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Premier League | Gameweek 16

Dec 9, 2023 at 3pm UK

Molineux Stadium

Wolves
1 - 1
Nott'm Forest

Cunha (32')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Toffolo (14')
Kouyate (33'), Cooper (55')

Matheus Cunha steals point for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Nottingham Forest

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 09 December 2023

Cunha steals point for Wolves against Forest

Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest future remains clouded in uncertainty after the Tricky Trees are held to a 1-1 draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest future remains clouded in uncertainty after the Tricky Trees were held to a 1-1 draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Prior to kickoff in the West Midlands, it was reported that the Forest board were preparing to pull the trigger on the under-fire Cooper if he failed to lead his team to a positive result on Saturday.

The visiting coach was on the right path to redemption when Harry Toffolo headed home, but Matheus Cunha's leveller stole a point for the hosts, leaving Cooper facing an anxious wait to learn his managerial fate.

While the only change for Wolves came in goal, as first-choice stopper Jose Sa took Daniel Bentley's place, Cooper's final throw of the dice saw the Forest boss make as many as seven changes in a bid to save his Tricky Trees bacon.

Left-back Toffolo was one of only four players to keep their spots from their 5-0 drubbing versus Fulham, and the 28-year-old justified his selection with his maiden Forest goal after 14 minutes.

A terrific sliding interception from Cheikhou Kouyate began the move, and the ex-Crystal Palace man sprayed the ball out to the right, where Neco Williams was waiting to deliver a pinpoint cross for Toffolo to head home.

Nottingham Forest's Harry Toffolo celebrates scoring their first goal on December 9, 2023 © Reuters

Craig Dawson did his utmost to hack the ball clear, but he could only crash Toffolo's header onto the bar after it had already crossed the line, as Forest propelled themselves into the ascendancy after a cagey opening period.

However, Wolves huffed and puffed for the equaliser straight from kickoff, and the walls of the Forest house were eventually blown down in the 32nd minute, as Mario Lemina played a slick slide-rule pass into the box for Pablo Sarabia, who cut back for Matheus Cunha to finish across goal and into the far corner.

The Brazilian's leveller was no less than Wolves deserved, but Forest let a golden chance to restore their lead pass them by in the 51st minute, as Anthony Elanga escaped the attention of Wolves defenders at a corner but could only rattle the crossbar.

The Williams-Toffolo link-up almost paid dividends again for Forest in the 69th minute, but the latter could not keep his header down from three yards out this time around, six minutes before Turner prevented Cunha from putting the final nail in Cooper's coffin.

The Forest boss was serenaded by the visiting contingent before the full-time whistle blew, as the Tricky Trees remained 16th in the table and four points clear of the relegation zone, while Gary O'Neil's team have leapfrogged Fulham into 12th spot.

Wolves have a trip to West Ham United on the agenda for next Sunday, whereas Forest - with or without Cooper at the helm - host Tottenham Hotspur next Friday evening.