Nottingham Forest held off a spirited effort from backside place Southampton to win a relegation traditional 4-3 on the City Ground and enhance their Premier League survival hopes.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s brace fired Forest into an early 2-0 lead earlier than Carlos Alcaraz completed well to convey the guests again into the sport.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Lyanco struck on the finish of the primary half and the beginning of the second respectively, however the factors appeared wrapped up when the superior Danilo arrived to complete off a flowing transfer.
Felipe had a objective chalked off by VAR and a penalty from James Ward-Prowse within the 96th minute gave the Saints hope of a desperately late equaliser, however Forest held out to maneuver as much as sixteenth. The loss leaves Southampton eight factors from security after Everton received at Brighton.
Southampton went shut within the opening ten minutes as Theo Walcott broke by the center. The ball broke to Che Adams however his shot from contained in the field was deflected huge by the backtracking Felipe.
It would the hosts, nevertheless, who would take the lead.
Forest countered rapidly as Brennan Johnson drove in the direction of the world from Danilo’s raking go earlier than discovering Awoniyi. The Nigerian netted his first of the night time, operating onto the low cross to curve past Alex McCarthy.
Awoniyi’s second had the hosts two targets up earlier than the halfway level of the primary half. The 25-year-old held off Armel Bella-Kotchap to swivel and hearth in his sixth league objective of the season.
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The Saints pulled themselves again into the sport by some carelessness from Steve Cooper’s aspect. Forest gave the ball away and the guests pounced as Stuart Armstrong discovered Alcaraz, who took a contact and picked out the underside nook.
They practically equalised earlier than the break as Kyle Walker-Peters bought to the byline and located Walcott, who could not produce an efficient end.
Instead, Forest reestablished their two-goal lead from the penalty spot. Johnson was introduced down by Ainsley Maitland-Niles and referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot, permitting Gibbs-White to ship McCarthy the incorrect means and make it 3-1.
It was a day of giant scoring within the Premier League after Craven Cottage and the AMEX witnessed eight and 6 targets respectively, and the second half continued at a breathless tempo as Southampton dragged themselves into competition once more.
Ward-Prowse’s fierce nook discovered Lyanco, who linked nicely from shut vary to bundle it previous Keylor Navas to present Saints hope.
Navas was wanted quickly after to cease Ruben Selles’ aspect drawing stage, with Lyanco once more on the tip of a Ward-Prowse set piece. The former Real Madrid stopper reacted nicely this time, nevertheless.
Gibbs-White introduced a diving save from McCarthy earlier than Forest once more went two forward. Johnson was once more concerned, driving into the field, earlier than Gibbs-White flicked into the trail of Danilo to complete powerfully.
A penalty from Ward-Prowse deep into stoppage time minimize the deficit again to 4-3 and over 100 minutes have been on the clock by the point the sport lastly ended.
GK: Keylor Navas (6); RB: Serge Aurier (7), CB: Felipe (7), CB: Moussa Niakhate (7), LB: Renan Lodi (6); CM: Ryan Yates (6), CM: Orel Mangala (7), CM: Danilo (9); RF: Brennan Johnson (8), LF: Morgan Gibbs-White (9); ST: Taiwo Awoniyi (9)
Substitutes
Joe Worrall (6), Cheikhou Kouyate (6), Sam Surridge (N/A), Harry Toffolo (N/A), Willy Boly (N/A)
GK: Alex McCarthy (4); RB: Kyle Walker-Peters (6), CB: Jan Bednarek (6), CB: Armel Bella-Kotchap (6), LB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (6); DM: Romeo Lavia (7); RM: Theo Walcott (7), CM: James Ward-Prowse (8), CM: Carlos Alcaraz (7), LM: Stuart Armstrong (7); ST: Che Adams (6)
Substitutes
Lyanco (8), Kamaldeen Sulemana (7), Adam Armstrong (6), Paul Onuachu (6), Samuel Edozie (6)
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