Wolves 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Matheus Cunha cancels out Harry Toffolo’s strike to deny the Reds a much-needed win, heaping more pressure on under-fire boss Steve Cooper

• Forest took an early lead when Harry Toffolo scored his first goal for the club 
• Gary O’Neil’s side earned a point thanks to Matheus Cunha’s third goal in four
• No one cares like Steve Cooper cares about Forest, the club means so much to him – It’s All Kicking Off

Steve Cooper will be hoping a valuable point at Molineux is enough to save his job but it could have been even better for much-changed Nottingham Forest.

Forest’s early lead through Harry Toffolo was cancelled out by Matheus Cunha for Wolves but the visitors then proceeded to miss a hat-trick of great chances to win it.

While it ended a run of four straight losses for Forest, their league run is now one win in 12 and the spotlight remains on owner Evangelos Marinakis to see what he does next, though the Forest support again sang their support for the manager.

Cooper made seven changes from the 5-0 midweek defeat at Fulham – the largest amount in the Premier League this season.

Included among the axed was Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

Harry Toffolo rose above Nelson Semedo to give Nottingham Forest an early at Molinuex

The defender scored his first goal for the club since arriving from Huddersfield last summer

Steve Cooper made seven changes from the midweek defeat at Fulham and saw his side squander three golden chances to win the game

MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS

Wolves (3-4-3): Sa 5.5: Kilman 5, Dawson 6, Toti 5; Semedo 6, Lemina 6.5 (Traore 61 6) , Gomes 6, H Bueno 6 (Doherty 69 6); Sarabia 7 (Bellegarde 69 6), Hwang 6, Cunha 7.5 (Kalajdzic 90)

Subs unused: Bentley (Gk), S Bueno, Silva, Doyle, Chireva

Goal: Cunha 32

Nottingham Forest (3-5-1-1): Turner 7: Boly 5.5, Murillo 7 (Felipe 78), Niakhate 5; Williams 7, Mangala 6, Kouyate 5.5 (Danilo 63 5.5), Toffolo 7; Gibbs-White 6.5; Elanga 5.5 (Wood 84)

Subs unused: Vlachodimos (Gk), Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Origi, Aina

Goal: Toffolo 14

Referee: Sam Barrot 7

Forest wouldn’t have had much time to work on the 3-5-2 system used by Cooper but on adrenalin and strong backing from the travelling fans, they started brightly and took the lead after 14 minutes.

Wolves defender Toti misplaced a pass out of defence and Neco Williams capitalised with an excellent cross from the right.

At the far post, his fellow wing-back Toffolo rose well to header over the line before Craig Dawson’s acrobatic attempt to volley away crashed off the underside of the crossbar and went in.

It was the lift Forest needed but with their wretched away record, Wolves recognised they would have a chance to come back.

Their opportunity arrived after 32 minutes. Pablo Sarabia crossed from the right and Forest defender Moussa Niakhate didn’t track the run of Matheus Cunha who had time to sweep in from close range.

On the touchline, Cooper grimaced and rewatched the agony on a laptop. Even the Forest staff couldn’t find a reason for VAR to have a look.

Wolves dominated the closing stages of the first half but Forest still had a golden opportunity to smash and grab.

Again, it came from an error in old gold. Max Kilman’s stumble allowed Cheikh Kouyate to run clear into the box but he didn’t have the composure to take an extra stride before shooting and his effort was blocked by Jose Sa’s legs.

Kouyate was clearly distraught at the miss – holding his head in his hands at the miss.

He’d earlier needed treatment from a physio for a head injury and Danilo was on standby to replace him but the Senegal midfielder – playing his first match since October – wanted to stay on and was also passed fit to continue for the second half.

Forest missed another golden opportunity after 53 minutes. The ball fell kindly to makeshift centre-forward Antony Elanga seven yards from goal but as Sa came out to narrow the angle he thumped his finish onto the crossbar.

The atmosphere inside Molineux was feisty. Wolves fans had held a pre-match protest against VAR and jeered old boy Morgan Gibbs-White every time he was on the ball. Cooper was serenaded by occasions bursts of “Sacked in the Morning”.

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Matheus Cunha continued his good form in front of goal with his third in four league outings

Gary O’Neil’s side dominated the majority of the play but were fortunate not to be punished for their errors

When Murillo clumped Hwang Hee-Chan on the back of the head without punishment, the familiar cry of “Premier League..corrupt as F***” got an airing.

Kouyate was replaced by Danilo after 63 minutes after running himself to empty on his return to the first-team. Gary O’Neil, in his 50th match as a Premier League manager, made three changes before the 70th minute but it was Forest who went close again when Toffolo’s header from four yards soared over.

Cooper was in agony, clasping his hands behind his head. He must have feared missing the chances could be costly. The tension went up a notch after 75 minutes when Cunha wriggled free in the box and shot from eight yards forcing Mat Turner into a brilliant save.

Forest sent on the battering ram Chris Wood late on to try and grab a late winner. It ended up as a point apiece and Cooper’s name sung louder than ever. We’ll have to see if it’s enough for him to face Spurs on Friday night.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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