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By Simon StoneBBC Sport at the City Ground
Last updated on 7 minutes ago.From the section Premier League
Nottingham scored at least three first-half goals in a Premier League match for the first time since a 4-3 away win at Southampton in August 1995Nottingham Forest came out on top in a seven-goal thriller at the City Ground to climb out of the bottom three and leave Southampton on the brink of relegation.
In a crazy atmosphere on a rain-soaked night, Forest established a two-goal cushion on three occasions - and each time the visitors responded to pull themselves back into the contest.
But Southampton couldn't manage an equaliser. Now they must win all three remaining games and hope either Forest don't pick up another point, or Everton fail to get more than one, otherwise they will be back in the Championship for the first time since 2012.
In contrast, Forest have their fate in their own hands.
Taiwo Awoniyi scored his first brace for the club in the space of three first-half minutes, profiting first from Danilo's superb crossfield pass that allowed Brennan Johnson to set him up to volley home from close range after a goalmouth scramble.
Carlos Alcaraz pulled one back for Southampton, only for Morgan Gibbs-White restore the home side's two-goal cushion from the penalty spot a minute before the break.
After Lyanco's header had given Southampton fresh hope at 3-2, Gibbs-White was then instrumental in Forest's fourth.
The England Under-21 international had the awareness to flick Johnson's cross into an unmarked Danilo's path for a cool finish, rather than go for goal himself.
James Ward-Prowse's injury-time penalty ensured nerves were being shredded right to the very last seconds of a staggering day of Premier League action.
At kick-off, both these sides occupied the bottom two places and ended with Forest scrambling up to 16th - three points clear of third-bottom Leicester - and with rising hopes of preserving their top-flight status.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-3-3
- 12Navas
- 24AurierSubstituted forWorrallat 64'minutes
- 38Felipe
- 19Niakhaté
- 32LodiBooked at 78minsSubstituted forToffoloat 81'minutes
- 22YatesSubstituted forKouyatéat 70'minutes
- 5Mangala
- 28Danilo
- 20JohnsonSubstituted forBolyat 81'minutes
- 9AwoniyiSubstituted forSurridgeat 81'minutes
- 10Gibbs-White
Substitutes
- 4Worrall
- 11Lingard
- 13Hennessey
- 15Toffolo
- 16Surridge
- 21Kouyaté
- 23Freuler
- 30Boly
- 34A Ayew
Southampton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McCarthy
- 2Walker-Peters
- 35Bednarek
- 37Bella-KotchapSubstituted forLyancoat 38'minutes
- 3Maitland-Niles
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 45Lavia
- 32WalcottSubstituted forSulemanaat 61'minutes
- 26AlcarazSubstituted forA Armstrongat 76'minutes
- 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forEdozieat 76'minutes
- 10AdamsSubstituted forOnuachuat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Lyanco
- 6Caleta-Car
- 9A Armstrong
- 12Onuachu
- 18Mara
- 20Sulemana
- 23Edozie
- 24Elyounoussi
- 31Bazunu
Referee:Michael Oliver
Attendance:29,154
Live Text
Match ends, Nottingham Forest 4, Southampton 3.
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 4, Southampton 3.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Moussa Niakhaté.
Attempt blocked. Paul Onuachu (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lyanco.
Foul by Paul Onuachu (Southampton).
Cheikhou Kouyaté (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Nottingham Forest 4, Southampton 3. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Penalty Southampton. Roméo Lavia draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Sam Surridge (Nottingham Forest) after a foul in the penalty area.
Attempt saved. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) header from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Moussa Niakhaté.
Kamaldeen Sulemana (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Harry Toffolo (Nottingham Forest).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
VAR Decision: No Goal Nottingham Forest 4-2 Southampton.
GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Felipe (Nottingham Forest) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.
Offside, Nottingham Forest. Morgan Gibbs-White tries a through ball, but Felipe is caught offside.
Foul by Lyanco (Southampton).
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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