NOTTINGHAM FOREST DEAFEAT SOUTHAMPTON TO MOVE ABOVE THE RELEGATION ZONE

Southampton welcomed Nottingham Forest to Saint Mary’s stadium, and this was the first meeting between the two in any competition since January 14th, 2012. The last time the two sides met, Southampton won three goals to nil. Coming into the match both sides were in the relegation zone and were desperate to get the three points.

Nottingham Forest lined up with a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi leading the attack for Nottingham Forest. Dean Henderson started in goal and former Tottenham Hotspur player Serge Aurier started at right back. Southampton used a 3-1-4-2 formation, with club captain James Ward-Prowse and Walker-Peters starting in midfield, Che Adams started in attack, Ghanaian international Mohammed Salisu started in defence, with Nigerian international Joe Aribo among the substitutes.

History was made in the game as Bhupinder Singh Gill became the first Sikh-Punjabi official in the Premier league.

The first chance of the game came in the sixth minute, Che Adams should have put Southampton ahead but hit the ball wide, Johnson could have put Nottingham Forest ahead six minutes later, but his efforts hit the crossbar. Awoniyi gave Forest the lead in the 27th minute; Johnson played a nice pass to Awoniyi, and Awoniyi put the ball into the empty net. Bella-Kotchap was replaced due to injury in the 34th minute by Ćaleta-Car, Southampton tried to get level before half time but couldn’t.

Southampton saw more of the ball second half but couldn’t create chances. They registered no shots on target, even though they had eight shots throughout the game. Awoniyi’s twenty seventh minute goal proved to be the difference, the result took Forest above the relegation zone; it drops Southampton to bottom of the log, they’re three points behind safety.