A breakaway goal by Adam Proudlock three minutes from the end of this all-Midlands affair earned Wolves a fourth-round trip to Wycombe or Grimsby and gave their new manager, Dave Jones, a winning start.

In truth it was an insipid affair. Forest had the glut of chances but, inexperienced and injury-ravaged, their lack of presence in attack emphasised why David Platt is keen to recruit a forward.

After a tepid opening half, Proudlock (19) became the pivotal figure, including turning a snap shot beyond Dave Beasant only for the ball to ricochet off the post and into the goalkeeper's arms.

The winning goal came when Tony Dinning hoofed the ball out of his own defence and Proudlock was off and running. He showed the composure to manoeuvre the ball on to his right foot before picking out the bottom right-hand corner with a precise drive from 20 yards.

Chris Bart-Williams, Forest's leading scorer despite forging an impressive new role as a ball-playing centre-half, saw a free-kick headed off the goal-line by Kevin Muscat, and David Freeman had a curling left-foot effort tipped over.

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.

Referee: D Pugh (Bebington).