Southampton vs Nottingham Forest Match Preview, Correct Score Prediction & Betting Tips – 24th August, 2024.

Southampton vs Nottingham Forest: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

A tense encounter awaits as Southampton host Nottingham Forest at St Mary’s Stadium in what will be an important fixture for both teams early in the Premier League season.

• Date: 24/08/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Southampton Form and Team News

Southampton currently sit 16th in the Premier League with 0 points after a narrow loss to Newcastle United in their opening game. Under the management of Russell Martin, the Saints are looking to make a mark in their return to the top flight after their playoff success last season. Despite being predicted to struggle, there were encouraging signs in their match against Newcastle.

Southampton have made some exciting additions to their squad recently, including striker Cameron Archer from Aston Villa and midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu on loan from Chelsea. While these new arrivals will need time to integrate fully, they add quality and depth to a squad that is expected to face a relegation battle.

Key areas of concern remain in midfield, where Southampton could benefit from further reinforcements. Flynn Downes is a competent player, but the team lacks the creative spark in the middle of the park that could make a difference in tight games.

Southampton Team News:

Southampton will be without Gavin Bazunu, Adam Lallana, and Kamaldeen Sulemana, all sidelined through injury. However, new signing Lesley Ugochukwu could feature in the matchday squad, with Carlos Alcaraz potentially replacing Joe Aribo in the starting XI.

• Predicted lineup: McCarthy; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Sugawara, Downes, Smallbone, Alcaraz, Walker-Peters; Armstrong, Brereton Diaz.

Nottingham Forest Form and Team News

Nottingham Forest, sitting 8th in the Premier League with one point, will be looking to improve on their last season’s underwhelming campaign. After a managerial change from Steve Cooper to Nuno Espírito Santo, Forest’s prospects this season remain uncertain despite a quieter transfer window compared to previous years.

Forest’s squad is bolstered by notable signings such as Elliot Anderson from Newcastle United and Serbian defender Nikola Milenkovic from Fiorentina. However, the team still faces questions about their ability to perform consistently and avoid another relegation scrap.

Nottingham Forest Team News:

Forest will be without Danilo, who suffered a broken ankle against Bournemouth. Ola Aina is also a doubt due to injury, which could see Harry Toffolo stepping in. Changes are expected from the weekend’s lineup, with Nicolás Domínguez likely to start in place of Anthony Elanga.

• Predicted lineup: Sels; Williams, Boly, Murillo, Aina; Sangaré, Yates; Domínguez, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

Southampton vs Nottingham Forest – Form Guide

Southampton’s opening match against Newcastle saw them put up a strong fight despite losing 1-0. They controlled much of the game and were helped by a red card for Newcastle’s Fabian Schär but ultimately fell short due to a mistake from their goalkeeper, Alex McCarthy.

Nottingham Forest’s first game of the season ended in a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth. Forest took the lead through Chris Wood but were pegged back late in the game after a deflected clearance gifted Bournemouth an equalizer. The performance was solid but not spectacular, leaving Forest fans hoping for a stronger showing against Southampton.

Southampton vs Nottingham Forest – Prediction

This clash between Southampton and Nottingham Forest promises to be a closely contested affair, with both sides eager to avoid defeat. Forest, who drew nine games last season, showed a strong tendency to grind out results against teams of similar standing. Meanwhile, Southampton, back in the Premier League after securing promotion through the playoffs, displayed moments of promise in their opening fixture.

Both teams had relatively similar expected goals (xG) metrics from their first games – Southampton at 1.76xG and Forest at 1.30xG. However, Southampton had the advantage of playing most of their match against ten men, which might have inflated their numbers. Given the balanced nature of both squads and their early-season form, this matchup could end in a stalemate. Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Nottingham Forest.