Wolves take the spoils from Forest

Adam Proudlock scored the only goal at the City Ground

Nottm Forest 0-1 Wolves

A fine individual goal from Adam Proudlock three minutes from time was enough to give Wolverhampton Wanderers a third round FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest.

The 1-0 victory at the City Ground ensured that new boss Dave Jones got his managerial career off to the perfect start with Wolves.

The teenage striker chased a long, hopeful ball up-field, before tricking his way past Forest defender Christian Edwards and shooting low past veteran keeper Dave Beasant.

I was just glad to be back in the game and everyone made me very welcome

  Wolves boss Dave Jones

The goal capped a spirited display by the visitors, and gave the new manager some indication of why the side have won four of their last five matches.

The match was far from a classic, and the lack of atmosphere in the stands appeared to have an adverse effect on the players, and the opening 45 minutes produced little in the way of excitement.

Proudlock almost broke the deadlock five minutes after the break when he took a pass from Michael Branch and struck the base of the post with the ball rebounding into the grateful arms of Beasant.

The Forest keeper also saved from Andy Sinton, but the hosts were not without chances themselves.

Full-back Jim Brennan saw a shot fumbled by Wolves keeper Michael Oakes with half-time substitute Stern John just failing to capitalise from close range.

Then Forest had their best chance of the game after an hour, when teenage defender Gareth Edds had been fouled at the end of a long, surging run towards Wolves' penalty area.

The league is our priority but it would have been nice to have been in the hat for the fourth round

  David Platt, Forest boss

Forest skipper Chris Bart-Williams curled his free-kick beyond the defensive wall and beat Oakes, but Kevin Muscat popped up on the line to head clear.

Keeper Oakes then produced a spectacular save to deny another Forest substitute, David Freeman, and it looked increasingly as though Wolves would happily settle for a replay.

Then after 83 minutes Proudlock was given a great chance to win the match when he latched onto a through-ball from Andy Sinton following a mistake by Forest youngster Gareth Williams.

The young striker ran 30 yards before having his shot blocked by veteran Forest keeper Beasant.

Four minutes later, Proudlock made no mistake in more difficult circumstances, to give manager Jones a welcome return to football.

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Nottingham Forest: Beasant, Edds, Edwards, Bart-Williams, Brennan, Williams, Jenas, Jones, Gray, Harewood, Reid. Subs: Roche, Calderwood, John, Cooper, Freeman.

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Muscat, Naylor, Robinson, Dinning, Lescott, Osborn, Andrews, Proudlock, Branch, Sinton. Subs: Kerr, Green, Emblen, Ketsbaia, Camara.

Referee: D Pugh (Bebington)