Wolves vs Nottingham Forest Player Ratings: Igor Jesus' Goal Decides Cagey Affair 0-1

In a tense and attritional Premier League encounter at Molineux Stadium, Nottingham Forest scraped a crucial 1-0 away victory over a lackluster Wolverhampton Wanderers. The game was a tight, tactical battle, short on clear-cut chances but full of grit and determination. From our perspective, it was a match destined to be settled by a single moment of brilliance or a defensive lapse.

The decisive moment came in the second half, courtesy of Igor Jesus. The Forest striker, who had a goal disallowed by VAR in the first half, finally got his reward. He showed great predatory instincts to find the back of the net, sealing a vital three points for the visitors.

Wolves, for their part, will be bitterly disappointed. They struggled to break down a well-drilled Forest defense and looked bereft of ideas in the final third. Despite seeing a lot of the ball, their attacks were predictable and easily snuffed out by S. Dyche's organized side. This match will certainly raise questions about their offensive firepower. Here are Sportsdunia's Wolves vs Nottingham Forest player ratings.

Wolves Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Check out the Wolves player ratings for the Wolves vs Nottingham Forest fixture.

Goalkeeper

Sam Johnstone - 6.5: Made a couple of important saves, notably one to deny Neco Williams. He couldn't have done much about the goal that went in. His distribution was a bit frantic at times, with only 41% of his long balls finding a teammate. A decent, if not spectacular, performance.

Defenders

Yerson Mosquera - 5.5: A difficult evening for the defender. He was booked for a clumsy challenge and looked shaky, losing seven of his fourteen duels. From our perspective, he struggled with Forest's movement and was rightly substituted later in the game. He did make four tackles but it was a tough outing.

Toti - 6.5: The captain led by example with a solid defensive display. He was calm under pressure, making three clearances and two interceptions. His passing was reliable, completing 92% of his attempts. He tried to organize the backline but was let down by others.

Emmanuel Agbadou - 6.0: A mixed bag. He made a couple of key clearances and was generally composed on the ball. However, he lost possession ten times, which put his team under needless pressure. He provided a late cross that led to a chance but it wasn't enough.

Midfielders

Jackson Tchatchoua - 6.5: Looked a threat going forward, delivering five crosses and creating a big chance. However, his defensive work was questionable, and he was dribbled past twice. He put in a shift but lacked the final product before being subbed off.

David Møller Wolfe - 7.0: Probably Wolves' best player on the night. He was a bundle of energy down the left flank. Defensively solid with five clearances and two interceptions. He also got forward to create a key pass, showing a good balance to his game.

André - 6.0: Very tidy in possession with 95% pass accuracy, but that's about it. He failed to impose himself on the game. What stood out to us was his reluctance to play forward, often choosing the safe option. He lost two-thirds of his duels.

João Gomes - 5.5: A really frustrating performance. He earned a needless yellow card and was sloppy in possession, losing the ball 13 times. While he made seven recoveries, his overall contribution was negative. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Forwards

Jhon Arias - 6.0: A lively but ineffective display. He drew four fouls and won seven duels, showing his willingness to fight. But he missed a big chance and his final ball was consistently poor. He flattered to deceive before being taken off.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde - 5.5: We barely noticed he was playing for large parts of the match. He worked hard off the ball but was completely anonymous on it. He had one shot blocked but otherwise offered no threat. A very quiet 67 minutes.

Jørgen Strand Larsen - 5.0: An absolutely dreadful performance. He was caught offside twice, killing any momentum. His touch was poor, and his passing was even worse, completing just 50% of them. He offered nothing up front and was a passenger for the entire 90 minutes.

Substitutes

Hwang Hee-Chan, Ki-Jana Hoever, Tolu Arokodare, Mateus Mané, Marshall Munetsi: The substitutes brought some energy but no real quality. Arokodare missed a decent headed chance late on. Munetsi's brief cameo ended with an unfortunate injury after Wolves had used all their substitutions.

Manager

R. Edwards - 5.0: His team looked completely out of ideas. The setup was rigid and the attack was toothless. His substitutions failed to change the course of the game, which is a major concern. A poor tactical display for a home fixture.

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs Wolves

Check out the Nottingham Forest player ratings for the Wolves vs Nottingham Forest fixture.

Goalkeeper

Matz Sels - 7.0: A commanding presence. He didn't have many saves to make but dealt with everything calmly. He punched clear once and claimed a high ball with authority. A clean sheet and a confident performance between the sticks.

Defenders

Neco Williams - 7.0: A really solid performance at both ends of the pitch. He was defensively sound with two interceptions. He also tested the keeper with a good shot from distance. A tireless display from the fullback.

Nikola Milenković - 7.5: An absolute giant at the back. He made a staggering seven clearances and was dominant in his duels. Picked up a yellow card, but it was a small price for such a commanding performance. He was crucial to the clean sheet.

Morato - 7.0: Formed a great partnership with Milenković. He was calm on the ball and intelligent with his positioning, making four clearances. He won both of his duels and never looked troubled. An assured and composed display.

Nicolò Savona - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, game. He did his job without any fuss, sticking to his defensive duties well. He won three of his six duels and kept things simple. A disciplined performance.

Midfielders

Ibrahim Sangaré - 6.5: Provided a solid shield in front of the defense before his substitution. He broke up play effectively and drew three fouls to relieve pressure. A disciplined and effective 67 minutes of work.

Elliot Anderson - 6.5: He was a menace in midfield, drawing an incredible six fouls. His energy was infectious, though his passing was sometimes erratic. He picked up a booking for his troubles but was a key part of Forest's disruptive game plan.

Morgan Gibbs-White - 7.5: Back at his old club, he ran the show. He was the creative hub for Forest, creating four key passes. His movement was intelligent and he was always looking to make things happen. A class act and a constant threat.

Omari Hutchinson - 7.0: Very dangerous. He delivered a high volume of crosses and created two big chances, including providing an assist for a disallowed goal. He was a real handful for the Wolves defense, although he did lose possession a lot.

Dan Ndoye - 6.0: He'll be disappointed not to have scored. He missed a big chance in the first half which he should have buried. He worked hard but lacked that clinical edge in front of goal before being substituted.

Forwards

Igor Jesus - 8.0: The match-winner and our Man of the Match. After the sheer frustration of having a first-half header ruled out by VAR, he never let his head drop. He stayed sharp, and when his one real chance came, he took it clinically. A proper striker's performance and the highest rated player on the pitch.

Substitutes

Ryan Yates, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Nicolás Domínguez: All three substitutes played their part perfectly. They brought fresh legs and helped Forest manage the final stages of the game effectively, securing the hard-fought victory.

Manager

S. Dyche - 8.0: A tactical masterclass from the Forest boss. His team was organized, disciplined, and resilient. They frustrated Wolves and took their chance when it arrived. A perfect away performance blueprint.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Igor Jesus