Analysis: Fast attacks behind Wood's career-best form

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 10.

Player analysis - Chris Wood (Nott'm Forest)

Sometimes a manager and player combination just clicks - and that certainly applies at Nottingham Forest, where Wood just loves playing under Nuno Espirito Santo.

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The New Zealander got off to a flyer working with the Portuguese head coach, notching four goals in his first two matches for him, including a stellar hat-trick at Newcastle United in December 2023.

Continuing in a similar vein, the only Premier League player to score more non-penalty goals than Wood's 17 since Nuno’s first match in charge at the City Ground on 23 December 2023, is Erling Haaland, with 18.

Scoring 18 times overall in 25 appearances under Nuno, a remarkable return, the 32-year-old is in the best form of his career.

For context, in his previous 25 top-flight outings, Wood had found the back of the net on just four occasions.

His Premier League career numbers (see below) highlight how clinical this experienced centre-forward has been under Nuno.

Wood's goalscoring record per manager 

*Including blocks

Playing to Wood's strengths

Wood has always thrived in teams that get men behind the ball before attacking at speed.

This is very much Forest’s forte, from a 4-2-3-1 base.

His impressive spell in the Championship at Leeds United between 2015 and 2017 was under Steve Evans and Garry Monk, two head coaches who set their teams up in a similar manner.

At Burnley he also shone brightly for Sean Dyche, a manager known for his direct style of play, albeit from a 4-4-2 shape.

The aerially strong Wood likes to play in sides that contain wingers, and he is also excellent at putting defenders under pressure with deceptively powerful runs.

That drive was evident when he ran on to Nikola Milenkovic’s knockdown to score on the volley at Chelsea - and when he raced on to goalkeeper Matz Sels' long clearance to net last time out in a 3-1 win at Leicester City (see below).

Precision shooting

Of all the players to have registered at least 15 unblocked shots so far in 2024/25, it is Wood who leads the way for accuracy.

Hitting the target with 81.25 per cent of his efforts (13 of 16) Wood has been tremendously efficient with his final product.

A total of 22 Premier League players have attempted more shots than Wood's 19, yet as it stands, he only trails Haaland and Bryan Mbeumo in the race for the Golden Boot.

West Ham United, who have faced 142 shots so far, the fourth highest in the competition, will need to ensure they limit service aimed in Wood’s direction at the City Ground.

Wood, who has moved level with Stan Collymore on 22 Premier League goals for Forest, is now just two behind Dutchman Bryan Roy (24), the club’s top scorer in the competition.

According to Opta’s Expected Goals (xG) metric, Wood should have fewer strikes to his name this season, outscoring his xG by an impressive 3.27.

Brentford’s Mbeumo and Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap are the only individuals who can better that.

Biggest Expected Goals overperformance

Wood's brilliant shot on the swivel against Leicester (see below) was a real standout effort, as was his long-range hit on the volley at home to Crystal Palace.

Wood's first goal v Leicester 

This shot placement map below from the campaign to this point indicates the lethal nature of his play.

Just one of his shots that was heading towards the corner has been saved by a Premier League goalkeeper after nine rounds of matches.

Too reliant on Wood?

Nuno will be thrilled at Wood's form, but when he assesses his side's overall goals tally, he may also be a touch concerned.

Only four other Forest players have registered top-flight goals, with none of them finding the back of the net more than once.

Wood’s understudy Taiwo Awoniyi has not scored since February, meaning there is a major dependence on the former to deliver for the team.

Highest share of team's goals 24/25

*Min. five goals

No Premier League team is currently more reliant on a single goalscorer than Forest.

Standing at 6ft 3in, Wood is an obvious threat in the air, but just two of his seven goals have come from headers. This outlines how well-rounded his finishing is.

West Ham would be well advised to keep close tabs on the red-hot Wood this weekend.

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