Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-2 Nottingham Forest

Ben Osborn celebrates his third goal of the season

Championship leaders Wolves had their 13-match unbeaten league run ended as Aitor Karanka claimed his first win as Nottingham Forest manager.

Kieran Dowell's deflected 25-yard shot wrong-footed keeper John Ruddy to put Forest ahead against the run of play.

The hosts were stunned again just three minutes later when Ben Osborn smashed in a shot from Matty Cash's pull-back.

Wolves pressed after the break, but rarely threatened to break through Forest's disciplined defence.

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Both managers rang the changes for contrasting reasons, with the hosts making nine to the starting XI narrowly beaten at Swansea in their midweek FA Cup replay, while Karanka made four for his second game in charge of out-of-form Forest.

The hosts, who last tasted defeat at Molineux in mid-August against Cardiff, had the lion's share of possession for long periods.

But Forest, who had picked up just five points in their nine previous league matches, kept them at arm's length and Matt Doherty almost deflected Dowell's free-kick into his own net before the visitors grabbed their quickfire double.

Diogo Jota sent a curling shot just past the far post, but the Championship's most potent attack were unable to seriously test goalkeeper Jordan Smith throughout.

Danny Fox had to head clear from under his own crossbar from Ivan Cavaleiro's cross as the home side sought a second-half comeback, but the defender almost claimed a third for the visitors when his header was tipped over the bar by Ruddy.

The defeat meant Wolves' lead over second-placed Derby County remains at nine points, while Forest's first win in seven league matches lifted them a place to 14th.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo told BBC WM:

"I think it was one of the games where we were not as good as we could and should be.

"We knew that this day could come. We must improve and have to bounce back immediately from this.

"I am responsible maybe for not telling the boys we still have a long way to go. Nobody can relax here."

Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka:

"It was a real good performance, it's not easy to win here and for me the most important thing has been the commitment from everybody.

"We have to grow, we have to be more intense. We have a really good squad. We were passing the ball really well - if we can play with more intensity we are going to improve.

"The club is very well organised - we will finish the transfer window with a better squad than we have now."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Wolves

• 21Ruddy
• 5BennettBooked at 90mins
• 16CoadyBooked at 38mins
• 15Boly
• 2DohertySubstituted forHélder Costaat 45'minutes
• 27Saiss
• 8NevesSubstituted forMir Vicenteat 78'minutes
• 3DouglasSubstituted forGibbs-Whiteat 45'minutes
• 7Cavaleiro
• 33Bonatini
• 18JotaBooked at 65mins

Substitutes

• 4A N'Diaye
• 6Batth
• 9Mir Vicente
• 17Hélder Costa
• 24Gibbs-White
• 25Miranda
• 31Norris

Nottm Forest

• 43Smith
• 2Lichaj
• 42WorrallBooked at 19mins
• 4Mancienne
• 13FoxBooked at 6mins
• 31Bouchalakis
• 14Cash
• 7BridcuttBooked at 30minsSubstituted forCloughat 69'minutes
• 11Osborn
• 20DowellSubstituted forDarikwaat 83'minutes
• 17Brereton

Substitutes

• 5Mills
• 6Traore
• 16Clough
• 18Carayol
• 27Darikwa
• 30Henderson
• 39Vellios

Referee:

Robert Madley

Attendance:

29,050

Match Stats

Home TeamWolvesAway TeamNottm Forest

Possession

Home63%

Away37%

Shots

Home6

Away5

Shots on Target

Home1

Away4

Corners

Home5

Away4

Fouls

Home16

Away7

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Nottingham Forest 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Nottingham Forest 2.

Posted at 90'+5'

Foul by Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 90'+5'

Ben Brereton (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+4'

Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Zach Clough (Nottingham Forest).

Booking

Posted at 90'+3'

Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 90'+3'

Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+3'

Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Conor Coady.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt saved. Matthew Cash (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Osborn.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt missed. Rafa Mir (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Diogo Jota.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 88'

Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 84'

Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Romain Saiss tries a through ball, but Ivan Cavaleiro is caught offside.

Substitution

Posted at 83'

Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Tendayi Darikwa replaces Kieran Dowell.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Rafa Mir (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 82'

Andreas Bouchalakis (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Michael Mancienne.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 78'

Ben Brereton (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution

Posted at 78'

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rafa Mir replaces Rúben Neves.

Posted at 77'

Hand ball by Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 74'

Foul by Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 74'

Ben Brereton (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Daniel Fox.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 73'

Ben Osborn (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Kieran Dowell (Nottingham Forest).

Substitution

Posted at 69'

Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Zach Clough replaces Liam Bridcutt.

Posted at 67'

Attempt missed. Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ivan Cavaleiro with a cross following a set piece situation.

Posted at 67'

Ivan Cavaleiro (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 67'

Foul by Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest).

Posted at 65'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Booking

Posted at 65'

Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 64'

Delay in match Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) because of an injury.

Posted at 64'

Foul by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 64'

Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 63'

Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conor Coady tries a through ball, but Diogo Jota is caught offside.

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