Juric urges Southampton to keep up ´depth´ after late Man Utd collapse

Ivan Juric urged Southampton to indicate the identical depth that they did towards Manchester United once they journey to Nottingham Forest within the Premier League on Sunday.

Southampton regarded like they’d choose up a shocking 1-0 victory at Previous Trafford on Thursday however as a substitute conceded a 12-minute Amad Diallo hat-trick late on to undergo a seventeenth league defeat of the marketing campaign.

It means they continue to be backside of the desk, 10 factors from security, after an 11-match winless run, whereas they’ve misplaced their final 4 Premier League video games in a row.

Juric, who continues to be trying to find a primary league win in cost, needs his crew to maintain up the efficiency stage whereas bettering the ultimate product.

“We don’t have loads of strain. We have now six factors and are final on the desk. It’s a part of the group. We have now to be extra aggressive in essential moments of the sport,” Juric mentioned after the United recreation.

“The fellows are working properly. However we have to work slightly extra arduous to keep up the depth. I wish to see the identical spirit within the subsequent recreation.

“[Now] I’m offended. However we’ve to begin fascinated by Nottingham Forest. The gamers must be aware that they will compete and play properly. Our thought is to enhance each recreation.”

In the meantime, Forest are nonetheless flying excessive on the prime of the desk, sitting in third after their 1-1 draw with leaders Liverpool on Tuesday.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet had been on a seven-match successful run in all competitions earlier than that consequence, however they now haven’t misplaced since early December.

Having confronted the crew on the prime final trip, it’s a a lot completely different prospect forward of Forest on Sunday, however Nuno continues to be anticipating a take a look at.

“I feel they competed very properly [against United],” Nuno mentioned. “We watched the sport, we analysed.

“That exhibits credit score to them within the place they’re having the ability to compete… We anticipate a really robust recreation on Sunday.

“We don’t know the way the sport [will turn out]. So, we’ve to organize. Analyse Southampton, they’ve good gamers.”

Sights on Southampton. pic.twitter.com/TM8Qw6eQde

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 17, 2025

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nottingham Forest – Chris Wooden

Chris Wooden has been concerned in 4 objectives in his final 5 Premier League video games towards Southampton (three objectives, one help). Nonetheless, all of those have come at St Mary’s Stadium.

For the reason that begin of final season, Anthony Elanga (eight assists) and Wooden (one) have mixed for 9 Premier League objectives – it’s the most any pair of Forest gamers have executed so within the competitors’s historical past.

Southampton – Kamaldeen Sulemana

Kamaldeen Sulemana brought about havoc for Manchester United of their loss on Thursday and was Southampton’s finest participant on the sphere, and can depend himself unfortunate to not have scored in that recreation.

He had 4 photographs, greater than any of his team-mates, although just one was on course as he created possibilities value 0.4 anticipated objectives (xG). He additionally had 5 touches within the opposition field, one other team-high.

MATCH PREDICTION: NOTTINGHAM FOREST WIN

Forest have misplaced simply considered one of their final 12 Premier League conferences with Southampton (W8 D3), taking place 3-1 at house in April 1997.

Forest have misplaced simply two of their 11 Premier League video games towards sides beginning the day backside of the desk (W8 D1), successful every of the final three in a row. Simply considered one of these defeats got here on the Metropolis Floor, although that was the aforementioned loss to Southampton.

The Saints, in the meantime, have misplaced their final three Premier League video games towards Forest – they final misplaced 4 consecutive league video games towards them between 1934 and 1935 within the second tier.

Southampton are winless of their final 23 Premier League video games towards sides beginning the day within the prime 4 of the desk (D8 L15), since a 1-0 win towards Liverpool in January 2021. They’ve misplaced all 4 such video games this season by an combination rating of 12-4.

For the reason that begin of December, no crew has earned extra Premier League factors than Forest (19 – W6 D1 L1), regardless of the Tough Bushes shedding their first match in the beginning of this run.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nottingham Forest – 63.9%

Draw – 19.8%

Southampton – 16.2%