Wood brace fires Forest as Leicester boss Cooper loses reunion

Ryan Yates put Forest ahead in the East Midlands derby at the King Power Stadium before Jamie Vardy levelled for Leicester. The in-form Wood restored Forest's lead and netted again with his seventh goal in nine matches this season.

Forest's second successive victory lifted them into fifth place in the Premier League. They have lost just once in nine league games this term, proving their decision to sack Cooper and hire Nuno Espirito Santo was a shrewd move.

Cooper was facing Forest for the first time since his dismissal in December. The 44-year-old spent two years in charge of Forest, guiding them from the bottom of the Championship back to the Premier League after a 23-year absence before being axed with the club just above the relegation zone.

Nuno saved Forest from the drop, while Cooper was hired by promoted Leicester in the close season to replace Enzo Maresca after the Italian's move to Chelsea.

Forest's first win at Leicester since 2013 was sweet viewing for Nuno, who had to watch from the press box as he served the second game of a suspension. Leicester, in 14th place, were denied a third consecutive win following victories against Bournemouth and Southampton.

Forest ignited a dramatic first half in the 16th minute, seizing the lead thanks to a Leicester meltdown. Facundo Buonanotte dwelt on the ball too long instead of clearing the danger and Wood's deflected shot drew a woeful attempted clearance from James Justin.

Yates pounced on the loose ball and curled his low strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

 

October 25, 2024

Vardy keeps scoring

Leicester's response was emphatic as Vardy dragged them back on level terms. Forest went into the game boasting the second-best defensive record in the league, but they were breached for only the seventh time this term in the 23rd minute.

Harry Winks whipped a teasing cross into the Forest's six-yard box and Vardy got between two defenders to prod home from close range in typically predatory fashion.

Aged 37 years and 288 days, Vardy is the fourth oldest player to score in successive Premier League appearances, after Teddy Sheringham, Ryan Giggs and Graham Alexander.

Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen made a superb save to repel Nicolas Dominguez's close-range volley when the Forest midfielder looked certain to score. Hermansen made another fine stop to keep out Callum Hudson-Odoi's blast from the edge of the area.

But the Dane was beaten again in the 47th minute when Wood deftly controlled Elliot Anderson's pass and swivelled to fire a fine finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Leicester appealed in vain for a penalty after Vardy threw himself to the ground following a brief tug from Nikola Milenkovic.

That proved a crucial moment as Wood punished woeful defending to net again on the hour. A long punt from Forest keeper Matz Sels should have been dealt with by Leicester's Wout Faes but the Belgian allowed the ball to bounce past him and Wood looped a close-range header over Hermansen.

 

October 25, 2024