Southampton vs Nottingham Forest Prediction: Saints to be stunned at home

Southampton welcome Nottingham Forest to St Mary's on Saturday (15:00) in the Premier League looking to get their first points on the board after losing at Newcastle United last weekend. 

The Saints were narrowly beaten 1-0 but they will want to respond on home soil. Forest drew 1-1 at home to Bournemouth last weekend, and the Tricky Trees will hope they can go one further this time around to secure their first win of the campaign. Read on for my Southampton vs Nottingham Forest prediction, featuring match odds and team news.

Southampton vs Nottingham Forest Odds

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Southampton are 6/4 to take the three points, giving them an implied probability of 40%. Forest are valued at 15/8, which gives them a 34.8% chance of victory. The draw is available at 12/5 (29.4%).

Both teams to score is on offer at 4/6 and over 2.5 goals is marketed at 5/6.

Football Odds

Team News

The Saints didn't pick up any injuries on Tyneside but Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ross Stewart and Adam Lallana are doubts to feature, although they haven't been ruled out yet. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu remains sidelined for the rest of the year.

For the visitors, they will be without midfielder Danilo, after his horror injury last weekend that led to curtains being placed around him for treatment. Ryan Yates was the man to replace him, but he will face a battle with Elliot Anderson and Nicolas Dominguez for that midfield spot.

The weekend might come too soon for Aston Villa loanee Alex Moreno to make his debut at left-back, however.

Nottingham Forest and both teams to score @ 4/1

Southampton saw a lot of good goalscoring opportunities go to waste at Newcastle, and that is something that won't be fixed within a week. Russell Martin will be making that his top priority right now but I don't think we will see improvement for a few matches yet.

That is why I am backing Forest to grab the away win, but I do fancy both teams to score. The Tricky Trees have had a habit of beating promoted teams away from home of late and they will be looking to build on last week's solid draw with Bournemouth.

The Saints are likely to see more of the ball, but Forest will show them how to be effective with it. Nuno Espirito Santo's attackers will be primed for this challenge, and with the likes of Chris Wood, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga, they will pose a great threat to Southampton's back line. Therefore, I think they will have a profitable afternoon on the South Coast.

Chris Wood anytime goalscorer @ 9/5

Wood finished last season with 14 goals in the top-flight and he is already off the mark this campaign. His excellent performances have cemented his place in the starting XI over Taiwo Awoniyi for the time being, although it remains to be seen what happens if Forest acquire another striker, with Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah linked.

The New Zealand star is aiming to score in the first two matches of a Premier League season for the first time in his career and I fancy him to do just that. He will carry a big aerial threat from set-pieces, but he is also tidy when receiving the ball to feet. He will have plenty of confidence from opening his account last time out, and I think he will double his tally at St Mary's.

Offers

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