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In a controversial encounter at St James’ Park, Southampton showed impressive signs but eventually suffered a narrow defeat to ten-man Newcastle United. Nottingham Forest, on the other hand, were pegged back late to share the spoils with AFC Bournemouth.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 24th August, 2024 - UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Not televised / US – Peacock, Fubo, Sling Blue, DirecTV Stream
SOUTHAMPTON PREVIEW: SAINTS SINGING FROM THE SAME HYMN SHEET
Russell Martin, as was the case with both Swansea City and Milton Keynes Dons, is known for an open and attacking style of football to an almost extreme degree. The Saints began their season with an impressive showing at Newcastle United last week but it was eventually their playing out from the back that cost them.
Up against ten man after Ben Brereton and Fabian Schar both locked heads but the former decided to go down and get Schar sent off, Saints’ stand-in goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was caught in possession and that eventually led to Magpies midfielder Joelinton scoring a goal that proved to be the difference between the two sides.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST PREVIEW: FRUSTRATION FOR FOREST
Nottingham Forest’s first game of the season started in arguably the worst way possible when midfielder Danilo suffered what looked like a genuinely awful injury and it has been confirmed to be a broken ankle inside the opening ten minutes. After a lengthy stoppage, the hosts did get off the mark early on, though.
New Zealand international striker Chris Wood notched his first of the season and that set up a game that seemed perfect for Nuno Espirito Santo and Forest’s counter-attacking style of football but AFC Bournemouth managed to snatch a point in second-half stoppage-time via Antoine Semenyo.
SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS: POTENTIAL DEBUTANTS
There is a chance that Southampton's most recent signings, midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu who joined on loan from Chelsea and midfielder Mateus Fernandes who has signed from Sporting CP, could come into the eleven to debut for Southampton.
Juan Larios is easing his way back into the first-team picture but the likes of Adam Lallana, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ross Stewart are all still doubtful as they do the same.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): McCarthy; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Sugawara, Smallbone, Downes, Aribo, Walker-Peters; Armstrong, Brereton
UNAVAILABLE: Bazunu (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Lallana (Injured), Sulemana (Injured), Stewart (Injured)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST TEAM NEWS: THE DANILO INJURY
It has been confirmed that Danilo's terrible injury last weekend was a broken ankle and the former Palmeiras midfielder is expected to undergo surgery next week with an absence of a few months.
Both Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga came off last weekend with 'small issues' but no update was given in Nuno's pre-match press conference. Nikola Milenkovic has returned from a suspension and could make his Forest debut.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Sangare, Yates; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
UNAVAILABLE: Danilo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Aina (Injured), Elanga (Injured)
SOUTHAMPTON VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST PREDICTION
Southampton will be encouraged by their opening day performance, despite the fact they were eventually blunted by ten-man opposition. Russell Martin’s side will seek to be on the front foot from the off but Nottingham Forest will be resolute and well set up with the often dull and defensive, pragmatic stylings of Nuno Espirito Santo. As a result, this may not be a thriller for the neutral.
SOUTHAMPTON VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS