Chris Wood’s ninth Premier League goal of the season ensured Nottingham Forest reacted to recent shortcomings as they beat Ipswich Town 1-0 at the City Ground. George Edwards was at the match
In the Premier League, a win is a win, no matter how it comes around.
Many predicted a thumping home victory as Ipswich came to town, but Nottingham Forest got the job done through a Chris Wood penalty in a game that won’t live long in the memory but keeps the Reds where they want to be.
A fixture that would have made up a classic mid-table Championship battle in years gone by, the game was fought at that tempo, with two solid collective displays, no real standouts, and everything left out on the pitch.
It’s a well-known fact that no game in this league is easy, and the Tractor Boys were a side in form and with real belief that they had turned a corner. They were never going to roll over at the City Ground but the Reds relished their right to win at home, triumphant in the battle in both boxes and doing just enough to snatch the points.
They had to react and show that the two recent bruising defeats hadn’t dented their form, confidence and ability this season, and that they did. Forest limited their opponents to just seven shots, despite the visitors’ superior possession and early barrage of corners, with Matz Sels only really being stretched once.
In an attacking sense, the natural spark provided by Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson was evident, despite the pair looking leggy at times, with both returning after missing the Arsenal game through injury.
And when it mattered, Chris Wood was ready. A lethal penalty taker, emphatically smacking home from 12 yards with his only attempt of the day — there was little doubt about the outcome once the ball was tucked reassuringly under his shoulder.
Wood’s ninth goal in the league this season, with at least one goal scored in 10 of his last 13 games for club and country, as the New Zealand talisman became Forest’s joint all-time Premier League scorer with 24 goals since he joined the club in January 2023. There’s a serious point to be argued that Wood is the best striker in the league currently, those nine goals coming from an xG of just 5.3.
Perhaps more important than Wood’s strike was the other side of the scoreline: nil. The partnership of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic had proved formidable until half-time against Newcastle — since then the Reds had conceded six goals in 130 minutes, an average of a goal every 22 minutes.
While there was little doubt in their ability, the clean sheet was a welcome bonus in terms of reassurance: that Forest’s standards hadn’t dipped and had returned to that of a side sitting comfortably in mid-table, looking, aspiring upwards rather than fearful of what’s behind them.
Neco Williams’ inclusion was somewhat of a surprise, and the Welshman slotted in and did a job without being outstanding. That’s a sentence that could describe the Forest performance in a nutshell. No standout, no one leaned on, just 11 players who gave their all for the team and reaped their rewards.
There’s also something special about a 1-0 win. A scoreline that shows blood, sweat and tears, and a level concentration and commitment throughout the 90 minutes.
The victory buys Forests a few games. While they have proven that away from home they are more than capable, visiting the Etihad and Old Trafford in the space of three days is a gruelling, daunting prospect, and entering that run with a win means Forest can do so with relaxation rather than panic.
They cannot afford to show fear like they did at the Emirates, and face both teams at a time when nobody knows what to expect from either of them. But strap in, because the rest of the season starts now, and Forest are in an excellent position.
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