With a thrilling 4-3 victory over Southampton, whose inevitable relegation to the Championship could be confirmed this weekend, Nottingham Forest moved one step closer to Premier League safety.
Thanks to a brace from Taiwo Awoniyi, a penalty from Morgan Gibbs-White, and a fantastic team goal from Danilo, Forest moved out of the bottom three and now have a realistic chance of avoiding relegation in their first season back in the top division in 23 years.
With three games remaining, they moved up to 16th place, three points above the relegation zone, by taking full benefit of Leeds and Leicester's losses.
The situation for Southampton is much worse. Despite goals from Carlos Alcaraz, Lyanco, and James Ward-Prowse to keep them in the game, their 10-year run in the top division could come to an end if they fail to defeat Fulham on Saturday. However, even if they do win, outcomes elsewhere might still send them down.
There were 21 goals scored on Monday, a Premier League record for a three-game matchday, capping off a huge Bank Holiday goals bonanza at the City Ground in a thrilling end-to-end contest.
The Forest supporters understood that this match will determine who survives, and as a result, there was a tense mood before the game.
After a tense beginning in the pouring rain, in which Southampton was the superior team, Awoniyi's two goals in three minutes raised the roof off the City Ground.
following a quick free-kick, Danilo's long pass set Brennan Johnson free on the right, and his first-time cross was just correct for Awoniyi to score from 10 yards out. The first goal came in the 18th minute following a spectacular attack at speed.
The Nigerian international quickly doubled his total, and he did so with some style as well. After Danilo's haphazard delivery into the area, he struck an instinctive volley on the spin.
When Gibbs-White's wayward ball allowed a swift break that saw Stuart Armstrong play in Alcaraz and the Argentinean convert from close range in the 25th minute, Southampton had already folded and were in danger of being blown away.
blogpay
However, even if they do win, outcomes elsewhere might still send them down.
Total Comments: 0