Manager Russell Martin anticipates Nottingham Forest will “play with a lot of freedom,” but emphasizes that the Saints must focus on their own game.
Southampton will host Nuno Espírito Santo’s Nottingham Forest at a sold-out St Mary’s for their first home match of the Premier League season. After a promising performance at Newcastle, where they failed to secure any points, the Saints are eager to earn their first points of the season.
Nottingham Forest also had a challenging start, as they were held to a draw against AFC Bournemouth, with Antoine Semenyo scoring an equalizer in the 86th minute.
On Forest’s strengths, Martin told the Daily Echo, “They have a lot of attacking talent, with players who excel in one-on-one situations. They play with a lot of freedom. Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood are key players, with Gibbs-White playing freely and Wood providing a strong focal point in attack. Forest is solid, athletic, and powerful.”
Martin added, “Forest has a diverse playing style and can adapt within a game. They have a highly experienced manager and have strengthened their squad significantly since their Premier League return. Every match against them will be challenging.”
He concluded, “We need to focus on our own performance while being mindful of their threats. We have a clear idea of what we need to bring to the pitch, and it’s up to the players to deliver.”