Nottingham Forest’s extraordinary form continued as they beat the Premier League’s basement dwellers Southampton. Despite victory, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side did not have everything their own way as they survived a late comeback attempt from the Saints to ensure they won the game 3-2.
Forest took the lead 11 minutes in when summer signing Elliot Anderson scored his first Premier League goal at the 77th time of asking, and it was a lovely one, too, as the former Newcastle United man picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and drove towards the Southampton goal, before finally firing low from 20 yards.
On the 30-minute mark, Southampton were once again the architects of their own downfall as the South East side were caught playing it round the back by the tenured Chris Wood, who managed to squeeze the ball to Callum Hudson-Odoi, who let off a well-placed shot from distance to beat the diving Aaron Ramsdale.
Then, just before halftime, Ola Aina delivered a picture-perfect cross to find Wood, who headed home into the bottom left corner. It looked as though it was going to be plain sailing for the Tricky Trees, but the second period would be anything but.
Ivan Jurić’s team pulled one back on the hour mark as Lesley Ugochukwu’s shot took a wicked deflection off towering centre back Jan Bednarek. After pressing and probing for 30 minutes, Southampton had another one back, this time a leaping header from Paul Onuachu, but they were unable to find an equaliser, and Forest took all three points.
So Nuno’s side continue to fly high and rock the applecart of the Premier League’s elite, but did we learn from the Jekyll and Hyde-esque performance?
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Elliot Anderson gets the goal he deserves
Every time Nottingham Forest play, it feels like another player is at the front of the queue to receive the plaudits. This week is no different, and it is the turn of Elliot Anderson.
Since arriving at the City Ground in the summer, the Geordie boy has impressed with his ultra-impressive work rate and his footballing IQ. However, despite winning the fans over and his quality being evident for all to see, the midfielder was yet to score a Premier League goal.
Well, this game against Southampton saw the England under-21 international grab that elusive first goal, and it was a spectacular strike to boot, as he rifled it home from distance.
But the praise for the 22-year-old goes well beyond his goal, as he delivered yet another elite performance to help ensure his side picked up all three points. When Forest have the ball, Anderson is the metronome of the side, ensuring his team keep the ball and playing clever passes to the more offensively-minded players.
Defensively, he was always there to stop Southampton from building a head of steam as they marched towards Forest’s goal.
If Anderson can keep this up for the next months, then there is no reason that England boss Thomas Tuchel should not include in his maiden squad in March.
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A celebration of Chris Wood
Suggesting that 33-year-old Chris Wood is one of the best strikers in the league and throughout Europe is no longer controversial.
In a world where strikers are asked to fulfil so many different roles and do so many different things on and off the ball, Chris Wood is a unicorn.
He does not fill the quota of a modern striker, yet he continues to dominate, and today was the manifestation of that.
The Kiwi forward only had 30 touches of the ball but managed to affect the game more than any other player on the pitch by both scoring and assisting. His off-the-ball movement creates space for Forest’s wingers to run into and exploit, and there is no striker better at getting the most out of a single touch of the ball, as he often either sets up an attacking move or finishes it.
His goal against the lowly Saints was his 14th in the Premier League this campaign, and the former Burnley man shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
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Set-piece problems or just an anomaly?
While it is probably just an irregularity rather than anything systemically wrong with the set-piece coaching at Forest, it is worth noting that the last three goals the two-time European Cup winner have conceded have all been from dead-ball situations.
First, there was the goal against Liverpool in mid-week, when they conspired to let the diminutive forward Diogo Jota head home from a corner. That has now been followed up by a goal from a free kick on the halfway line and yet another corner.
While Jan Bednarek’s goal was something of a fluke, as it cannoned off the Polish centre back and past a helpless Matz Sels, but the second was far more alarming. The big Nigerian striker, Paul Onuachu, was able to shake off his marker, Morato, and was granted a free header from close range.
It was an incredibly poor goal to concede and one that will frustrate Nuno Espírito Santo. Forest have looked exceptionally difficult to score against in open play this season, so if there is a chink in their armour in the form of set plays, there is a good chance teams will attempt to exploit it.
But it could just be a case of bad luck and one or two players losing concentration for a split second rather than a genuine issue to be concerned about, time will tell.
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Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten run could last for a while yet
It has been over six weeks since Nottingham Forestlast lost a game of football, and you would be hard-pressed to think that streak will come to an end anytime soon.
In previous seasons, Forest would have collapsed under the pressure when Southampton began to mount their comeback, but Nuno’s side stood firm and rose to challenge to make certain they garnered another three points.
It is not just the football this team is playing that makes them look borderline unbeatable, but the clear togetherness within the squad and the reigniting of the connection between the side and Forest fans seem to give the Tricky Trees that extra 10% when they need it most.
Where once every game Forest played seemed like an uphill struggle, and it felt as though they could be beaten by just about anyone in the league, it now feels as though no task is too big, and they can win every match they play.
It is an excellent and in-from Bournemouth team next, but Forest will be up for the challenge Andoni Iraola’s men present and will come with their own gameplan as they continue their quest for Champions League football.
