Ivan Juric urged Southampton to point out the identical depth that they did in opposition to Manchester United after they journey to Nottingham Forest within the Premier League on Sunday.
Southampton regarded like they’d choose up a shocking 1-0 victory at Outdated Trafford on Thursday however as an alternative conceded a 12-minute Amad Diallo hat-trick late on to undergo a seventeenth league defeat of the marketing campaign.
It means they continue to be backside of the desk, 10 factors from security, after an 11-match winless run, whereas they’ve misplaced their final 4 Premier League video games in a row.
Juric, who continues to be looking for a primary league win in cost, needs his crew to maintain up the efficiency stage whereas enhancing the ultimate product.
“We don’t have a whole lot of stress. We’ve got six factors and are final on the desk. It’s a part of the group. We’ve got to be extra aggressive in essential moments of the sport,” Juric stated after the United recreation.
“The fellows are working properly. However we have to work a bit extra onerous to keep up the depth. I need to see the identical spirit within the subsequent recreation.
“[Now] I’m offended. However we’ve got to begin serious about Nottingham Forest. The gamers must be aware that they will compete and play properly. Our concept is to enhance each recreation.”
In the meantime, Forest are nonetheless flying excessive on the high of the desk, sitting in third after their 1-1 draw with leaders Liverpool on Tuesday.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s aspect had been on a seven-match successful run in all competitions earlier than that outcome, however they now haven’t misplaced since early December.
Having confronted the crew on the high final trip, it’s a a lot completely different prospect forward of Forest on Sunday, however Nuno continues to be anticipating a take a look at.
“I believe they competed very properly [against United],” Nuno stated. “We watched the sport, we analysed.
“That exhibits credit score to them within the place they’re with the ability to compete… We count on a really robust recreation on Sunday.
“We don’t understand how the sport [will turn out]. So, we’ve got to organize. Analyse Southampton, they’ve good gamers.”
Sights on Southampton. pic.twitter.com/TM8Qw6eQde
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 17, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wooden
Chris Wooden has been concerned in 4 objectives in his final 5 Premier League video games in opposition to Southampton (three objectives, one help). Nevertheless, all of those have come at St Mary’s Stadium.
For the reason that begin of final season, Anthony Elanga (eight assists) and Wooden (one) have mixed for 9 Premier League objectives – it’s the most any pair of Forest gamers have finished so within the competitors’s historical past.
Southampton – Kamaldeen Sulemana
Kamaldeen Sulemana brought about havoc for Manchester United of their loss on Thursday and was Southampton’s finest participant on the sphere, and can depend himself unfortunate to not have scored in that recreation.
He had 4 photographs, greater than any of his team-mates, although just one was on track as he created probabilities price 0.4 anticipated objectives (xG). He additionally had 5 touches within the opposition field, one other team-high.
MATCH PREDICTION: NOTTINGHAM FOREST WIN
Forest have misplaced simply one among their final 12 Premier League conferences with Southampton (W8 D3), taking place 3-1 at house in April 1997.
Forest have misplaced simply two of their 11 Premier League video games in opposition to sides beginning the day backside of the desk (W8 D1), successful every of the final three in a row. Simply one among these defeats got here on the Metropolis Floor, although that was the aforementioned loss to Southampton.
The Saints, in the meantime, have misplaced their final three Premier League video games in opposition to Forest – they final misplaced 4 consecutive league video games in opposition to them between 1934 and 1935 within the second tier.
Southampton are winless of their final 23 Premier League video games in opposition to sides beginning the day within the high 4 of the desk (D8 L15), since a 1-0 win in opposition to Liverpool in January 2021. They’ve misplaced all 4 such video games this season by an combination rating of 12-4.
For the reason that begin of December, no crew has earned extra Premier League factors than Forest (19 – W6 D1 L1), regardless of the Difficult Timber dropping their first match firstly of this run.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Nottingham Forest – 63.9%
Draw – 19.8%
Southampton – 16.2%