Wood bags double as Forest see off Leicester to continue strong start to season

Chris Wood’s second-half brace secured a convincing victory for Nottingham Forest at Leicester City which lifts them up to fifth in the Premier League.

Leicester dominated possession in the East Midlands derby, but the visitors went in front through skipper Ryan Yates’ 20-yard effort, though this was cancelled out by a typical poacher’s finish from Jamie Vardy following good work from Harry Winks.

After an even first half, albeit one in which Mads Hermansen made an incredible save from Nicolas Dominguez to preserve parity, the Foxes had no answer to Forest’s wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga in the second half.

A fantastic turn and shot from Wood put Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in front two minutes into the second half and then he took advantage of a calamitous error from Wout Faes to head home his second and Forest’s third.

Leicester remain 14th in the table and could slip further after the weekend’s Premier League action, while Forest can dream of a year chasing European football.

Talking Point – Forest formula feels formidable

Despite being unusually open at times in the first half, Forest still boast the second-best defensive record in the division. Nikola Milenkovic has provided a rock-solid centre defensive partnership with Murillo and no midfielders work harder than the three in front of the Forest defence.

In attack, Wood’s record of seven goals in his first nine games, from Forest’s overall tally of 11, will be as pleasing as it has been unexpected, but they showed enough in this match to suggest they are capable of sourcing goals from other areas as well. With the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse ready to come into the side, there is a depth of quality that suggests they may be capable of challenging for the top half.

Player of the Match – Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottm Forest)

Wood will get the plaudits for his two goals and deservedly so, but it was Hudson-Odoi whose dangerous running caused constant problems for the home side. He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, denied by a fine save in the first half and seeing a good effort saved by Hermansen in the second.

Five years since he received his three England caps, at almost 24, he is beginning to look like the exciting player who first came through at Chelsea.

Player Ratings

Leicester: Hermansen 7; Ricardo 6, Okoli 6, Faes 4, Justin 6; Winks 7, Ndidi 7; Fatawu 6, Buonanotte 6, Mavididi 6; Vardy 6.

Subs: Ayew 6, El Khannous 6, Soumare 6.

Nottingham Forest: Sels 6; Aina 7, Murillo 7, Milenkovic 6, Moreno 6; Anderson 6, Yates 7, Dominguez 6; Elanga 7, Wood 8, Hudson-Odoi 9*.

Subs: Williams 6, Morato 6, Sosa 6, Silva 6, Awoniyi 6.

Match Highlights

16′ GOAL! LEICESTER 0-1 NOTTM FOREST (YATES) Helped by a couple of errors in the Foxes box, Buonanotte is dispossessed and the Justin makes a hash of a clearance and the Forest skipper makes no mistake finding the inner side-netting from 20 yards out.

23′ GOAL! LEICESTER (VARDY) 1-1 NOTTM FOREST Fantastic play from Winks who was involved in the build-up on numerous occasion, then got to the by-line and drove a cross between goalkeeper and defence. Vardy did what he has done many times and poked a toe out to guide it home.

25′ WHAT A SAVE! The ball fell to Dominguez no more than three yards from goal but Hermansen jumped to spread himself and blocked the effort, sending it wide of the post.

37’ANOTHER FINE SAVE! Hudson-Odoi was allowed to run and run inside and then unleashed a rocket from 25 yards but Hermansen flew to his left to parry away.

47′ GOAL! LEICESTER 1-2 NOTTM FOREST (WOOD) A mix up between Winks and Fatawu sees Dominguez win the ball and it eventually finds its way to Wood with his back to goal. He turns Ndidi before curling a low effort just inside the post.

56′ HUDSON-ODOI HITS THE POST! Leicester are just allowing him to run freely and he gets to the edge of the box before curling a low drive which had Hermansen beaten but came back off the post. Anderson then put the rebound wide.

60′ GOAL! LEICESTER 1-3 NOTTM FOREST (WOOD) The long ball game can work! A long boot from the Forest keeper caused panic for the Leicester centre backs, Faes got his head to the ball but not strong enough to go back to Hermansen and the big Forest number 11 nodded the ball over the Foxes keeper and into the net.

69′ WHAT A MISS! Murillo puts the Forest corner back into the six-yard box where Yates on the half-volley somehow spoons the ball over the bar.

Key Stat

241 – Leicester had 471 completed passes, 241 more than Nottingham Forest’s 230.