Match ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.
Nottm ForestNottingham Forest1WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers2
Diogo Jota grabbed a second-half double against Nottingham Forest to earn a win which takes Wolves up to second in the Championship table.
The on-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder slid in the opener from Ivan Cavaleiro's fine cross.
Substitute Mustapha Carayol levelled with an audacious shot from out wide that caught out keeper John Ruddy.
But Wolves remained sharper and more threatening in attack and Jota's cool strike on the break secured the points.
Leeds remain top on 17 points, ahead of Wolves and Cardiff on goal difference following the Welsh side's 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
The Molineux club, who have won five of their eight league games this season, were good value for their win despite not being at their best.
They created the better chances before the break, the best of which saw Leo Bonatini's close-range shot deflected wide by Joe Worrall after great approach play by left wing-back Ruben Vinagre.
Tame efforts by Daryl Murphy, Kieran Dowell and Liam Bridcutt were as good as the hosts could muster until Carayol saw Ruddy trying to sneak off his line in anticipation of a cross to make it 1-1.
But Jota exchanged passes with the impressive Bonatini to net his fifth goal of the season and consign Forest to a fourth defeat from their eight league games.
Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton:
"The first half was a good game of football, it was a game of chess. We knew focus was important. At half-time we knew we had to come out and take care of the football.
"We knew that if we gave the ball away, they would punish us. And they did.
"There is no lack of work ethic, desire or commitment - but you cannot be loose. We were loose with the ball and we got punished for it.
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo:
"We learned from the last game. There were no mistakes. We did not give very much away.
"This shows that we have character. This shows that we are growing. The team is getting better, we are growing and can get even better.
"The players enjoy themselves, but they also know they need to be very aggressive. We have to be consistent, we have to press, we have to react when we lose the ball."
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 43Smith
- 27Darikwa
- 42Worrall
- 5MillsBooked at 82mins
- 6Traore
- 7BridcuttBooked at 90mins
- 11Osborn
- 17BreretonSubstituted forWalkerat 86'minutes
- 20DowellSubstituted forCarayolat 62'minutes
- 10McKaySubstituted forCummingsat 71'minutes
- 9Murphy
Substitutes
- 2Lichaj
- 13Fox
- 18Carayol
- 30Henderson
- 31Bouchalakis
- 34Walker
- 35Cummings
Wolves
Formation 3-4-3
- 21Ruddy
- 6Batth
- 16Coady
- 25Miranda
- 2Doherty
- 27Saiss
- 8Neves
- 29VinagreSubstituted forDeslandesat 64'minutes
- 7CavaleiroBooked at 56minsSubstituted forMarshallat 62'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 33BonatiniSubstituted forA N'Diayeat 83'minutes
- 18Jota
Substitutes
- 4A N'Diaye
- 12Marshall
- 19Price
- 20Ronan
- 26Enobakhare
- 31Norris
- 32Deslandes
- Referee:
- Geoff Eltringham
- Attendance:
- 25,756
Match Stats
Home TeamNottm ForestAway TeamWolves
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away6
- Corners
- Home1
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home4
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Matt Mills.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ben Marshall (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Diogo Jota.
Booking
Liam Bridcutt (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Liam Bridcutt (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Alfred N'Diaye (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Ben Marshall (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Ben Osborn (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Ben Marshall (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Post update
Attempt saved. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alfred N'Diaye.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Tyler Walker replaces Ben Brereton.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by John Ruddy.
Post update
Attempt saved. Tendayi Darikwa (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Mustapha Carayol with a cross.
Post update
Liam Bridcutt (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Alfred N'Diaye replaces Léo Bonatini because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
