Nottingham Forest made it six Premier League wins in a row with a 3-0 victory over Wolves at Molineux.
Morgan Gibbs-White's deflected strike against his former club silenced the home crowd early on and although Jorgen Strand Larsen had three good chances to equalize for Vitor Pereira's side, it was the clinical Chris Wood who scored before half-time the lead doubled.
Taiwo Awoniyi's stoppage-time goal made it three and secured a sixth straight Premier League win, moving Nuno Espirito Santo level with Arsenal and leaving jubilant supporters dreaming of the Champions League next season.
Wolves would settle for retaining their Premier League status. This defeat, Pereira's first since taking over despite being without key players such as the suspended Matheus Cunha, leaves them out of the relegation zone on goal difference alone.
Forest's red machine continues to run
Matz Sels was brilliant for Forest and made some special saves to keep the clean sheet, so that tells you Nuno's men weren't having this all their own way. But it wasn't a huge surprise that they retained control of this match from Gibbs-White's goal onwards.
The England international gave Forest, in front of the watching England boss Thomas Tuchel, the advantage and they never relinquished it. That's what this team is doing now. Confident and mature, they are comfortable with and without football.
Wood didn't get the opportunities that Strand Larsen enjoyed, but he didn't need them either. The Forest supporters chanted towards the end of the match that they are coming for Liverpool. Why not? This win moves them within six points of the Premier League leaders.
Nuno avoids rumors about a title race
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo's altercation during press conference:
Q: It's Liverpool next. Are you in a title race?
A: “We're playing Luton in the FA Cup at the City Ground, which is massive for us. It's a good opportunity for us. I'm sorry I can't answer your direct question, but this is the reality.”
“We have to prepare well. The FA Cup is important, it's a good chance for us to give everyone minutes because it's going to be a very, very long season.
“We need all players with minutes, with fitness and with rhythm. So first Luton.”
Q: The rest of the country is looking at the rankings right now. When do you think you could do that?
A: “I don't know, maybe at the end of the season. I'll probably take a look.”
Question: At the end of the season?
Answer: “Yes, yes.”
Question: “Not if you're in the Champions League spot, not four games from the end?
A: “No, at the end of the season. At the end of the season I'll take a look at it. I promise you I'll take a look at it.”
Weakened Wolves fall far short
Wolves have been better under Pereira, but the magnitude of the task still ahead of him is a bit clear for the Portuguese after this show, the lack of depth in the squad is evident. With three of the four senior centre-backs injured, Wolves were left well short at the back.
They also had to do without captain Nelson Semedo and star midfielder Andre this season, and of course their star player this season in Cunha. In the absence of so many key players, this may have been a spirited effort from Wolves.
Cunha is expected to be back for the next Premier League match against Newcastle, but Pereira will need much more than that. Defenders are believed to be on the way, including Emmanuel Agbadou. Pereira hopes they can make a difference.
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