Cunha brace salvages point for Wolves as Forest flirt with relegation

Not even Morgan Gibbs-White scoring an equaliser, creating the goal to give his side the lead and celebrating with fingers in his ears right in front of the Wolves fans who used to cheer him, could inspire Nottingham Forest to the win that would have lifted them three points clear of the relegation zone

Forest’s £30m signing from Wolves loves winding up his old club and was the driving force in another impassioned performance that, despite the four-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules, suggests Forest have the fight and the penetration to stay up.

With a trip to Everton next Sunday, Forest’s future is in their own hands; and they can still dream their appeal against the sanction will return them a point or more.

Related: Nottingham Forest appeal against four-point Premier League penalty

Matheus Cunha scored twice on his return from injury to remind Wolves what they have been missing.

Forest’s need may have been greater but there were enough past grudges simmering between these clubs to ensure Wolves were fully motivated. Chants of “Morgan Gibbs-White” echoed around from all around the ground from the off: positively from three sides, in derogatory terms from the Bridgford Stand housing his former club’s supporters.

Even though Wolves managed to keep Gibbs-White relatively quiet before his equaliser in first-half stoppage time, Forest were dominant before going behind.

Callum Hudson-Odoi made himself space, cutting back inside Tommy Doyle after a corner was only partially cleared, only to fire his shot over. Then Toti had to dive in to block as Danilo looked to have the space to blast home. Gio Reyna, on his full Premier League debut, capitalised on Nelson Semedo’s misplaced pass but drove wide from yards with Jose Sa scrambling.

Wolves weathered the storm however and, with Matheus Cunha back in for his first start in two months after a hamstring injury, were still dangerous on the break. Murillo had to head off the line from Joao Gomes, after Ryan Yates misplaced a pass inside his own area, before Pablo Sarabia arrowed the rebound wide.