What the papers say: Nottingham Forest v Wolves

A Wolverhampton Wanderers 25-yard stunner denied Nottingham Forest all three points at the City Ground, as the Reds’ unbeaten start to the season continues. Here’s what the national newspapers had to say

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The Guardian

Nuno Espírito Santo is generally renowned as a safety-first coach, a manager who likes to build from a solid base, but increasingly Nottingham Forest are shooting from the hip, recording the highest number of shots in the Premier League over the opening games of the season. How they only scored once from their latest 16 attempts will be one for his analysts to dissect but, after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde equalised Chris Wood’s opener, Wolves will be relieved to have gained their first point of the season.

In their undefeated opening three games, Forest have had 53 shots; Nuno will expect a greater conversion rate as his new charges gel considering the attacking quality at his disposal after another busy summer transfer window.

For all the 10 new signings, however, Morgan Gibbs-White remains their most creative player. The new England call-up was again influential, unfortunate not to be on the winning team against his former employers. His manager, who gave him his Premier League bow when they were together at Wolves, is delighted for him. “It was a dream for him,” Nuno said, “something he worked really hard for. He deserves it and we wish him all the best. He’s enjoying his football. He’s a very humble boy, though, and he’ll say he can keep improving.”

The Telegraph

Nuno Espirito Santo is backing Morgan Gibbs-White to make an impact with England after the £25 million attacker fulfilled the “dream” of continuing his Three Lions journey.

The attacking midfielder, whose preferred position is as a No 10, has played for England’s juniors from the under-16s to the under-21s, and is preparing to join Lee Carsley’s senior squad for the Nations League qualifiers.

A World Cup winner with the under-17s in 2017, and a key member of Carsley’s under-21s team that won last year’s European Championship, Gibbs-White’s decision to leave Wolves for Nottingham Forest two years ago has paid dividends.

He is the first Forest player to be named in an England squad since 1997, when Stuart Pearce was called upon, and Nuno insists his best is yet to come.

The Independent

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s stunning strike earned Wolverhampton Wanderers their first point of the Premier League season with a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.

In a frantic start to the game, New Zealand striker Chris Wood headed the hosts into a 10th-minute lead from a corner, having been left completely unmarked in the penalty area.

Bellegarde issued an immediate response, however, lashing home a sensational hit two minutes later.

Both sides failed to really create clearcut chances to snatch all three points as Forest remained unbeaten this season.

The Mail

When social media is ablaze with every detail of Raheem Sterling’s move to Arsenal and Jadon Sancho’s switch to Chelsea, a goalkeeper moving from Crystal Palace to Wolves hardly earns a second glance.

Yet if forwards win you games, keepers stop you losing them, and Wolves have Sam Johnstone to thank for their first point of the Premier League season.

On his debut after joining Wolves for £10million, Johnstone made superb saves in either half from Morgan Gibbs-White – celebrating his first senior England call-up – and Chris Wood. Wood had put Nottingham Forest ahead after 10 minutes and though his strike was quickly cancelled out by a stunner from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, the Forest centre-forward might have had a hat-trick.

The visitors were settling for a point by the end and will be relieved to avoid defeat after their 6-2 hammering at home by Chelsea. While Forest remain unbeaten, they might have hoped for more than five points from their opening fixtures against Bournemouth, Southampton and Wolves.

The Sun

Wolves battled to earn their first point of the season as Nottingham Forest maintained their unbeaten start.

In the end both sets of fans left satisfied – despite moaning like hell about a couple of controversial penalty claims – one for each side.

At least referee Simon Hooper was consistent as he ruled that Jorgen Strand Larsen and Chris Wood were both innocent men – despite the ball clearly striking both of them on the arm.

But when the dust finally settled on this rip-roaring 90 minutes, no great ‘arm had been done to either of these Midlands rivals.

And Wolves even had a rare long-range banger to celebrate – their first goal from outside the box for a staggering 47 games!

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