B Team Preview: Saints vs Nottingham Forest
Southampton’s B team host Nottingham Forest on Friday evening in Premier League 2 action at Snows Stadium.
Saints vs Nottingham Forest
Premier League 2
Snows Stadium
Friday 3rd March, 7pm
Saints will be looking for a quick return to winning ways after suffering their first league defeat in seven matches last week, in a top of the table clash against Leeds United.
A fast start from their opponents saw Dave Horseman's side fall two goals behind in the first 20 minutes and, despite a fine strike from James Bree and plenty of late pressure, a comeback never materialised with the game ending in defeat.
The result saw Saints lose their position at the top of the table as they dropped to second place, two points behind Leeds United.
Nottingham Forest have quietly built up an impressive run of form in the league that has seen them fly up the table into third place, just one point behind Saints and three behind Leeds United.
Their unbeaten form stretches back to October in all competitions, with Forest not suffering defeat for 11 matches.
In a fierce third vs fourth match up in their last outing, Warren Joyce’s side played out a 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion.
Tickets can be purchased online and are priced as follows:
- Adults - £5
- Over-65s - £3
- Under-11s - £1
The two sides met on the opening day of the season at Meadow Lane, as Saints kicked off their campaign with a 3-1 win away from home.
The goals all game in the space of six minutes at the start of the second half with Dom Ballard bagging a brace either side of an Alex Mighten goal, before Jack Turner extended the lead further to secure the win.
With a hectic week that has seen Dom Ballard make a first team cameo in the FA Cup on Wednesday, and the Under-18s travel to Preston in the FA Youth Cup on Thursday, Horseman highlighted the difficult planning he's had ahead of Friday's match:
"[The cup schedule] is going to cause us a big issue unfortunately so that's going to be a tricky one, however we've got a really strong style and somebody is going to get an opportunity.
"Whether it has to be some Under-16s, I don't really care as I'm really proud of the lads and think we're doing some brilliant stuff as a club all the way through the academy and this will help us produce some top players."
