Nottingham Forest survived a late scare to move level on points with Arsenal in second with a 3-2 win at the City Ground against Premier League strugglers Southampton.
Only goal difference separates the two teams following another crucial win for Forest, who hung on after conceding a second in injury time, unlike the Gunners who squandered a two-goal lead to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Two stunning first-half finishes from Elliot Anderson and Callum Hudson-Odoi, before Chris Wood helped himself to his 14th goal of the season, looked to have put Forest in the driving seat until a frantic final 30 minutes.
Team news:
- Nuno Espirito Santo made just one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Liverpool, as Ryan Yates was replaced by Nicolas Dominguez in midfield.
- Tyler Dibling was missing from the match-day squad after limping off the pitch during the 3-1 defeat to Manchester United on Thursday.
Jan Bednarek guided Lesley Ugochukwu’s shot over the head of Matz Sels in the 60th minute and the deficit was then reduced to just one goal after Paul Onuachu climbed off the bench to net a second in injury time.
Following a lengthy VAR delay to confirm Bednarek’s goal and rule out Nikola Milenkovic’s fourth for Forest, 12 minutes were added on – 720 seconds that felt like a lifetime for the home crowd.
However, propped up by the resilient defence and a goal-line clearance from Ola Aina, Forest’s lead remained intact.
Player ratings: Anderson shines as Forest hold on
Nottingham Forest Sels (6), Murillo (7), Williams (7), Anderson (9), Gibbs-White (9), Wood (9), Hudson-Odoi (8), Dominguez (7), Elanga (8), Milenkovic (8); Aina (8).
Subs: Jota (6), Morato (n/a), Sosa (n/a), Awoniyi (n/a), Yates (n/a).
Southampton Ramsdale (4), Sugawara (5), Bree (4), Bednarek (6), Harwood-Bellis (5), Walker-Peters (6), Downes (5), Fernandes (5), Aribo (5), Archer (5); Armstrong (5).
Subs: Ugochukwu (6), Sulemana (5), Onuachu (7), Manning (5).
Player of the Match: Elliot Anderson.
Their dreams of Champions League Football are now solidified with the win, while Southampton’s chances of survival are cut thinner as they remain 10 points adrift of safety.
Nuno: Southampton was a warning
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo:
“We have been talking about how competitive this league is. You can never think the game is over. Credit to Southampton, the way they created so many problems.
“We started really well and it all became easier. The second half beginning was good but it was really strange. A lot of stoppages and VAR decisions. It didn’t really flow.
“We did not manage the situation so well. Delighted to win the game. It was a warning. There are so many things we should improve. We know our weaknesses and strengths.”
Juric: When we are like this, we are competitive
Southampton boss Ivan Juric:
-“We did not play with intensity or energy. The first goal was really bad. Really disappointed after the big game against [Manchester] United that we played the first half at that level.
“Second half we had more energy and scored two goals. It was the team I want to watch.
“For the first time against United, I thought it was my team. The last 40 minutes today, I saw what I wanted to see. When we were like this we are competitive.”
Forest show both sides vs Saints
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
How quickly football games can change.
To scoring three goals from an expected goals value of just 0.28 xG, to holding on by the narrowest of margins in added time.
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson celebrates scoring the opening goal
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side showed both sides of their game today – and that is exactly why they now sit level on points with Arsenal in second.
Their attacking play speaks for itself, as displayed by the emphatic finishing in the first half, but they secured all three points thanks to their stoic defensive performance in the latter stages of the game.
With pressure mounting and Southampton looking dangerous with every attack, the squad banded together and dragged themselves over the line.
Forest are the real deal and they owe a lot of that to their commitment on the defensive end.
Southampton need to play for 90-minutes
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
Like they did against United, Southampton showed enough promise and threat in injury-time to walk away with a result today.
Southampton’s Paul Onuachu celebrates scoring his side’s second goal of the game
If they had played with the same intent throughout the entire 90 minutes, they would not be walking away empty-handed – as Juric correctly pointed out.
However, like relegation rivals Leicester, the Saints are failing to piece positive performances throughout the entire game, and ultimately it could end up being their downfall.
Juric will learn more about his squad as time goes on but one thing is clear – they looked more threatening with the target man Paul Onuachu, who scored his first Premier League goal today, leading the line.
“He has this quality,” Juric said. “He is a fighter and very good with the head. He will be very good for us and very happy for him.”
Story of the match in stats…
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