Nottingham Forest’s thrilling 3-2 win against Southampton at the City Ground showcased an intriguing mix of dominant attacking play in the first half and a nervy finish after Southampton staged a late rally. The final scoreline, though, didn’t quite reflect the overall flow of the match, especially given the one-sided nature of the first half, where Forest were cruising at 3-0 up by halftime.

The match started with Forest asserting their dominance, and it was Elliot Anderson who gave them the lead with his first-ever goal for the club. The early goal set the tone for what would be a highly productive first half for Forest. Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has been in great form recently, doubled their advantage, showing his attacking prowess and giving Forest a comfortable 2-0 lead. The game was practically put to bed when Chris Wood added a third before halftime, putting Forest in a commanding position and leaving Southampton with little to show for their efforts in the opening 45 minutes.

However, the game took a slight turn towards the end of the first half, as Hudson-Odoi was forced off due to injury. This moment would have been a concern for Forest, as his contribution in attack had been significant. Despite that, the team continued to hold their lead and looked composed, even as Southampton struggled to create meaningful chances.

The second half saw Southampton find a bit of life as they grabbed a goal back early on the hour mark from a corner. This provided a glimmer of hope for the visitors, and with 30 minutes still remaining, the match was far from over. It wasn’t long before Forest thought they had restored their three-goal advantage, as Nikola Milenkovic powered in a header from a corner. However, the goal was controversially ruled out by VAR after a long review. Initial replays suggested that Milenkovic’s header should have counted, but the Premier League clarified that Forest striker Chris Wood, who was in an offside position, had interfered with play in the build-up. As a result, the referee overturned the initial decision and disallowed the goal. The decision caused confusion and frustration among Forest supporters, who felt that the goal was legitimate, but the Premier League’s statement confirmed that Wood’s offside position played a role in the decision.

Southampton, buoyed by the disallowed goal and the belief that they could still salvage something from the game, began to push forward more aggressively. In the dying moments of the match, they managed to pull another goal back in the 90th minute, making it 3-2. This late strike meant that the game was far from settled, and Forest had to endure an anxious period of stoppage time, which stretched to an incredible 12 minutes. The visitors sensed an equalizer, but Forest’s defense held firm, and a key goal-line clearance from Ola Aina in the final seconds ensured the three points stayed with the hosts.

Despite the late scare, Forest secured a valuable win, but the match was not without controversy, particularly with the disallowed goal. VAR decisions like these always spark debate, and the Milenkovic incident added another layer of frustration for the home fans, who were left wondering if the goal should have stood. Nevertheless, Forest came away with the points, and their strong first-half display helped them hold onto the win despite the late drama.

There has been significant praise for Forest’s defensive pairing of Milenkovic and Murillo, who have formed a rock-solid partnership at the back. Their understanding of each other’s movements and their ability to organize the defense has been a key factor in Forest’s impressive defensive record this season. They have helped Forest become one of the best defensive teams in the Premier League, conceding just 23 goals, which is the third-best record in the league. Their performances have been exceptional, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed, with many suggesting that the duo is capable of playing at a Champions League level.

Sky Sports pundit Dean Ashton was particularly effusive in his praise for Milenkovic and Murillo, highlighting their exceptional performances. He stated, “As long as Forest don’t get injuries, the two centre-backs have been brilliant, they can get in the Champions League.” While it’s still early in the season, Forest’s defense has been one of the key reasons for their rise up the Premier League table. As the season progresses and the number of games decreases, the possibility of European football — including the Champions League — becomes a more tangible prospect for Forest. The dream of hearing the Champions League anthem blaring out on the banks of the River Trent is slowly becoming more of a reality for the Nottingham Forest faithful.

For now, Forest will take heart from their resilience and the quality of their defensive partnership, knowing that with more performances like this, they will continue to push for a spot in European competition next season. The work done by Nuno Espirito Santo and his coaching staff in building a solid, well-organized team is beginning to pay off, and Forest’s aspirations for greater success this season are firmly alive.