Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest secure a 1-0 Premier League win over Southampton at St Mary’s.
Nuno Espirito Santo is optimistic about Nottingham Forest’s strong start to the season, seeing it as a sign of progress. After battling relegation in recent years, the Reds aim to push higher in the Premier League. Morgan Gibbs-White’s goal secured a 1-0 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s, giving Forest four points from their first two games of the 2024/25 season.
Despite dominating the first half without scoring, Forest had to stay patient. Nuno is pleased with how they eventually earned their win and withstood late pressure, viewing it as a positive step forward.
Reflecting on the match, Nuno said, “We played a very good game. We controlled the tempo from the start and created opportunities. Playing away is always tough, but this could be a first step towards improvement. Southampton had a strong spell in the second half, but overall, it was a great effort from the team.”
At half-time, after missed chances, Nuno emphasized the importance of staying focused. “We always look for details to correct at half-time, knowing we still had 45 minutes left. The first half meant nothing; it was like starting a new game.”
On Gibbs-White’s goal, Nuno remarked, “I want to see goals from everyone. It doesn’t matter who scores, as long as we work as a team.”
He also praised the full debuts of Elliot Anderson and Nikola Milenkovic, saying, “They had good games. We believe in the qualities of the players we brought in. It was a positive outing for both.”
Discussing the transfer window, Nuno highlighted the importance of balance and options in the squad. He noted that while the bench was not fully balanced due to paperwork delays, he is optimistic about having more solutions as the squad finalizes.
As the transfer window nears its end, Nuno acknowledged the unpredictability of the period, saying, “You never know what will happen. All Premier League clubs are trying to finalize their squads, and as long as we stay consistent, I’ll be satisfied. But let’s see what the final days bring.”