Taiwo Awoniyi scores brace in a seven goal thriller as Nottingham Forest move out of relegation zone

Nottingham Forest have moved out of the relegation zone in the Premier League

Taiwo Awoniyi scores brace in a seven goal thriller as Nottingham Forest move out of relegation zone

Stephen Oladehinde 22:11 - 08.05.2023

Nottingham Forest secures an important victory against Southampton as they move out of the relegation zone.

The home side have struggled to get themselves out of the relegation zone in recent weeks after having a poor run of form but were able to secure a 4-3 win against Southampton as they move away from the relegation battle.

Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi scored a brace in the first half for Nottingham Forest but Carlos Alcaraz got a goal back before Morgan Gibbs-White restored their two-goal lead. Southampton tried coming back in the second half with a goal from Lyanco but the home side got their two goals lead back from a Danilo strike.

Jame Ward Prowse got the third goal for the away side late in injury time but could not complete the comeback they needed.

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As it happened 

Taiwo Awoniyi led the attack for Steve Cooper's side alongside Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs White. However, Paul Onuachu of Southampton was left on the bench, with Che Adams leading the attack for the Saints.

Both sides started the game with full energy but it was the home side Nottingham Forest that got the first goal in the 18th minute through an accurate cutback on the goal line from Brennan Johnson who finds Taiwo Awoniyi right in front of the goal, and he easily buries the ball into the middle of the goal. 

In quick succession, they were two goals up as Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi pounced on a loose ball inside the box and beat the goalkeeper with a shot into the top of the net to score his second of the game.

Southampton got a goal back in the 25th minute when Stuart Armstrong fed Carlos Alcaraz inside the box, who was unmarked and buried the ball in the bottom right corner. Forest did not hold back as they doubled their lead before the break from the penalty spot with Morgan Gibbs-White making it 3-1 for the home side.

The second started and Southampton rallied back by scoring early on in the 51st minute when Lyanco met the corner and displayed his eye for goal as he coolly planted a bullet header from close range into the middle of the net making it 3-2.

The home side restored their two-goal lead again in the 73rd minute when Morgan Gibbs-White played in Danilo, who showed great determination to get to the ball before a couple of defenders and from inside the box he shot into the top of the net.

It was already late for Southampton as they scored their third goal of the game in the 96th minute when James Ward-Prowse scored from the penalty spot to make it 4-3 on the night.

Nottingham Forest now move out of the relegation zone and sit 16th on the league table, two points above Leicester City in 18th position.