Podence grabs point for Wolves to deny Nottingham Forest as tempers boil over

It is difficult to know who the winners were after this latest combustible battle between these Midlands rivals but it sure was not football.

Nottingham Forest remain two points above the relegation zone, after Brennan Johnson had given them the lead, but Wolves stay ahead of them after Daniel Podence, who later appeared to spit at Johnson, equalised seven minutes from time.

The FA will inevitably be called for their verdict after a touchline altercation involving most of both sets of coaches led to red cards to Alan Tate and Pablo Sanz, the assistant managers. The on-pitch scrap that also threatened to break out after Adama Traoré was not awarded a penalty was almost incidental. But since both clubs were charged with failing to keep their players under control after Forest won the Carabao Cup quarter-final here in January, leading to fines for both, there is bound to be further fall-out.

Whether this draw keeps Steve Cooper in his job, before Tuesday’s next relegation scrap, with Leeds United, remains to be seen. Seven games without a win is not great but the players are clearly fighting for Cooper every step of the way.

Cooper may have come into this game under pressure for his job but the applause from all sides of the ground that greeted his arrival before the game reflected the esteem in which he is held by the Forest faithful.

It seemed remarkable that a manager who had lifted this club from the foot of the Championship into the Premier League, and then orchestrated a six-month unbeaten home run, should be hearing that his tenure was in threat.

Cooper will have been delighted with his team’s first-half output. The better side at the start, when Johnson’s left-footer required José Sá to tip over, they overcame