Recap

Nottingham Forest Frustrated in Goalless Stalemate Against Rock-Bottom Wolves

Nottingham Forest dominated possession and unleashed a staggering 35 shots on goal but were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground on February 11, 2026, in a Premier League clash that intensified pressure on manager Sean Dyche.

The result leaves Forest with 27 points from 26 games, sitting three points clear of the relegation zone and 18th-placed West Ham, while Wolves cling to nine points at the bottom of the table, inching closer to Derby County’s ignominious Premier League record low of 11 points.

Forest’s Onslaught Yields Nothing Despite Total Domination

From the opening whistle, Nottingham Forest asserted control, peppering Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa’s goal with relentless pressure that defined the match. In the first half alone, Forest registered 16 shots, the most any Premier League side has faced without conceding in an opening 45 minutes, yet Sa and his defense stood firm.

Morgan Gibbs-White squandered an early chance, heading Elliot Anderson’s teasing cross toward the back post into the side-netting, setting the tone for a night of what-ifs. The hosts’ golden opportunity arrived from a Wolves free-kick when Callum Hudson-Odoi sparked a devastating six-on-one counter-attack, racing clear before delivering a low center that loanee Lorenzo Lucca, on his first league start, blazed over the bar with the goal gaping.

Forest’s dominance continued unabated into the second half, with Omari Hutchinson’s cross finding Morato, whose flicked header drifted wide in the 52nd minute. Neco Williams saw a shot deflect off Santiago Bueno and loop over the bar, while a barrage of corners failed to yield breakthroughs.

The closest Forest came to a winner arrived with 14-15 minutes remaining, as Williams’ delivery picked out Morato two yards from goal; the defender’s point-blank effort was somehow repelled by Sa’s incredible reaction save, followed by the Portuguese stopper clawing Igor Jesus’ rebound off the line in a moment of brilliance.

Stefan Ortega, Forest’s goalkeeper, was largely untested but proved decisive late on, first palming away a stinging drive from Mateus Mane and then denying the same player in stoppage time after a swift Wolves counter led by Arokodare.

Statistically, Forest’s profligacy was historic—nearly a decade since any Premier League team fired as many as 35 shots without scoring, underscoring their failure to breach the league’s worst defense, which entered the game without an away clean sheet.

Pressure Mounts on Dyche Amid Fan Frustration

The draw represented a golden opportunity squandered for Forest, who could have stretched their lead over the bottom three to five or six points and applied pressure on managerless Tottenham. Instead, they remain precariously positioned, three points above danger following a run of just two wins in their last 10 games and two points from recent fixtures against Crystal Palace, Leeds, and now Wolves.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis watched from the stands as tension boiled over, with fans turning on Dyche at full-time amid chants questioning his tenure—this marking the potential third managerial sacking of the season at the City Ground.

Dyche will likely defend his position by highlighting the litany of missed chances, from Lucca’s glaring miss to Morato’s denial and Gibbs-White’s header, but the inability to convert dominance into points has alarmed stakeholders.

Wolves’ Resilient Rearguard Action Secures Vital Point

For Wolves, managed by Rob Edwards, the point felt like highway robbery against a Forest side that laid siege to their goal throughout. Despite being rock-bottom and winless on the road in terms of clean sheets prior, they escaped with a share of the spoils through sheer defensive resolve.

Jose Sa emerged as the undisputed hero, his stunning double-save late in the game capping a performance replete with crucial interventions. The backline, including Santiago Bueno, Ladislav Krejci, and Hugo Bueno, threw bodies in the line of fire, with Angel Gomes blocking a Williams strike from distance.

Wolves grew into the contest as Forest pushed forward, nearly snatching victory themselves. Mane, the academy graduate, troubled Ortega twice—first with a low drive after jinking past markers, then in added time following Arokodare’s incisive pass, only to be denied by the German keeper’s alertness.

Adam Armstrong and Josh Gomes contributed to midfield solidity, while substitutes like Wolfe, Bellegarde, and Tchatchoua added fresh legs without tilting the balance decisively.

Player Performances: Anderson Shines, Sa Steals Show

Elliot Anderson earned Player of the Match honors for Forest with his influential display, providing the assist for Gibbs-White’s early header and dictating play from midfield.

Neco Williams and Ola Aina flanked a solid backline where Morato was unfortunate not to score, while captain Gibbs-White and Ortega impressed amid the chaos. Callum Hudson-Odoi, Omari Hutchinson, and debutant Lucca were among those who fell short in front of goal. Substitutes Ndoye and Igor Jesus couldn’t turn the tide.

For Wolves, Sa’s performance underscored his man-of-the-match case, backed by Mane, J. Gomes, and Krejci. R. Gomes, S. Bueno, Mosquera, H. Bueno, A. Gomes, Armstrong, and Arokodare formed a gritty unit, with bench options contributing effectively.

League Standings Implications and What’s Next

Forest’s record now stands at 7 wins, 6 draws, and 13 losses, totaling 27 points—a tally that keeps them treading water rather than surging clear. Wolves, with their ninth point, remain 18 points from safety, their survival bid hanging by a thread.

At the summit, Arsenal lead with 56 points from 25 games, followed by Manchester City, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool, per partial standings.

This stalemate extends Forest’s winless streak in key relegation six-pointers, amplifying scrutiny on Dyche as the season nears its business end. Wolves, buoyed by the clean sheet, will take resilience into their next outing, but their points haul remains perilously low.

The City Ground faithful departed disappointed, their side’s profligacy costing a vital win. In a campaign defined by fine margins, Forest’s failure to capitalize against the league’s whipping boys could prove costly come May.