Nottingham Forest 0 Wolves 1: Full time report

Mar 21 2009

Michael Kightly's 76th-minute strike was worth its weight in gold for Wolves as the Coca-Cola Championship leaders turned one point into three and deepened Nottingham Forest's relegation worries in the process.

The England under-21 winger drilled home from 10 yards to clinch an uneventful clash, devout in any real quality, that looked to be heading towards a goalless stalemate.

Neither side had managed a serious shot on target during the previous three quarters of a poor encounter but that will not matter one bit to the visitors, who will consider points more important than performances as the promotion race enters the final straight.

The Black Country outfit were further boosted by Birmingham's inability to beat relegation-threatened Norwich, meaning they hold a five-point lead at the summit going into the international break - and the crucial clash at St Andrew's on April 6.

Forest, however, will be more than concerned with their precarious position at the wrong end of the table with just six matches remaining.

Boss Billy Davies made five changes to the Forest side humiliated 5-0 at Burnley last weekend, most notably handing goalkeeper Iain Turner a debut after his loan move from Everton.

Mick McCarthy, meanwhile, brought back Karl Henry to the centre of his midfield in place of Dave Edwards.

A 5,300 strong Wolves following were in good voice from the off but there was nothing on the pitch during the opening 15 minutes to keep them entertained.

The visitors wasted a good chance to take the lead in the 18th minute courtesy of the first glimpse of creativity in the encounter.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake cleverly flicked a ball into the path of the onrushing Kightly but he took far too long trying to work an angle on the edge of the penalty area and was eventually dispossessed.