Nottingham Forest climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone and left Southampton rooted to the bottom of the table with a deserved 1-0 win at St Mary’s stadium.
For another Nigerian Victor Osimhen, he was unable to score as Napoli succumbed to Inter Milan defeat after dominating play in the entire duration.
After an impressive home draw with Chelsea on New Year’s Day, 18th-placed Forest travelled to the south coast in search of their first away win this season and took the lead when Brennan Johnson, who had earlier rattled the crossbar from close range, pounced on a Lyanco error and raced clear before setting up Taiwo Awoniyi for a simple tap-in (27). His Nigerian compatriot Emmanuel Dennis was placed on bench.
Southampton, who have now lost six consecutive league games, wasted an opportunity to take the lead in the first half when Che Adams fired wide but failed to register a shot on target and were again booed off by their own fans at the end of each half.
Southampton remain 20th after collecting just 12 points from 17 matches, while Forest rise to 15th having lost only two of their past eight.
Disgruntled Southampton supporters chanted ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ at full-time as manager Nathan Jones’ losing run since taking the job extends to four Premier League games.
“Whatever the fans think, we’re in this situation. That isn’t entirely my doing,” he said.
“We’ve only won one game here in however many. I’ve only had two home games here and I’ve won one (against Lincoln in the Carabao Cup). I know the frustration, but it’s not entirely my making.
“The players are low on confidence and the fans can get behind them, whatever they think. They want to see a result and a performance and we’re trying to give them that.
“There’s no lack of effort, maybe a little know-how and a little naivety, but when you’re low on confidence things don’t quite happen. But things will change and they have to get behind the team for that.”
Nottingham Forest arrived on the south coast with the Premier League’s worst away record, ready to take on the team with the poorest home form.
In a high-stakes encounter notable for Bhupinder Singh Gill becoming the first Sikh-Punjabi assistant referee to officiate in the Premier League, an elaborate light show illuminated the stadium ahead of kick-off and the energy initially transferred onto the pitch as both sides squandered glorious early chances.
Southampton’s top scorer Adams was culpable first, skewing wastefully wide with time and space after being sent clean through by Kyle Walker-Peters following a poor clearance from Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
The woeful miss was a major let-off for the visitors and they almost compounded Saints’ frustration with their first attack.
After Awoniyi delivered a low cross from the left, Ryan Yates’ mishit shot fell kindly to the unmarked Johnson but his rising effort struck the frame of the goal.
There was to be no second reprieve for Southampton as the slack defending which has been a hallmark of a dismal campaign once again led to their undoing. Saints defender Lyanco dithered and then sloppily conceded possession on halfway, allowing the jet-heeled Johnson to burst clear and square to Awoniyi, who tapped in to score his fifth goal of the campaign.
The breakthrough was only Forest’s second goal on the road in the league this season and broke a six-game drought dating back to a 1-1 draw at Everton in August.
Sky Sports
