team at the bottom of the division hasn’t triumphed in a league match at the City Ground since September 2017, highlighting the challenge they face on Wednesday night.

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:

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Nottingham Forest form (all competitions):

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Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:

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Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions):

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Team News

Forest is optimistic that key defender Murillo can make his return from a calf injury in time for the match on Wednesday, while Neco Williams is also expected back following his suspension.

Matz Sels is facing a late fitness test due to a hip issue causing him discomfort, and John Victor, Chris Wood, and Nicolo Savona will definitely miss out on this fixture.

Elliot Anderson, linked with a high-profile transfer, is likely to feature in central midfield, while Lorenzo Lucca may get a full debut at center-forward after netting his first goal for Forest in the recent loss against Leeds.

On the Wolves front, Hwang Hee-chan picked up a hamstring injury in the match against Chelsea last Saturday and is now predicted to be sidelined for a spell.

Toti Gomes remains unavailable due to a thigh injury, although there is hope that Andre may recover from a calf injury ahead of the fixture, allowing him to take part in central midfield.

Angel Gomes could be shifted to a wider position due to Hee-chan’s absence, while Mateus Mane is expected to receive another start after impressing for Wolves since making his initial team debut.

Nottingham Forest probable starting XI:

Ortega; ana, murillo, milenkovic, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Ndoye, gibbs-white, dominguez; Lucca

Wolverhampton Wanderers probable starting XI:

Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, S Bueno, H Bueno; J Gomes, Andre; Hee-Chan, Armstrong, Mane; Arokodare

This match is of significant importance in the football calendar.

Wolves certainly have the ability to secure a favorable outcome here, and while the scoreline is expected to be closely contested, Forest should be on track to claim crucial points in front of their home crowd.