Southampton vs Nottingham Forest prediction and stats: The Premier League returns to St. Mary’s
Southampton welcome Nottingham Forest to St Mary’s for their first Premier League home game in over a year.
How to watch Southampton vs Nottingham Forest live
Southampton vs Nottingham Forest is scheduled for 3pm (UK time) on Saturday 24th August but will not be broadcast live in the UK.
Three predictions for Southampton vs Nottingham Forest
Southampton 1-2 Nottingham Forest (11/1 with Bet365)
It may be an unhappy return to the Premier League for Southampton. Saints haven’t won their opening home game of a top-flight campaign in 20 years. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest did the double over them in the Premier League in 2022/23.
Chris Wood to score anytime (23/10 with Paddy Power)
Chris Wood finished as Forest’s top goalscorer in the Premier League in 2023/24 with 14 goals, scoring twice in his side’s previous away game in the competition. The New Zealand international also opened the scoring in Forest’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth to open this campaign.
Nottingham Forest to win & BTTS (9/2 with BoyleSports)
Games between these two sides are usually high-scoring affairs with the last five head-to-head meetings averaging four goals per game.
How both teams go into Southampton vs Nottingham Forest
After a season away in the Championship, Southampton fans will be excited to have Premier League action return to St Mary’s.
Southampton’s Premier League campaign was a disaster, finishing bottom of the table with just six wins and 25 points in 2022/23. But confidence is growing that it will be different this time around. Now under Russell Martin, who led them to play-off glory with a 1-0 victory against Leeds in May, the Saints only succumbed to a 1-0 win against Newcastle after a shocking error from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy in their opening match. The Saints really should have left St. James’ Park with a result — outshooting Newcastle 19-3 and generating 1.77 xG compared to 0.25 from their hosts.
This won’t be easy, however. Despite Forest’s troubles on the road in the Premier League, they won their final two away games last season with victories over relegated Burnley and Sheffield United. Furthermore, the last time these two sides met in the top flight, Forest did the double over the Saints, coming away from St Mary’s with a 1-0 victory.
Southampton host Nottingham Forest at St Mary’s on Saturday 24th August at 3pm (UK time).
Southampton team news
Gavin Bazunu won’t return until 2025 as he continues to recover from his Achilles tendon injury, so Alex McCarthy should continue in goal despite his error last time out. A host of players will be looking to make their home Premier League debuts for the club including Ben Brereton Diaz, Yuki Sugawara and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who made his loan deal permanent in the summer. Adam Lallana, Ross Stewart and Kamaldeen Sulemana face late fitness tests.
Nottingham Forest team news
Nuno Espirito Santo has lost midfielder Danilo to a horrific injury on the opening day, which could see him out for the entire season. Ola Aina was also withdrawn early with what appeared to be an ankle injury. However, he is in with a change of returning for this game.
Southampton vs Nottingham Forest head-to-head
Nottingham Forest did the double over the Saints the last time both these sides were in the Premier League in 2022/23. Southampton had won the previous two matches beforehand.
| Southampton vs Nottingham Forest H2H | |||||||
| Date | Score | Ground | |||||
| 08/05/23 | Nottingham Forest 4-3 Southampton | City Ground, Nottingham | |||||
| 04/01/23 | Southampton 0-1 Nottingham Forest | St Mary’s, Southampton | |||||
| 14/01/13 | Nottingham Forest 0-3 Southampton | City Ground, Nottingham | |||||
| 10/09/12 | Southampton 3-2 Nottingham Forest | St Mary’s, Southampton | |||||
| 03/05/09 | Nottingham Forest 3-1 Southampton | City Ground, Nottingham | |||||
| 20/12/08 | Southampton 0-2 Nottingham Forest | St Mary’s, Southampton | |||||
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