Nottingham Forest vs Wolves: Team News, Predicted Lineups & Relegation Battle Preview

Nottingham Forest host Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground on Wednesday night in what could prove to be a defining fixture in the Premier League relegation battle.

Sean Dyche’s side sit 17th, just three points above the drop zone, after a damaging 3–1 defeat at Elland Road ended their four-game unbeaten run. Meanwhile, Wolves remain bottom of the table and are fighting to keep their survival hopes alive.

Forest’s Form & Survival Pressure

Forest’s recent run had briefly eased relegation fears, with two wins in four games helping steady their campaign. However, the defeat to Leeds saw them dragged back into danger.

With West Ham picking up points at the weekend, the pressure intensifies on Dyche’s men.

The City Ground, traditionally a fortress in recent seasons, has not delivered the same impact this campaign. Forest have collected just 12 points from 12 home matches the 16th-best home record in the division leaving little margin for error in games like this.

European commitments also loom. A Europa League knockout play-off against Fenerbahçe awaits in February, but with survival hanging in the balance, Dyche may be forced to prioritise domestic stability.

Wolves’ Struggles Continue

Wolves arrive in even deeper trouble.

Rob Edwards’ side have endured a historically poor season, collecting just eight points from 25 matches the lowest tally ever recorded at this stage of a Premier League campaign.

They are 18 points adrift of safety and have won only once all season. Even more concerning is their away record: just three points from 12 away matches, the worst in the division.

Their 3–1 defeat to Chelsea last time out once again exposed defensive fragility, with preventable mistakes and costly penalties defining their campaign.

Unless form dramatically shifts, relegation appears inevitable.

Head-to-Head Record

Forest hold the recent edge in this fixture.

• Wolves’ last league win at the City Ground came in September 2017 (Championship).

• Their only Premier League victory over Forest came in October 2022 via a Ruben Neves penalty.

• Forest won the reverse fixture earlier this season at Molineux through an Igor Jesus strike.

Interestingly, this fixture has not produced a 0–0 draw since 2000. However, both teams rank among the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season — making a tight contest likely.

Team News

Nottingham Forest

Forest are without:

• Chris Wood

• John Victor

• Nicolò Savona

Goalkeeper Matz Sels remains a doubt with a hip issue.

There is positive news, however:

• Murillo could return in defence

• Neco Williams is available after suspension

Lorenzo Lucca may earn a start after scoring off the bench against Leeds, while Omari Hutchinson continues to impress creatively.

Wolves

Wolves remain without:

• Toti Gomes

• André (calf)

• Hwang Hee-chan (hamstring)

Youngster Matheus Mane has been a rare bright spark this season and is expected to start again.

Rob Edwards may switch to a back five, with Ladislav Krejci potentially coming into defence.

Predicted Lineups

Nottingham Forest XI:

Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, Hudson-Odoi; Lucca

Wolves XI:

Sa; Krejci, S. Bueno, Mosquera, H. Bueno; R. Gomes, J. Gomes, A. Gomes; Mane, Arokodare, Armstrong

Prediction

Given Wolves’ disastrous away record and Forest’s urgent need for points, this represents a golden opportunity for the hosts.

Expect a cautious but controlled Forest performance.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2–0 Wolves