Wolves vs Nottingham Forest: Five classic encounters

Wolves 1-0 Nottingham Forest – 1979/80 League Cup Final

In one of the greatest days in Wolves’ history, the boys in old gold defeated the European Champions 1-0 at Wembley after a calamitous error gifted Andy Gray the only goal of the game.

After a lapse in communication between Forest’s David Needham and Peter Shilton, Peter Daniel’s searching through ball fell to Gray who had a simple tap in to send Wolves into the lead in the 67th minute.

Forest, the overwhelming favourites, managed by legendary manager Brian Clough, were hounded by John Barnwell’s Wolves side throughout the game, who produced memorable displays from George Berry, Peter Daniel and Wolves’ man of the match Willie Carr, who was playing at Wembley five years to the day of his Wolves debut.

It wasn’t all bad news for Forest however, as only four days later they defeated Dynamo Berlin 3-2 on aggregate in the European Cup quarter final, on their path to retaining the trophy.

Wolves 2-3 Nottingham Forest – 1994/95 League Cup 3rd round

Next up is a five-goal thriller that saw newly promoted premier league Forest travel to Molinuex to play a Wolves side plying their trade in the old first division.

Forest were quick to show their premier league quality as they took a two-goal lead through Bryan Roy and captain Stuart Pearce.

The underdogs Wolves hit back through a sublime outside of the foot effort from Paul Birch before David Kelly sent the 28,000 at Molinuex into raptures with a headed goal after half time.

Wolves took Forest, who went on to finish third in the premier league that season, right down to the wire with both teams going for the win, before Forest stole it as Pearce’s second goal came from a free-kick that took a cruel deflection past Mike Stowell in the Wolves net.

Forest fell to defeat in the fourth round, losing 2-0 at home at division one side Millwall.

Wolves 3 -0 Nottingham Forest – 1999/00 Division One league game

In the turn of the new millennium, who can forget this classic that had it all, three goals, three red cards and a bizarre incident featuring a very irate goalkeeper.

Within five minutes two players were already leaving the Molinuex turf in shame. After Wolves had been awarded a free kick, Wolves striker Ade Akinbiyi and Forest defender Tony Vaughan clashed off the ball, with what seemed to be all handbags, until Akinbiyi appeared to headbutt the defender.

Referee Stephen Lodge sent the pair off, but the striker wasn’t going quietly, lashing out at everyone in his way as skipper Keith Curle ushered him away.

The resulting free-kick put Wolves ahead immediately as Ludovic Pollet scored a diving header from Darren Bazeley’s delivery. It went from bad to worse for Forest 10 minutes later as Bazeley got on the scoresheet himself with a stunning 20-yard curler to put Wolves 2-0 up.

If those in attendance at Molinuex that day thought it couldn’t have been a more bizarre start to the game, then they only had to wait until just after the 25th minute when Forest ‘keeper Dave Beasant completely lost his head.

As Wolves full-back Lee Naylor had been taken out with a late challenge and was waiting for treatment, Beasant attempted to put the ball out of play, however Wolves striker Michael Branch kept it in, headed towards Forest’s goal and cooly played it past Beasant, who reacted by chasing the striker half-way down the pitch and causing a melee of red and old gold as Wolves strolled into a 3-0 lead.

Forest’s misery was compounded in injury time of the first half as David Prutton received his second yellow card and his marching orders.

Wolves 5-1 Nottingham Forest – 2008/9 Championship

In only the fourth game of the 2008/09 season, Wolves showed the type of the form that ultimately got them promoted that year, brushing aside Forest 5-1 at home.

Mick McCarthy’s men ran into a 4-0 lead in the first half, 45 minutes of football that the gaffer described as one of the best he’d ever seen from any side.

David Jones fired in the first after good work from Sylvain Ebanks-Blake before Wes Morgan’s own goal, Michael Kightly’s 25-yard curler and Chris Iwelumo’s headed goal from a Matt Jarvis cross, ended a scintillating first half for Wolves.

Richard Stearman’s own goal was a consolation for Forest before Kightly got his second with another curling effort.

This classic game was the beginning of a fantastic season for Wolves who were promoted as champions.

Nottingham Forest 1-2 Wolves – 2017/18 Championship

What better way to finish than with the last time these two teams met, this game saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s men win their fifth game in their first eight of the season, masterminded by on-loan forward Diogo Jota.

After a tight first half, it wasn’t until early in the second half that Wolves made the breakthrough.

The Portuguese contingent of Ivan Cavaleiro and Jota combined as the former whipped in a delightful ball for the loanee to slide in at the backpost and convert in front of the travelling Wolves fans.

Forest equalised through an audacious attempt from out wide by Mustapha Carayol who spotted John Ruddy creeping off his line anticipating a cross, taking advantage of the veteran ‘keepers error and blasting home.

The winning goal came from a Wolves counter-attack, with Jota this time linking up with Leo Bonatini.

Jota attempted to play the Brazilian in, who excellently got to the ball before defender Matt Mills, tapping beyond him and being clattered by the defender in the process.

Jota latched onto the ball, running through on goal, before sliding past the oncoming goalkeeper and scoring his second of the game in front of the Wolves fans.