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Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest continued their incredible Premier League season with a 3-2 win over Ivan Juric's struggling Southampton on Sunday.
The hosts made a strong start to the game, as Elliot Anderson fired the unlikely title challengers into an early lead after just 11 minutes, opening his account with a fantastic effort from outside the box.
Two more first-half goals followed from Callum Hudson-Odoi - who received a round of applause from the fans when he unfortunately went off injured after just 38 minutes - and Chris Wood, who has undoubtedly been the club's player of the season so far given his tally of 14 in the league.
The relegation contenders pulled one back after an hour thanks to a Lesley Ugochukwu strike that deflected off Jan Bednarek and beyond Matz Sels, and though the visitors had tried to make the game a fiery clash and put in a number of hard challenges on the Garibaldis' Morgan Gibbs-White for instance, they found it difficult to gain a real foothold in the match.
However, when substitute Paul Onuachu netted in stoppage time he set up a tense finish that had Nuno's side nervous for the first time, though a Saints comeback failed to fully materialise despite 12 minutes of time added on.
Juric's men ultimately caused their own problems with sloppy play and poor defending, and the hosts recorded yet another victory that will have league-leaders Liverpool looking over their shoulder.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
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Still within six points of title-favourites Liverpool, Nottingham Forest have caught everybody off-guard with their impressive consistency, and having won seven of their last eight games in the top flight, they will be dreaming of completing a Leicester City-style jump from relegation candidates to title winners in just one season.
The only match they failed to win in that period was a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, and given they have taken four points from a possible six against Arne Slot's side this season, fans will not be too concerned.
Against Southampton, Nuno's team were remarkably clinical once again, and scored their three first-half goals from just 0.28xg, a trait that has been defined by the staggering volume of goals produced by striker Wood, who followed up his strike against the Merseysiders with yet another fine finish.
As for Southampton, their defensive performance has been described as 'pathetic', and honestly, it must be difficult for fans and players alike to consistently see their side make the kinds of errors that directly lead to opposition goals like Hudson-Odoi's this weekend.
It is unfortunate, but relegation seems almost inevitable for the Saints given their record of three draws, one win and 18 losses this term, and their defensive frailty must be addressed by boss Juric if they are to take any credit from this season.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. SOUTHAMPTON HIGHLIGHTS
11th min: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Southampton (Elliot Anderson)
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Anderson opens his account at the City Ground with a fine strike from outside the box into the bottom-left corner.
The midfielder picked up the ball on the left-hand side of the pitch before driving towards goal and letting fly from at least 20 yards out!
28th min: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Southampton (Callum Hudson-Odoi)
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Anderson must have thought he had 'goal of the day' in the bag, but Hudson-Odoi clearly had other plans when he netted his side's second with another long-range effort.
The winger takes advantage of Southampton's sloppy play at the back, and fires into the bottom-left corner from just beyond the 'D'.
41st min: Nottingham Forest 3-0 Southampton (Chris Wood)
For the fourteenth time this season, Chris Wood finds the net for @NFFC ⚽️
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 19, 2025
This is now his joint-best goalscoring season in the Premier League!#NFOSOU pic.twitter.com/jYU42h98Rg
Wood proves once again how clinical he is, getting on the end of a great cross from Ola Aina and heading the ball past Aaron Ramsdale.
60th min: Nottingham Forest 3-1 Southampton (Jan Bednarek)
The defender gets one back for the struggling visitors, directing a strike from Ugochukwu into the back of the net.
90+1 min: Nottingham Forest 3-2 Southampton (Paul Onuachu)
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Southampton cross the ball from the left-hand side, and the target man striker gets his head onto a cross at the near post.
The saints are back in it in stoppage time, setting up a tense final few minutes at the City Ground!
MAN OF THE MATCH - CHRIS WOOD
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Talismanic striker Chris Wood continued his fine form by assisting Hudson-Odoi and picking up yet another goal as part of a strong display from the New Zealand international.
With 14 goals to his name in the league this term, it is becoming almost routine to expect Wood on the scoresheet these days, and it will be interesting to see just how far his contributions can take the Garibaldis by the end of the season.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. SOUTHAMPTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Nottingham Forest 44.6%-55.4% Southampton
Shots: Nottingham Forest 14-10 Southampton
Shots on target: Nottingham Forest 5-4 Southampton
Corners: Nottingham Forest 2-8 Southampton
Fouls: Nottingham Forest 4-18 Southampton
BEST STATS
FT: Nottingham Forest 3-2 Southampton
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 19, 2025
Forest are now unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games (W7, D1). 👏#NFOSOU pic.twitter.com/Yy3m9KDWcU
WHAT NEXT?
Nottingham Forest are now eight games unbeaten, but they will be tested over the next few weeks when they travel to face Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth on January 25 in the Premier League, before taking on Brighton at home at the start of February.
Southampton have struggled all season, but they will hope to take some inspiration from their spirited end to Sunday's game into their upcoming clash with Newcastle United on January 25.
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