Nottingham Forest Survive Southampton Scare to Win 3-2

Nottingham Forest moved level on points with second-placed Arsenal after surviving a dramatic comeback by bottom-placed Southampton, securing a 3-2 victory at the City Ground. Forest appeared to be cruising with a 3-0 lead by the 41st minute but a late rally from Southampton nearly turned the game on its head. Elliot Anderson opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a low strike for his first Forest goal.

Callum Hudson-Odoi doubled the lead in the 28th minute after capitalizing on Jan Bednarek’s error and Chris Wood added a third with a header before halftime. Forest’s clinical start, scoring three times from their first three shots on target, proved decisive. However, Southampton fought back in the second half. Bednarek inadvertently scored a fortunate goal after a deflection in the 60th minute.

Paul Onuachu’s powerful header in stoppage time narrowed the gap further, setting up a tense finale. Forest’s Ola Aina then made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Bednarek an equalizer. Southampton’s defensive errors once again proved costly with Bednarek’s mistake marking their 17th goal conceded from errors this season.

Despite their spirited second-half performance and resilience under Ivan Juric, they remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just six points and a 10-point gap to safety. Meanwhile, Forest extended their unbeaten run to eight league games, cementing their third-place position on goal difference and boosting their hopes of European qualification. They remain seven points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth and six points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Southampton’s fightback offered glimpses of hope but their inability to sustain performances and eliminate mistakes continues to hurt their survival chances. In contrast, Nottingham Forest showcased their early-season dominance and defensive solidity, ensuring they kept their momentum heading into the new year.