Nottingham Forest secured their first win of the Premier League season after beating newly promoted Southampton at St. Mary’s stadium. A Morgan Gibbs-White goal in the second half gave the Reds all three points as they look to start the season of strongly.
Russell Martin named an unchanged side from their opening day defeat to Newcastle United. Former Forest academy graduate Ben Brereton Diaz making his home debut for the Saints alongside Adam Armstrong up front. Nuno Espírito Santo made two changes from the draw with AFC Bournemouth. Summer signings Elliot Anderson and Nikola Milenkovic were given their first starts as they replaced Danilo and Willy Boly. It was confirmed in the week that Danilo suffered a broken ankle in the draw against the Cherries.
It was Forest who came close first in the game. Ola Aina with a cross from the left side which found Chris Wood but his header was easily held by Alex McCarthy. Wood looking to build on his opening day strike against Bournemouth.
Forest came close again as Wood picked up the ball after a corner and put the ball across goal but new boy Milenkovic was just out of reach from scoring on his debut.
Southampton’s best chance of the half came when Kyle Walker-Pieters drifted centrally with the ball from the left and his shot from outside the box was saved by Matz Sels.
That was it for the first half with Forest being the better of the two sides. Nuno’s side would have been disappointed not to find the back of the net after having twelve shots, compared to the Saints’ two. Last season’s Championship play off winners struggled to make an impact on the game as they were still getting used to top flight football.
With 20 minutes to go, Forest took the lead. Callum Hudson-Odoi with a cross to the back post which found Gibbs-White and his headed effort fell back to him and he found the net from close range. The Forest favourite getting the Reds going on the road with his first of the season. It took the midfielder until November to score his first last campaign.
The Reds almost netted a second three minutes later. Anthony Elanga bursting down the right side and entering the box but was denied by McCarthy at his near post.
The chances kept coming for the away side. This time Hudson-Odoi with his trademark cut in from the left side and his shot was well saved again by McCarthy. Saints fans have their keeper to thank for as it could have been a different scoreline without him.
That was the final big action of the game as Forest claim their first three points of the season a superb performance from the East Midlands outfit, in which they had 23 shots on goal. A win and a draw to start the season with their next game being Newcastle under the City Ground lights in the Carabao Cup. Southampton struggling to re-adapt to Premier League life as it’s now back to back 1-0 losses for Martin’s side. The south coast side are also in Carabao Cup action next as they travel to Championship side Cardiff City.
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