Nottingham Forest 4-3 Southampton: Taiwo Awonyi scores twice as Forest move out of relegation zone

Nottingham Forest vaulted out of the relegation zone with a 4-3 victory over Southampton, whose demotion from the Premier League is now all but a mathematical certainty.

A Taiwo Awonyi brace – both goals sharp finishes from close range – gave Forest a healthy lead as they capitalised on dreadful defending from the visitors.

Carlos Alcaraz pulled a goal back for Southampton when they broke effectively, but Morgan Gibbs-White scored from the penalty spot to ensure Forest had a two-goal lead at the break.

Lyanco pulled another goal back for the Saints from a corner, setting up a nervy second half, and James Ward-Prowse’s deliveries continued to cause problems for a Forest backline which was teetering.

However so was Southampton’s and Danilo calmed home nerves when he made it 4-2, finishing off a crisp move after being set up by an exquisite Gibbs-White flick. Danilo has now scored in three consecutive matches.

Ward-Prowse scored an injury-time penalty for Southampton that was just a consolation and came shortly after Felipe saw a fifth home goal ruled out for offside.

TALKING POINT – Forest take significant step towards safety

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Gibbs-White consistently got into areas where he could hurt Southampton, who never got to grips with his clever movement. The touch for Danilo’s goal was superb, while his penalty was not all that convincing but good enough – much like this Forest display.

No player has scored or assisted more goals for Forest this season than Gibbs-White.

PLAYER RATINGS

Nottingham Forest: Navas 7, Aurier 5, Felipe 7, Niakhate 6, Lodi 5, Mangala 5, Yates 5, Danilo 7, Gibbs-White 8, Johnson 7, Awonyi 8. Subs: Worrall 6, Kouyate 5, Surridge 5, Toffolo 5, Boly 5.

Southampton: McCarthy 5, Walker-Peters 5, Bednarek 5, Bella-Kotchap 4, Maitland-Niles 4, Lavia 5, Ward-Prowse 5, S. Armstrong 4, Walcott 4, Alcaraz 6, Adams 4. Subs: Lyanco 6, Sulemana 5, Onuachu 5, A. Armstrong 4, Edozie 5.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

FOREST TAKE THE LEAD 18′ – Forest break in a flash and lead against the run of play. Danilo releases Johnson with a long ball and Johnson in turn squares for Awonyi to guide home.

AWONYI DOUBLES FOREST LEAD 21′ – He’s at it again! Southampton lose the ball deep in their own half then cannot clear. An off-balance Danilo eventually flicks the ball Awonyi’s way and the big striker thumps in on the spin.

SAINTS PULL ONE BACK 25′ – Forest give Southampton a lifeline as they cough up the ball on halfway, leading to a three-on-one break. Adams shifts the ball to Armstrong and he unselfishly crosses to Alcaraz, who has time to take a touch then prod past Navas.

PENALTY TO FOREST 42′ – Johnson gets a toe on the ball as Maitland-Niles shapes to clear and the Southampton man duly kicks Johnson. An easy decision.

GIBBS-WHITE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY AND SCORES 44′ – Yates takes the ball but hands it to Gibbs-White. The run-up is slow, the shot is down the middle and the result is a goal – despite McCarthy getting a touch with his feet.

LYANCO GETS SAINTS BACK IN IT 51′ – An in-swinging Ward-Prowse corner is met by Lyanco and his close-range header is too powerful for Navas to stop.

DANILO RESTORES TWO-GOAL LEAD 73′ – Johnson’s low cross from the right is exquisitely flicked into Danilo’s path by Gibbs-White, and the Brazilian shoots into the roof of the net.

PENALTY TO SOUTHAMPTON90+4′ – Surridge kicks Lavia after the Belgian squares to a team-mate in the aftermath of a corner, giving Southampton a penalty.

THE CAPTAIN SCORES 90+6′ – After a long VAR check, Ward-Prowse goes down the middle, scores and Southampton have a slice of hope.

KEY STAT

Half of Awonyi’s six Premier League goals have come against Southampton – the only side Forest have beaten home and away this season.