Wolves overcame an inspired performance from United States goalkeeper Ethan Horvath to advance to the third round of the Carabao Cup with a 4-0 win at Nottingham Forest.
Horvath helped Forest frustrate Wolves for almost an hour, but two goals in two minutes from Romain Saiss and Daniel Podence and a late strikes from substitute Francisco Trincao and Morgan Gibbs-White saw the Premier League side secure victory.
The outstanding Horvath made a string of saves before and after Bruno Lage’s side broke the home side’s resolve in the 58th minute.
Horvath had to produce two big early saves to deny former Olympiacos player Podence, firstly a driven shot and, a few minutes later, a cheeky back heel – and the Forest keeper went on to have a remarkable game.
Forest had named a very young side, with one eye on a trip to face arch rivals Derby on Saturday, with £6million striker Lewis Grabban the only player in their starting XI who had cost anything more than a nominal fee.
Wolves picked a side with some significant experience – and some big price tags.
But it was Podence who continued to threaten, as he came close again, this time with a shot that bounced back off the inside of the post.
The closest Forest had come to a goal was when Grabban had a shot blocked.
But Forest did almost break the deadlock early in the second half when Ateef Konate picked out his fellow academy graduate Oliver Hammond, but he sent his header agonisingly wide.
Forest’s resolve was finally broken in the 58th minute, when Ki-Jana Hoever delivered the perfect cross for Saiss to force home at the far post.
That seemed to shake Forest and lift Wolves, who had a second within two minutes, this time as Fabio Silva picked out Podence, who calmly slotted the ball home. Horvath made another great stop to deny Max Kilman a third for Wolves.
Silva turned provider again to set up sub Trincao in the 86th minute, before Gibbs-White made it 4-0 two minutes later, after being set up by Leander Dendoncker.
