Nuno Espirito Santo will renew acquaintances with former club Wolverhampton Wanderers when his Nottingham Forest outfit play host to a Premier League contest at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.
There was nothing to separate these two teams when they butted heads in the reverse fixture four months ago as they played out a 1-1 draw at Molineux.
Match preview
Since being deducted four points for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules in the middle of March, Nottingham Forest have had mixed success in the top flight, winning, drawing and losing one game each across their last three fixtures.
A 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace was followed by a much-needed 3-1 victory against Fulham, but they were unable to come out on top against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, despite a spirited performance, as they suffered a 3-1 defeat in North London.
After Murillo had unfortunately put the ball into his own net, in-form striker Chris Wood equalised just before the half-hour mark with his fourth goal in as many games. However, Spurs fought back in the second half and netted twice in the space of six minutes to condemn the Tricky Trees to their 17th league defeat of the campaign.
Nuno Espirito Santo has called the situation at the bottom of the table "a mess" amid the point deductions affecting both his Forest side and Everton, who are still awaiting a hearing - which could be concluded after the season has finished - after confirming their intentions to appeal.
Forest sit 17th in the table and are hovering just above the relegation zone on goal difference, above 18th-placed Luton Town who beat Bournemouth 2-1 last weekend, while Everton - who beat Burnley 1-0 last time out - sit two points above Forest in 16th with a game in hand.
The Tricky Trees are looking to win back-to-back home matches for the first time since a run between April and August last year, but success on Saturday is not a given as they have only won one of their last 10 league meetings with Wolves, failing to win all of their previous three in the Premier League.
While Forest are treading water in a sea of uncertainty, there is plenty of frustration swirling around Wolves at present after they fell victim to another controversial VAR decision in a 2-1 home defeat against West Ham United last weekend.
Lucas Paqueta and James Ward-Prowse were both on target for the Hammers after Pablo Sarabia's first-half penalty had opened the scoring for Wolves, who then had Max Kilman's stoppage-time equaliser disallowed as VAR and referee Tony Harrington ruled that an offside should be given after substitute Tawanda Chirewa was standing in the eyeline of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Gary O'Neil was left enraged with the "terrible decision" and has since been charged by the FA with "improper and/or threatening" behaviour, with the charge relating to his alleged language "around the match officials' changing room".
Wolves have now failed to win any of their last four Premier League matches, picking up just one point in the process, and they have subsequently slipped to 11th in the table, six points behind seventh-placed West Ham who have played a game more.
The Old Gold still have challenging encounters with title hopefuls Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool to come this season, but they also have four favourable-looking fixtures against teams below them in the table on the horizon, including Saturday's clash at Forest where they have not lost any of their last five away meetings since a 3-1 defeat in March 2013 when competing in the Championship.
Team News
Nottingham Forest will be without Taiwo Awoniyi, Nuno Tavares (both thigh) and Willy Boly (muscle) due to injury, but Nuno has confirmed that the former has 'started his individual programme' and could return before the end of the season.
Nuno is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his defence, but Ibrahim Sangare could be recalled at the expense of either Ryan Yates or Danilo to start in midfield; Nicolas Dominguez is another hoping to return to the first XI.
Former Wolves man Morgan Gibbs-White, who has contributed to four goals (one goal, three assists) in his last four matches, is expected to continue in an advanced midfield role in behind central striker Wood, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga could retain their places on the flanks.
As for Wolves, Pedro Neto remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Saturday's game is set to come too soon for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde who has missed the last four games with a knee problem.
Hee-Chan Hwang returned to training last week and could be in a position to feature in the matchday squad against Forest, while Rayan Ait-Nouri is doubtful with a calf issue picked up against West Ham last weekend.
Matt Doherty could be handed a start at left wing-back if Ait-Nouri is not deemed fit to feature, while Craig Dawson will be pushing to start ahead of Santiago Bueno in central defence after shaking off a groin problem.
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Sels; Williams, Omobamidele, Murillo, Aina; Yates, Sangare; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Dawson, Kilman, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, Doyle, Gomes, Doherty; Sarabia, Cunha
We say: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Neither side head into Saturday's contest in particularly high spirits, but they will both view this fixture as a good opportunity to claim maximum points and begin a positive run of form heading down the home straight.
However, the last two meetings between these sides have finished as 1-1 draws and another tight affair could be on the cards at the City Ground.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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