Nottingham Forest extend winning streak as Gibbs-White returns to haunt Wolves | first division

Just as Wolves had begun to dream of a brighter future under Vítor Pereira, it was the ghosts of the past that haunted Molineux as his former coach Nuno Espírito Santo and academy product Morgan Gibbs-White snatched the points to send Nottingham Forest on the same level as Arsenal, who occupy second place.

The Wolves were unbeaten under Pereira and the top team for much of the game, but as they saw opportunities come and go, while portraying Gibbs-White as a pantomime villain, it seemed inevitable what the outcome would be. Nuno took Wolves to Europe and is up to the same trick with Forest after a sixth straight win, sealed with goals from Gibbs-White, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Gibbs-White spent 14 years at Molineux as a man and boy, but left in the summer of 2022 to be the creative spark of Steve Cooper's Forest. He was instrumental in keeping his new club standing twice and is now leading the charge at the top of the table with his guile and skill. In 68 league appearances for the Wolves first team, Gibbs-White scored one goal. The £25m fee, plus add-ons, was originally considered exorbitant but he is proving the skeptics and Wolves wrong.

From the first minute, every time Gibbs-White touched the ball, he was widely booed by the home fans, who also attacked the playmaker with unpleasant chants. Gibbs-White retaliated and was helped by the absence of a Wolves midfield, as he dribbled the ball 50 yards up the pitch before exchanging passes with Anthony Elanga and slotting into the bottom corner, something that must have impressed the new manager in head of England. Thomas Tuchel, in the stands.

Wolves fans' anger rose but was drowned out by the away finish, although Gibbs-White also failed to listen with his fingers in his ears in front of the home fans.

“I think it means a lot,” Nuno said of Gibbs-White's goal. “Every time he scores is important, because we need him and his talent. Being here at Wolves has a different feeling. I know he will always be grateful to Wolves, which is why his career continues. “It wasn’t his first time back at Molineux, but we needed him to score.”

That was just seven minutes and many might have expected Forest to dominate from that point on – they're in the Champions League places for a reason. However, it was Wolves who looked the most threatening for the rest of the first half. Jørgen Strand Larsen's close-range shot was cleared off the line by Murillo and Matz Sels was called into action to deny the Norwegian striker for the second time, and then Rodrigo Gomes shortly afterwards.

There was a lot of enthusiasm in the Wolves ranks despite the numerous absences, but there was no end and they could not find a deserved draw. They have improved greatly under Pereira, who came in with two wins and a draw in their first three games, but they lacked the clinical nature and exuberant talent of Matheus Cunha, who was absent due to suspension.

“We had opportunities to equalize but we failed, they scored the second goal and it was very difficult for us,” said Pereira. “I'm proud of them, they tried everything. I can't tell anyone that they didn't run away. “They did the best they could.”

Forest are happy to give up possession and play on the counterattack. After Elanga helped create the first, Callum Hudson-Odoi must have felt compelled to do the same as he overcame a sea of ​​gold on the left and burst into the box, allowing him to find Wood, who had maneuvered towards the room to divert your aim. The twelfth goal of the season was an easy task just before half-time.

The Wolves continued to enjoy most of the ball but without threatening to penetrate. Nuno adapted to the situation, stemming the flow of attacks and eliminating Strand Larsen's aerial threat. Morato was sent in to become the third centre-back in a back five, while Gibbs-White moved into a deeper role in central midfield to help Forest regain control.

The chill in the air was reflected on the pitch in the closing stages as the pace dropped and Forest added a third off another break, finished by Awoniyi, to ensure they start January with a crucial win in what could be an incredibly exciting year. Nuno, however, remains calm: “At the end of the season I will take a look at first division table.”