Southampton 0 Nottingham Forest 1: Morgan Gibbs-White comes to Nuno Espirito Santo’s rescue on South Coast

SOUTHAMPTON’S first home game since their return to the Premier League ended in a meek 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Morgan Gibbs-White‘s goal 20 minutes from time was enough to hand the visitors three points in a forgettable meeting at St Mary’s.

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Morgan Gibbs-White netted the vital goal for Nottingham Forest[/caption]

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The midfielder’s goal was the difference against Southampton[/caption]

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Nikola Milenkovic missed an open goal in the first half[/caption]

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Anthony Elanga came close to a second for Forest[/caption]

The Forest captain crashed the ball home after the hosts’ defence had failed to deal with a corner to hand Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side a first win of the season and leave the Saints without a point after their first two games.

The result reflected an insipid attacking display from Russell Martin‘s side, who registered a single shot on target and whose general lack of urgency turned a buoyant atmosphere before kick-off on the south coast into one of audible frustration amongst home fans, some of whom booed their team off at the end.

The closest either side came to scoring during a drab opening 25 minutes was when Nikola Milenkovic fluffed his lines in front of an open goal.

Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare rifled a 30-yard strike that required fingertips from McCarthy to help it over the bar.

Forest were by now comfortably on top and they spurned a golden chance to go in front after 33 minutes.

Chris Wood found space as the ball was lofted to the back post and fizzed a cross low across the six-yard box to where Milenkovic was arriving.

McCarthy was stranded, but the defender’s composure deserted him as he knocked the ball wide with the goal gaping.

Saints fans threw up ironic cheers when a single minute of stoppage time was announced at the end of the half.

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Their team emerged in a less passive guise after the interval, penning Forest into their own half and holding onto the ball when it was won, but still another 20 minutes passed without either side creating a chance worthy of the name.

Finally, a breakthrough arrived and the goal to win it for Forest was appropriately scrappy.

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Russell Martin’s side were booed at full-time[/caption]

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The result maintains Forest’s unbeaten start to the season[/caption]

Saints failed to clear from a corner, giving Callum Hudson-Odoi room to cross on the edge of the box.

His ball landed with Gibbs-White at the back post, and after his initial header was cleared away from in front of the goal line.

It broke back to Gibbs-White, who produced the game’s only moment of precision with his second attempt to crack the ball in for 1-0.

Thereafter, Forest looked likelier to add a second than Southampton did to recover.

McCarthy reinforced his status as Saints’ best player on the day by producing a fine stop to his left to deny Hudson-Odoi as Forest held on with relative comfort.