Wolves begin their 2025 account at home to Nottingham Forest, and they do it in a positive frame of mind. Now, wolves.co.uk presents the main talking points ahead of Monday's clash.
1 | Roll Call
Wolves are without leading scorer Matheus Cunha on Monday night as he sits out the first of his two-game ban, with next week’s FA Cup tie at Bristol City the other. Jorgen Strand Larsen replaced the Brazilian at half-time last weekend and bagged the equaliser, so will hope to start. Toti will also be absent, having been ruled out for three to four weeks with a hamstring injury. Mario Lemina and Pablo Sarabia are also set to miss out, while Sasa Kalajdzic, Boubacar Traore, Enso Gonzalez and Yerson Mosquera remain long-term absentees.
Former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo looks set to be boosted by the return of Murillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi, two regulars who were both absent at Everton on Sunday. Nuno described their conditions as “much better” and he expects them to travel to Molineux. Ryan Yates is back from suspension following five yellow cards. Ibrahim Sangare remains out with a thigh injury, while the game comes too soon for Danilo.
Analysing Jorgen Strand Larsen's recent performances on the Official Wolves Podcast.
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 2, 2025
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2 | The Stat Pack
Goals
- Matheus Cunha | 10
- Chris Wood | 11
Assists
- Rayan Ait-Nouri | 5
- Elliot Anderson | 5
Biggest win
- Fulham 1-4 Wolves | November 2024
- Forest 3-0 West Ham | November 2024
Yellow cards
- Ryan Yates | 5
- Nelson Semedo | 6
Clean sheets
- Jose Sa | 3
- Matz Sels | 8
3 | The journey to Monday
Wolves go into their first match of 2025 in a positive frame of mind, having ended the previous year in fine form. After what had been a turbulent start to the 2024/25 campaign, the Old Gold’s fortunes turned on the arrival of Vitor Pereira, who has led his new side to seven points from the first nine available. An opening day victory at Leicester City was followed by another win on the evening of Boxing Day against Manchester United, with five goals scored and zero conceded across the two games. The trip to Tottenham Hotspur required more resolve, after the hosts cancelled out Hee Chan Hwang’s opener to lead, but Wolves held in there, allowing Jorgen Strand Larsen to earn a share of the points and continue Pereira’s unbeaten run.
Forest couldn’t arrive at Molineux in any better form. Since losing at Manchester City in early December, Forest have hit form, beating Manchester United and then Aston Villa. A win at Brentford was a statement, against the side previously strongest on their own patch, and then Tottenham were beaten at the City Ground on Boxing Day. Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White were both on target at Everton on Sunday – their final outing of the year, which saw Forest up to second for a short period.
4 | Happy Forest memories
Back in August 2008, Mick McCarthy’s Wolves were shaping up for a title charge in the Championship, and a win over Nottingham Forst at Molineux moved them to the summit and provided real momentum. David Jones fired the Old Gold into an early lead and Wes Morgan’s own goal made it two. Michale Kightly then smashed home from distance and Chris Iwelumo headed in a fourth before the interval. The visitors pulled a goal back when Richard Stearman found the back of his own net, but Kightly’s second gave the scoreline and fairer look for rampant Wolves.
Wolves | Hennessey, Foley, Collins, Stearman, Stephen Ward, Kightly (Gray 77), David Jones, Henry, Jarvis (Edwards 66), Iwelumo, Ebanks-Blake (Keogh 65).
Forest | Smith, Chambers (Wilson 71), Morgan, Breckin, Bennett, Perch (McCleary 71), Guy Moussi, Cohen, Tyson (Cole 71), Earnshaw, Martin.
