Nottingham Forest vs Southampton LIVE: Premier League’s bottom two meet in relegation six-pointer at the City Ground… as the hosts look to move out of the drop zone at Leicester’s expense after earlier thrashing

Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the Premier League clash between Nottingham Forest and Southampton. 

Host commentator

Breathtaking first 30 minutes at the City Ground.

Hard not to see a few more goals in this one.

Save!

A nice move from Forest ends with Gibbs-White cutting it back for Yates, who hits it straight at the keeper.

Big chance. Big stop.

Forest almost restore their advantage straight away but the ball doesn’t quite fall right for Awoniyi in the area and he can’t get the shot away.

Game on!

Gibbs-White loses it and the Saints have the advantage in numbers on the break.

Armstrong recieves it on the left and plays the ball across goal for Alcaraz, who takes a touch before finishing coolly.

That’s Awoniyi’s first brace for Forest. What a time to get it.

Another for Awoniyi!

Southampton fail to clear the ball properly on two occasions and Danilo lifts a ball into the area for Awoniyi, who swivels and smashes the volley past McCarthy.

What a few minutes for the hosts.

This place is rocking.

Forest move three points above the relegation zone… for now.

Breakthrough!

Johnson latches on to a lovely long ball out to the right and puts it across goal first time for Awoniyi, who makes no mistake with a calm finish.

His first goal since January and a massive one.

Alcarez with a rough challenge on Yates which the home crowd don’t like.

No booking.

Southampton trying to be a little bit to intricate in the final third. Need to be more direct.

The noise starts to build from the home fans again after what has been a very even start.

Close!

Johnson’s cross come shot avoids everyone and flies about a yard wide of the post.

End to end here.

Lodi puts in a teasing cross from the left but McCarthy does well to gather under pressure.

Block!

Walcott does really well to sit a defender down and then feed Adams in space on the left hand side of the box.

It’s a big chance but Felipe flies in to make a crucial block.

Great defending.

Awoniyi almost gets in behind but the flag is up.

Very tight.

Adams with the first shot of the game as he cuts in from the left and bends one over the bar.

Worth an effort.

A shaky start from Forest keeper Navas as he makes a bit of a mess of a punch.

His defence clear up the mess.

Southampton kick things off.

Incredible noise from the home fans.

A perfectly observed national anthem before we get underway.

The teams are on their way out.

The form of everyone down there is really poor. The Brighton game they won took them outside the bottom three, the same happened for Leicester at Wolves.

The same might happen tonight with Everton who were in poor form. If you are down there, if you win two games in quick succession you might be safe.

That is the carrot there for Nottingham Forest, they saw two rivals lose at the weekend. The Brighton result was huge for them and given them hope. Tonight is a huge opportunity to get six points within four or five games and give themselves breathing space.

It’s a must-win game for bottom team Southampton, who sit six points below safety.

Only goal difference is keeping Forest in the bottom three and they have a game in hands on the teams above them.

Starting XI: McCarthy, Bella-Kotchap, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Maitland-Niles, Lavia, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse(c), Alcaraz, Walcott, Adams

Subs: Armstrong, Mara, Onuachu, Sulemana, Caleta-Car, Lyanco, Bazunu, Edozie, Elyounoussi

Starting XI: Navas, Felipe, Aurier, Niakhaté, Mangala, Renan Lodi, Danilo, Yates(c), Gibbs-White, Awoniyi, Johnson

Subs: Ayew, Hennessey, Toffolo, Surridge, Boly, Worrall, Lingard, Freuler, Kouyaté

And welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of Nottingham Forest vs Southampton.

Team news due at 7pm with kick-off at 8pm.

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