Southampton vs Nottingham Forest Report

Scorer: Gibbs-White 70’

Nottingham Forest Edge Out Southampton to Extend Saints’ Winless Streak at Home

Nottingham Forest secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Southampton at St. Mary’s, with Morgan Gibbs-White’s late goal ensuring the visitors took all three points.

The result extends Southampton’s frustrating home record against Forest, having never beaten them in the top flight (D2, L5).

First Half: A Stalemate at St. Mary’s

Premier League football made its return to St. Mary’s, but the first half provided little to excite the home fans. Southampton struggled to impose themselves, with their insistence on playing out from the back nearly leading to their downfall. Nottingham Forest capitalised on the Saints’ overplaying, looking increasingly dangerous from set-pieces.

Nikola Milenković had the best chance of the half for Nottingham Forest, nearly marking his debut with a goal. However, the Serbian defender could only steer Chris Wood’s knockdown wide from close range, missing a golden opportunity to put the visitors ahead.

The first half ended with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances, leaving the scoreline unchanged.

Second Half: Southampton Fail to Capitalise

The second half saw a slight improvement from Southampton, who began with a renewed sense of urgency. However, despite their increased attacking intent, Matz Sels in the Forest goal remained largely untroubled as the Saints failed to convert possession into meaningful chances.

Forest, on the other hand, continued to look dangerous on the break. Anthony Elanga’s mazy run upfield was halted by a well-timed challenge from Jan Bednarek on the edge of the box, signalling Forest’s intent to push for a late winner.

Gibbs-White Strikes Late to Seal the Win

As the match entered the final 20 minutes, Forest capitalised on Southampton’s inability to clear their lines from a corner. The ball was recycled back into the box, where Morgan Gibbs-White reacted quickest to a rebound after his initial header was cleared off the line by Yukinari Sugawara. Gibbs-White made no mistake with his second attempt, slotting the ball home to give Forest a deserved lead.

Southampton’s Late Rally Falls Short

Southampton mounted a late surge in the final five minutes, with the introduction of quick-footed youngster Tyler Dibling adding some much-needed energy to their attack. However, despite the late pressure, Sels remained untested in the Forest goal, securing his first clean sheet of the campaign.

The final whistle brought frustration for Russel Martin’s men, who are still searching for their first points of the season. The defeat leaves Southampton languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table, while Forest’s victory gives them a valuable boost as they continue their solid start to the season.

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Southampton v Nottm Forest, 2024/25 | Premier League