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If you listened carefully over the cacophony of boos and jeers at St Mary’s, one could hear a delirious and rapturous away end toasting to their first Premier League away win since May 1999.
They’ve had little to cheer about on the road since that glorious day in May at Wembley but the south-coast sea breeze carried and amplified their jubilation as Taiwo Awoniyi’s first-half strike secured a first away win of the season and lifted Steve Cooper’s side out of the relegation zone.
It came at the expense of Southampton, rock bottom and yet to pick up a point under Nathan Jones. ‘Sacked in the morning,’ sang the away end at Jones. He will be given time but tonight’s disjointed performance made Saints’ Premier League status look in terminal danger after an 11-year stint in the top flight.
Southampton look leaky at the back and it is hard to see where the goals will come from - two of the starting front three are yet to score in the league this season. As for Forest, this continues a stellar start to 2023 after a point against Chelsea on New Year’s Day.
Their star man was Brennan Johnson, who was not born when Forest last won away in the top flight at Blackburn in 1999 - goals from Dougie Freedman and Chris Bart-Williams. The 21-year-old caused Saints a headache all match, assisted Awoniyi’s goal and was unlucky not to score himself.
