Match Pack: Saints vs Forest
A huge midweek clash at St Mary’s awaits as Southampton host Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. This and more in today’s Match Pack, in association with eToro …
Saints vs Nottingham Forest
Premier League
St Mary’s Stadium
Wednesday 4th January, 7.30pm GMT
Referee: Thomas Bramall.
Assistants: Marc Perry, Bhupinder Singh Gill.
Fourth official: John Brooks.
VAR: Lee Mason.
Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.
A game with plenty at stake, just two points separate Saints and Forest at the bottom of the table as the two sides go head-to-head at St Mary’s.
Nathan Jones’s men came close to getting points on the board when they visited Craven Cottage on New Year’s Eve, but James Ward-Prowse’s equaliser was cancelled out by João Palhinha 88th minute goal.
A different tale for the visitors, who picked up an impressive point against Chelsea on New Year’s Day. Steve Cooper’s side had to come from behind to secure a draw, with Serge Aurier’s volley proving vital at the City Ground.
Alex McCarthy, Theo Walcott, Juan Larios and Tino Livramento remain out for the hosts, while the return of Roméo Lavia provides a huge boost for Nathan Jones’s men.
Forest’s ever-growing injury list extends with the addition of Jesse Lingard, who joins Omar Richards, Moussa Niakhate, Cheikhou Kouyate and Giulian Biancone on the sidelines.
“We have to make sure that we’re the best version of ourselves to give the fans something to get behind, and they do really need to get behind us because we haven’t won enough games."
“There’s lots we need to improve on. First thing is the league position. Away games are something we’ve got to get better at, along with a lot of other things.”
Having found the back of the net against Fulham with a sublime free-kick, the captain will look to build when Forest visit St Mary’s in midweek.
Following a few weeks on the sidelines after picking up an injury during the mid-season break, the 22-year-old’s impact on return was undeniable in Forest’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on New Year’s Day.
Ché Adams 8
James Ward-Prowse 4
Perraud, Aribo 2
Perraud, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi 2
Awoniyi, Johnson 4
Surridge, Lingard, Gibbs-White 2
Surridge, Lingard, Gibbs-White, Dennis, Cafú 2
Yates, Boly, Williams 1
Played: 116
Saints: 39
Draws: 27
Forest: 50
January 2012: Forest 0-3 Saints (do Prado, Connolly, Schneiderlin)
September 2011: Saints 3-2 Forest (Lambert 3)
May 2009: Forest 3-1 Saints (Wright-Phillips)
December 2008: Saints 0-2 Forest
December 1998: 1-1 (Kachloul)
Can't make the game? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all of the action from St Mary’s Stadium, as well as a host of behind-the-scenes access.
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