WOLVERHAMPTON, England (Reuters) -Nottingham Forest earned a point in a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday as their fans once again showed their support for under-pressure manager Steve Cooper.
A midweek thrashing at Fulham, Forest’s fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, has raised questions about Cooper’s job, but his side responded well at Molineux.
Forest now have only one win in 12 league games and are five points above the relegation zone, but Saturday’s display was a vast improvement as Cooper made seven changes from the defeat at Craven Cottage.
At the final whistle, Cooper, who guided Forest back to the Premier League in 2022, saluted the visiting fans, who sang his name throughout the game, and beat his hand against his heart.
“If you look at the game in isolation and the context I’m proud of my team, proud of how we played,” Cooper said.
“It’s a positive away point and it’s a point on the board. If you put that on top of the noise which hasn’t crept into the training ground because we won’t let that, all you see is a team who love playing for the football club and want to do well.”
Forest made a fast start and Harry Toffolo scored his first goal for the club, rising to meet a superb delivery by Neco Williams to give them the lead in the 14th minute.
Wolves responded in positive fashion though and were level in the 32nd minute when a flowing move cut Forest to ribbons, with Pablo Sarabia cutting back the ball for Matheus Cunha to finish.
Forest could have taken all three points, with Cheikhou Kouyate denied by Wolves keeper Jose Sa shortly before halftime and Anthony Elanga thumping an effort against the crossbar in the second half.
Forest are in 16th place with 14 points, five ahead of third-from-bottom Luton Town. Wolves are 12th on 19 points.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Clare Fallon)
