Ivan Juric urged Southampton to show the same intensity they showed against Manchester United when they travel to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.
Southampton looked set to complete a stunning 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Thursday but instead conceded a 12th-minute hat-trick from Amad Diallo late on to suffer their 17th league defeat of the season.
It means they sit bottom of the table, ten points away from safety, after 11 games without a win, having lost their last four Premier League games in a row.
Juric, who is still looking for a win in the first competition, wants his team to maintain the performance level while improving the end product.
“We don't have much pressure. We have six points and are last in the table. It's part of the group. We have to be more competitive at crucial moments in the match,” Juric said after the United game.
“The boys are working well. But we have to work a little harder to keep the intensity. I want to see the same spirit in the next match.”
“[Now] I'm angry. But we have to start thinking about Nottingham Forest. The players must be aware that they can compete and play well. Our idea is to improve every match.”
Meanwhile, Forest are still flying high at the top of the table and sit in third place after Tuesday's 1-1 draw with league leaders Liverpool.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side had won seven games in all competitions before that result but have now not lost since early December.
After facing the top-flight team last time out, it's a very different prospect for Forest on Sunday, but Nuno still expects a test.
“I think they competed very well [against United]Nuno said. 'We watched the match, we analyzed it.
“That's a credit to them being in the position they can compete in… We expect a very tough match on Sunday.
“We don't know how the game will go [will turn out]. So we have to prepare. Analyze Southampton, they have good players.”
Sights on Southampton. pic.twitter.com/TM8Qw6eQde
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 17, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood
Chris Wood has been involved in four goals in his last five Premier League games against Southampton (three goals, one assist). However, these have all come at St Mary's Stadium.
Since the start of last season, Anthony Elanga (eight assists) and Wood (one) have scored nine Premier League goals between them – the most of any Forest player in the competition's history.
Southampton – Kamaldeen Sulemana
Kamaldeen Sulemana wreaked havoc on Manchester United's defeat on Thursday and was Southampton's best player on the pitch. He will consider himself unlucky not to have scored in that game.
He had four shots, more than any of his teammates, although only one was on target, as he created chances worth 0.4 expected goals (xG). He also had five touches in the opponent's penalty area, another team high.
MATCH PREDICTION: NOTTINGHAM FOREST WIN
Forest have lost just one of their last twelve Premier League meetings with Southampton (W8, D3), losing 3–1 at home in April 1997.
Forest have lost just two of their eleven Premier League games against sides who started bottom of the table (W8 D1) and have won each of the last three in a row. Only one of these defeats came at the City Ground, although that was the aforementioned loss to Southampton.
The Saints, meanwhile, have lost their last three Premier League games against Forest – last losing four consecutive league games against them in the second tier between 1934 and 1935.
Southampton are winless in their last 23 Premier League games against sides that start the day in the top four of the table (D8 L15), since a 1-0 win against Liverpool in January 2021. They have won all four such games this season lost by an aggregate score of 12-4.
Since the start of December, no team has earned more Premier League points than Forest (19 – W6 D1 L1), despite the Tricky Trees losing their first match at the start of this series.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Nottingham Forest – 63.9%
Draw – 19.8%
Southampton – 16.2%
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