Nottingham Forest held on for a huge win as they beat Southampton 3-2 at the City Ground on Sunday.
WATCH – Full match replay
Elliott Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood had Forest 3-0 up at half time as they were ruthless.
But Saints came flying back in the second half as Jan Bednarek pulled a goal back, then Paul Onuachu scored a header in stoppage time to make it 3-2. Saints almost made it 3-3 but Ola Aina made an incredible goal-line clearance deep into 12 minutes of stoppage time.
With the win Forest move on to 44 points and go level with Arsenal, Southampton remain bottom of the table on six points.
Clinical Forest do just enough, but injuries a concern
Nottingham Forest scored three goals from three shots on target in the first half, as their only three attacks of the half all ended in goals. Forest have been ruthless all season long and this game summed up why they can hang in there at the top of the table. There will be plenty of tight games like this ahead but when teams give Forest a sniff at goal they take it. Saints made two defensive mistakes and Anderson and Hudson-Odoi smashed home from distance. But the only issue for Forest is the drop-off when they do pick up a few injuries. Hudson-Odoi went off injured in the first half and Murillo went off in the second. If both are out for some time, that’s a big problem for Nuno Espirito Santo as they were very lucky not to throw this away as Aina’s goal-line clearance deep into stoppage time stopped it from being 3-3. Forest’s starting 11 and a few players off the bench can keep this run going but if Forest have to start digging a bit deeper into their squad, that is how this fairytale run could come to an end. Even if it does, a top six finish is still very achievable.
Nottingham Forest vs Southampton player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Nottingham Forest head to Bournemouth on Saturday, January 25. Southampton host Newcastle on the same day.
Nottingham Forest vs Southampton score: 3-2
Anderson 11', Hudson-Odoi 29', Wood 41'; Bednarek 60', Onuachu 91'
Nottingham Forest vs Southampton live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Aina clears it off the line
Bednarek’s header is going in but somehow Ola Aina clears it off the line. What a clearance.
OLA AINA TO THE RESCUE.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 19, 2025
The defender denies Southampton a stoppage time equalizer with a sensational goal line clearance! pic.twitter.com/nWs7jCdeC8
Onuachu heads home! — Nottingham Forest 3-2 Southampton
Surely not!? A corner is whipped in and Onuachu heads home at the near post. He has his first goal as a Southampton player. Over 10 minutes of the 12 minutes of stoppage time left.
Onuachu denied by Selz
Walker-Peters whips in a cross from a short free kick and Onuachu’s header is pushed away by Selz. Saints pushing for a second.
Selz denies Ugochukwu from close range
After some good play from Aribo, a corner is whipped in and Selz saves it as Ugochukwu tries to have an effort on goal.
Wood somehow misses from close range
A cross is knocked down and Wood is there but he knees the ball over from close range. Forest should have scored a fourth.
No goal after a Ramsdale howler, VAR check
A free kick flies in and Milenkovic’s header is spilled into his own net by Ramsdale. A comical error. But VAR asks referee Anthony Taylor to have a check and he believes Wood was offside and stood in front of Ramsdale before the error. Ramsdale gets away with one there.
Ugochukwu’s deflected shot flies in off Bednarek! — Nottingham Forest 3-1 Southampton
A free kick is cleared and Ugochukwu’s shot towards goal is flicked on by Bednarek and it flies in to the top corner. That is a brilliant finish if he meant it! After a VAR check, he was just onside. 30 minutes to go and perhaps Saints have a lifeline?
Triple sub for Saints
Armstrong and Archer are off with Onuachu and Sulemana on. Manning is on at left back with Sugawara off and Walker-Peters going to right back. Sulemana was excellent at Man United on Thursday.
Ramadale and Bednarek scramble it clear
A chance for Forest as Wood is involved after a cross and Elanga’s effort is saved by Ramsdale, then Bednarek clears off the line. Ugochukwu came on at half time for Downes, who was really struggling.
Walker-Peters fires wide
Just before half time Saints finally have another shot. Walker-Peters does well to create some space and fires wide of the near post.
Wood heads home — Nottingham Forest 3-0 Southampton
Saints once again so poor defensively. Aina whips in a cross and Wood heads home superbly, but Aribo just left him unmarked. Forest have had three shots on goal and scored with all three of them.
Hudson-Odoi with a lovely finish! — Nottingham Forest 2-0 Southampton
Poor mistake from Saints as Bree plays it to Bednarek who doesn’t want it and loses it. Hudson-Odoi picks it up and finishes so well as he curls home. So easy for Forest.
Saints go close twice
Sugawara’s cross is cleared by Murillo with Archer ready to finish, then Murillo clears a corner after it was flicked on. Then Fernandes gets on the end of a cross but his low shot is blocked. Saints have responded well to going behind.
Anderson smashes home — Nottingham Forest 1-0 Southampton
That is so simple from Forest. A throw in is flicked around the corner, Anderson charges towards goal and his low shot beats Ramsdale.
Nottingham Forest lineup
Selz; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Dominiguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale; Bree, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis; Sugawara, Downes, Aribo, Walker-Peters; Fernandes; Archer, Armstrong
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
OUT: Ibrahim Sangare (thigh)
Southampton team news, focus
OUT: Ross Stewart (lower leg), Jack Stephens (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: Tyler Dibling (ankle)
Nottingham Forest vs Southampton prediction
Forest won 1-0 at St. Mary’s in Week 2, and will be heavily favored to scoop up another three points at home. Yet consider this — Forest’s 31.02 xG is 15th on the table, just 5.5 clear of 17th-place Southampton. The difference is in the defensive numbers, where Saints have given up a league-worst (by far) 57.39 xGA. Stingy Forest will feel good about both their chances to stop Saints and to score multiple goals. They probably will. Forest 2-0 Southampton.
Nottingham Forest vs Southampton preview
Forest are unbeaten in seven PL matches and coming off a 1-1 draw with leaders Liverpool. Espirito Santo’s men sit third on the table, four points clear of fifth-place Chelsea and six points off the top. Six points are all Southampton have to their names after 21 games of this Premier League season, as first Russell Martin and now Ivan Juric struggle to get any juice out of a moribund attack which has produced just 13 goals in league play. Newly-hired Juric watched as Saints drew 0-0 at Fulham on Dec. 22, but his four matches in the Premier League so far are yet to produce a win and have only delivered two goals.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Southampton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday
Venue: City Ground — Nottingham
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
