Teenage striker Adam Proudlock gave Dave Jones a winning start to his career
as Wolves manager at the City Ground.
Proudlock struck four minutes from time with his third goal in as many games
as Wolves shaded the FA Cup third round all-Midlands clash.
Before Proudlock struck, Jones discovered that there was nothing wrong with
the spirit in the Wolves side that he has inherited.
They battled with Division One rivals Forest all the way and looked to be
hheading for a replay until Proudlock unlocked the home defence.
The youngster chased a long, hopeful ball up-field, tricked his way past
defender Christian Edwards and rifled a low shot past veteran keeper Dave
Beasant before any other Forest defender could get near him.
Four minutes earlier Proudlock, who scored in Wolves' last two games against
Stockport and Burnley, was given an even better chance of breaking the deadlock.
He latched onto a through-ball from Andy Sinton following a mistake by Forest
youngster Gareth Williams and ran 30 yards before having his shot blocked by
Beasant.
The game only came to life in the second half with both sides having
opportunities following an often scrappy opening 45 minutes.
Five minutes after the break, Proudlock 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 Sinton but Forest 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.
And on the hour Forest had their best chance of the game after teenage
defender Gareth Edds had been fouled at the end of a long, surging run towards
Wolves' penalty area.
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.
Oakes also had to fling himself into making a spectacular save to deny another
Forest substitute, David Freeman, and it looked increasingly as though the
visitors would happily settle for a replay.
Teams:
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Edds, Edwards, Bart-Williams, Brennan,
Williams, Jenas, Jones, Gray (Freeman 63), Harewood (John 45),
Reid.
Subs Not Used: Roche, Calderwood, Cooper.
Booked: Brennan.
Wolverhampton: Oakes, Muscat, Naylor, Robinson, Dinning,
Lescott, Osborn (Emblen 75), Andrews, Proudlock,
Branch (Green 90), Sinton.
Subs Not Used: Kerr, Ketsbaia, Camara.
Goals: Proudlock 87.
Att: 14,601
Ref: D Pugh (Bebington).