Nottingham Forest vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to trade tackles in an exciting League Cup quarter-final tie at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest head into proceedings on the back of an underwhelming 4-1 defeat to Championship relegation strugglers Blackpool in the FA Cup last weekend, just days after winning their first Premier League game of the season at Southampton (1-0). Back at the City Ground, where they’ve not lost any of their last six competitive outings (W3, D3), the ‘Trick Trees’ are looking to avenge a narrow 1-0 league defeat earlier this season. However, they’ve lost five of their last six competitive encounters against Wolves (W1), including an embarrassing 4-0 loss in this competition in August 2021. If they defy such a disappointing H2H form, Forest could make history this midweek and reach the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1991/92.

In the meantime, Wolverhampton’s renaissance under new manager Julen Lopetegui continued last weekend as they secured a replay match in a mouth-watering FA Cup tie against Liverpool, courtesy of a 2-2 draw at Anfield. Wolves have blown hot and cold across their five competitive fixtures under Lopetegui’s stewardship (W2, D2, L1), but they’ve at least improved their attacking game. As one of the worst-performing attacks in the Premier League, the West Midlands underachievers must be pleased with themselves after averaging 1.4 goals per match under Lopetegui. Worryingly, though, they’ve made it out of only three of their last 20 League Cup ties against fellow Premier League rivals, including a narrow 1-0 triumph over Leeds United earlier this season.