0 Southampton vs 1 Nottingham Forest
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| Bet | Southampton |
| Stake | 0.75 unit |
| Odds | 2.52 |
| Bookmaker | nordicbet |
Southampton in search of first Premier League point since return.
As Southampton F.C. hosts Nottingham Forest at St. Mary's Stadium this Saturday at 15:00 [GMT+1], the Saints aim to secure their first win since returning to the Premier League against a resilient Forest side looking to continue their good form against newly promoted teams.
Southampton
Southampton’s return to the top flight was marked by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in last weekend’s league opener. Despite a promising start, including a disallowed goal, the Saints found themselves trailing 10-man Newcastle after the Magpies pounced on Alex McCarthy’s misplaced pass, leading to Joelinton’s goal just before halftime.
It was more of the same in the second half, as Russell Martin’s side failed to capitalise on their chances, despite amassing 19 attempts. This was their most in a Premier League game without scoring since May 2022. With the loss, Southampton sits sixteenth on the table, going into this weekend’s matchday two encounter, where they welcome Nottingham Forest to St. Mary's.
Southampton are winless in all six Premier League home games against Saturday’s opponents. Additionally, the Saints have won just two of their last 22 top-flight games on home soil. Despite these worrying figures, the hosts will aim for maximum points as they look to secure their first win since returning to the EPL.
‘I hope the fans bring the same excitement as we got,’ Russell Martin said. ‘Give us everything you’ve got; we’ll give you everything we’ve got,’ he added. A 3-5-2 formation will most likely be seen against Newcastle, with Ben Brereton Díaz and Adam Armstrong in attack.
Meanwhile, Adam Lallana is sidelined until early September due to a muscle injury, as is Gavin Bazunu, who is also out until late October due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Nottingham Forest
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest, who survived relegation by the whiskers, began their 2024–2025 campaign with an incident-marred 1-1 draw against Bournemouth last weekend.
After a prolonged wait while Danilo received medical treatment, Chris Wood put the Tricky Trees ahead in the 23rd minute, pouncing on a rebound from an effort by substitute Ryan Yates, who had just come on for the injured Danilo. However, as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side looked on for the win, Antoine Semenyo restored parity with four minutes left on the clock.
"We don't know exactly [the extent of Danilo's injury], but we know it's serious," Espirito said after the game. The draw leaves Nottingham Forest in 11th place, tied on points with 10th-placed Leicester, going into this weekend’s encounter with Southampton.
Having won their last two Premier League games against newly promoted teams, Forest will fancy their chances to take all three points against a Southampton side that is just making a return to the top flight. A 4-2-3-1 formation is expected against Southampton, with Chris Wood in attack.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.