What Morgan Gibbs-White did as Callum Hudson-Odoi injury could force transfer rethink
When Morgan Gibbs-White thumped the top of the dugout as added time dragged on for an age at the City Ground, plenty of Nottingham Forest fans would have been right there with him.
This was a big win but also a bit of a wake-up call for the Reds. Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo admitted as much afterwards.
Forest’s 3-2 triumph over Southampton was much more difficult than it needed to be. The hosts were cruising after an impressive first half but by the end fingernails were being bitten and hair was being pulled out during 12 agonising, manic minutes at the death.
Nevertheless, amongst it all, it shouldn’t be forgotten that this result made it eight Premier League games unbeaten for Nuno’s men. It took them level on points with second-placed Arsenal, with both sides just six behind pace-setters Liverpool. The run the Reds are on is incredible.
Afterwards, Nuno stressed that the manner in which this clash panned out should serve as a “warning” and a reminder “that this league is very tough”. That is why the job his team have done to date is so, so impressive. It is a ruthless, uncompromising division and yet Forest are riding high in it. Below, we look at some of the big talking points from Sunday’s victory.
Reds’ resilience
Previous iterations of the Reds would have cracked and crumbled amid a barrage of pressure when the scoreline read 3-2 in the closing minutes. But this group has resolve and resilience in abundance.
They also have Ola Aina in their ranks, and the full-back was the saviour on this occasion with a phenomenal clearance off the line in the dying minutes. Without the Nigerian’s intervention, it would have been 3-3 and two points squandered.
Even Southampton boss Ivan Juric, who Aina worked with at Torino, was full of praise afterwards. "He's like a son for me because we had a really good relationship at Torino,” Juric said. “We worked hard there and he's a great guy.
"Today he saved a certain goal and he played a really good game. He is an incredible player, ideal for the Premier League because he is fast with lots of energy.”
Aina had performed similar heroics against Liverpool on Tuesday evening, too. All the more reason to get him tied down to an improved contract ASAP. An automatic year’s extension is set to be triggered on his current deal, which is due to expire in the summer, but talks have taken place regarding a further extension.
He is a vital member of Nuno’s team and with every passing week it becomes more remarkable that Forest snapped him up on a free transfer. It epitomises some of the excellent transfer business overseen in recent windows. See also Elliot Anderson, who underlined his huge potential with his first Premier League goal - taken in some style, too. The midfielder can be something special.
The good, the bad and the ugly
For most of the game, Forest were very good. The first half saw three excellent goals and Matz Sels barely had anything to do. At that point any kind of Saints comeback appeared pie in the sky.
But a fortuitous Jan Bednarek goal coupled with a Nikola Milenkovic header being chalked off, paved the way for a tense finale. When Paul Onuachu pulled another one back in the first of those 12 additional minutes, nerves were beginning to fray among the home crowd.
Nuno had no complaints about Milenkovic’s goal being ruled out, although plenty of Reds supporters would disagree. Referee Anthony Taylor had already felt their wrath for some bizarre decisions - including awarding a foul against Morgan Gibbs-White when a Southampton player fell over his own feet - and they let him know what they thought of that one.
It seemed to unsettle Forest somewhat. By the end, they were hanging on. Game management and defending set-pieces have been two of their strengths this term, but Nuno singled out both as areas to look at after this one. The Portuguese’s substitutions also didn’t have the desired effect on this occasion as the hosts lost control of the match in the closing stages.
Deadline looming
Today marks a fortnight to go until the January transfer window closes. Other than re-signing goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, who might still be left out of the 25-man squad, the club have yet to complete any winter business.
They do not need to do too much, but perhaps the outcome of an assessment on Callum Hudson-Odoi’s injury might impact their thinking. The winger posted on social media that he hoped it wasn’t anything serious after he had been forced off in the 38th minute, and Forest will certainly have everything crossed that proves to be the case.
Hudson-Odoi and an in-form Anthony Elanga are crucial to the way the Reds play. Both have upped their levels, meanwhile summer signings Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa continue to get to grips with English football.
Nuno’s first XI pretty much picks itself at the moment. The question Forest might be asking internally is whether they have enough in all areas to cover as and when required. Sitting where they are certainly puts a different slant on things than if the Reds were in mid-table.
Adding a striker is a must. Chris Wood’s 14th of the campaign made it his joint-best goalscoring season in the Premier League, but he needs back-up. Taiwo Awoniyi can still have a part to play, as Nuno insisted prior to Sunday, but he looks some way off rediscovering his best form at present.
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Riding high
An old video clip of Alan Pardew has been doing the rounds on social media recently. You know the one.
“They are in a false position at the moment. That squad is definitely not good enough to be in the top 10 after 38 games,” the former Newcastle United boss said back in October.
Here we are in mid-January and Forest are making Pardew (and others) look rather silly. They are joint-second in the division, are there on merit and showing no signs of going anywhere. Eight league games unbeaten, and seven have been wins with the other a draw against the table-toppers - that is some run.
Sunday saw the Reds score first for the 18th time in the league this term. According to Opta, only Manchester City, with 19 in 2011/12 and 2018/19, have bettered that stat in their opening 22 matches of a campaign.
Going into the game, no Premier League side had earned more points since the start of December than the 19 Forest had accumulated. And now they have added another three to their tally.
"The manager said it's always hard when you've got something to lose. We needed those three points because there are teams creeping up behind us,” Anderson told the BBC afterwards.
Don’t underestimate how much the energy-sapping exertions of Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool had taken out of Nuno’s side. That they survived Southampton’s late onslaught says much about their character and why they can maintain their challenge at the top end of the table.