With a 4-3 victory over Southampton, Nottingham Forest increased its lead over Southampton in the Premier League standings by three points. Forest's fight for top-flight survival was launched by Taiwo Awonyi's early double, which helped Forest to a significant home victory. With only three games remaining in the season, the outcome pushes Southampton closer to the relegation zone as they are currently eight points from safety.
With a 4-3
victory over Southampton, whose relegation from the Premier League is now all
but a mathematical certainty, Nottingham Forest jumped out of the relegation
zone.
A brace from
Taiwo Awonyi, both of which were crisp close-range finishes, gave Forest a
sizable lead as they took advantage of the visitors' terrible defending.
When
Southampton made a good break, Carlos Alcaraz grabbed a goal back for them, but
Morgan Gibbs-White's goal from the penalty spot gave Forest a two-goal
advantage at the break.
A tense
second half was brought on by Lyanco's second goal for the Saints from a
corner, and James Ward-Prowse's deliveries kept the shaky Forest backline on
its toes.
Danilo, who
had been set up by a beautiful Gibbs-White flick, finished off a sharp move to
make it 4-2, calming home crowd tension. Currently, Danilo has scored in three
straight games.
After Felipe
had a fifth home goal disallowed for offside, Ward-Prowse converted a late
penalty for Southampton, but it was only a consolation.
The victory,
which is Forest's second in as many games, moves them up to 16th place with 33
points, three points ahead of Fulham-losing Leicester City in 18th. With only
three games remaining, Southampton, who are in last place, has 24 points and is
eight points away from safety.
TALKING POINT - FOREST TAKE SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS SAFETY:
Given the
opponents, Forest had to win this game if they wanted to compete in the Premier
League the next year. They provided.
Although
Forest are currently out of the relegation zone, they are by no means out of
the woods just yet. If this is to serve as a springboard for survival,
improvement will probably be required over the next three games, and it must be
kept in mind that Saints are the poorest team in the division.
Two of
Forest's remaining three games are away from home, despite the fact that they
have only once won away from home this season. Arsenal, who is vying for the
championship, is the other. For Steve Cooper and team, there is still plenty to
do, but for tonight, the work is finished.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE (NOTTINGHAM FOREST):
Gibbs-White
frequently manoeuvred into dangerous situations, and Southampton was unable to
anticipate his deft movement. While Danilo's goal had an excellent touch, his
penalty attempt was not as strong but still acceptable, much like this Forest performance.
No player
has helped Forest score or assist more goals this year than Gibbs-White.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Nottingham Forest: Navas 7, Aurier 5, Felipe 7, Niakhate 6, Lodi
5, Mangala 5, Yates 5, Danilo 7, Gibbs-White 8, Johnson 7, Awonyi 8. Subs: Worrall 6, Kouyate 5, Surridge 5, Toffolo 5,
Boly 5.
Southampton: McCarthy 5, Walker-Peters 5, Bednarek 5,
Bella-Kotchap 4, Maitland-Niles 4, Lavia 5, Ward-Prowse 5, S. Armstrong 4,
Walcott 4, Alcaraz 6, Adams 4. Subs: Lyanco 6,
Sulemana 5, Onuachu 5, A. Armstrong 4, Edozie
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
FOREST TAKE
THE LEAD 18' - Quick forest break and lead against the flow
of play. With a long ball, Danilo unleashes Johnson, who then squares for
Awonyi to score.
AWONYI DOUBLES
FOREST LEAD 21' - He's at it once more! Deep inside their own
half, Southampton loses the ball and is unable to recover it. an unbalanced
Eventually, Danilo flicks the ball in Awonyi's direction, and the powerful
striker scores on the turn.
SAINTS PULL
ONE BACK 25' - When Southampton mishandles the ball at midway
and a three-on-one break results, Forest gives Southampton a chance to recover.
Armstrong receives the ball from Adams, and he gives it a selfless cross that
Alcaraz has time to receive before prodding beyond Navas.
PENALTY TO
FOREST 42' - As Maitland-Niles prepares to
clear, Johnson gets a toe on the ball, and the Southampton player promptly
kicks Johnson. A simple choice.
GIBBS-WHITE
TAKES RESPONSIBILITY AND SCORES 44' - Yates tries to keep the ball, but
instead gives it to Gibbs-White. Despite McCarthy touching the ball with his
feet, the shot is down the middle and the consequence is a goal.
LYANCO GETS
SAINTS BACK IN IT 51' - Lyanco meets a corner from an in-swinging Ward-Prowse,
and his close-range header is too strong for Navas to stop.
DANILO
RESTORES TWO-GOAL LEAD 73' - Danilo fires into the roof of the net
after Gibbs-White expertly flicks Johnson's low right-side cross into his path.
PENALTY TO
SOUTHAMPTON90+4' - After Lavia squares to a teammate
following a corner, Surridge kicks Lavia, awarding Southampton a penalty.
THE CAPTAIN
SCORES 90+6' - Southampton has some hope thanks to Ward-Prowse's
goal after a protracted VAR review.
KEY STAT:
The only
team Forest has defeated both at home and away this season, Southampton, has
been the target of half of Awonyi's six Premier League goals.
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