Nottingham Forest

As transfer deadline day looms, what do Nottingham Forest need to do before it's too late? Or are you happy with where things are up to?

Tell us here, external

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday at the conclusion of the second-round tie between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.

The seven English clubs involved in European competitions this season, including holders Liverpool, will enter at the third-round stage.

Ties will take place on weeks commencing 16 and 23 September.

Because there are rounds of Champions League and Europa League fixtures also scheduled for those two midweeks, the six clubs involved in those competitions - Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester United - will be kept apart to ensure they can fulfil their Carabao Cup tie in the alternate midweek to their European fixture.

Those six clubs will take part in a pre-draw before Forest v Newcastle to decide if they will be at home or away in the third round, with a main draw determining the 16 ties later in the evening.

Should Chelsea progress to the next phase of the Conference League, they will not be in action in that competition again until the start of October.

Nottingham Forest are looking at 22-year-old Ajax and Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey as a potential signing before the transfer window closes. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

The eye-catching statistic from Nottingham Forest’s first two games of the Premier League season was the number of shots on target. Eight. In both games.

Admittedly, those 16 shots only resulted in two goals. But those two goals have meant four points — 10% of the way to Premier League safety. And with an average of 3.89 shots on target last season, an increase in creating chances is obviously the first step to converting chances.

That said, Forest were the only side to outshoot Manchester City in 2023-24 — just the second team to do so home and away against a Pep Guardiola side since Real Madrid in 2009-10. So there is a gradual evolution in the Reds’ tactics.

This season the shift has seen Nuno Espirito Santo’s side pressing higher up the pitch — in a 4-2-4 formation out of possession, which is increasingly common in the Premier League — rather than dropping into a low block.

Winning the ball further up the pitch obviously contributes to a higher number of chances. And the tactic nullified Southampton’s superior possession, to the effect that it counted for nothing; just the one shot on target for the Saints.

Impressive debut starts for both Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson, followed by a cameo from Jota Silva — with Ramon Sosa still to come and, hopefully, one of Eddie Nketiah or Santiago Gimenez — means there is much to be hopeful for.

Whether the Reds can keep up eight shots on target a game remains to be seen, but a better return on converting chances should mean more goals to come.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

Nottingham Forest's £29m move for 23-year-old Feyenoord and Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez has collapsed after he rejected their offer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Nottingham Forest are planning a move for England midfielder James Ward-Prowse, 29, who is not in the plans of new West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Southampton and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

Tom: Very disappointing. Forest fully deserved their win. They were much faster out of the traps than we were. You cannot afford to let teams bully you in the Premier League, which Saints did in the first half in particular. The midfield was worrying and it offered little help going forward or protection for the defence.

Trevor: Armstrong and Brereton Diaz are both out of their depth at this level. Archer looks like he could maybe cut it but, with Onuachu out of favour and Stewart permanently injured, we have to sign a couple of proven goalscorers or we are going to set a record for the fewest goals scored in a Premier League season.

Steve: Totally underwhelming. We had no threat whatsoever. We sign a centre-forward and play him out wide? We continue to play Championship and League One players in Stephens, Bednarek, Smallbone and any goalkeeper we have, so what do you expect? Something has to change or else where do any positive results come from?

Anthony: After this performance, another creative attacker is needed as well as a goalkeeper. We looked good going forward but we didn't create hardly any chances. Credit to Forest, they deserved the win and defended excellently. Walker-Peters and Sugawara were brilliant for us. Tyler Dibling was our best player, despite only playing 10 minutes. Onwards and upwards.

Forest fans

Ian: A vital win against our relegation battle rivals. We were clearly the better side but scoring goals will be the undoing of us if we can't get that killer second goal. There was a familiar uncomfortable panic at end, but this time we got away with it. If we convert more chance into goals, we might stand a chance of breathing more easily this season.

Mark: Excellent football at times, we just needed a little bit of luck with the final part of our forward moves or better selection for the final pass. Elanga was very dangerous. Milenkovic and Anderson did well, as well as our main driving force Gibbs-White. Excellent result. A good start to the season.

Kris: With the amount of chances we created, it should have been more comfortable but that is splitting hairs. Milenkovic was class on his debut, he is exactly what we have needed at the back. We do lack some thrust up front but the club is working on that. If this was a school report it would be a B+ - a solid start with room for improvement!

Neil: We looked good in patches. Defensively sound, but not sharp enough in front of goal. Yates gave some impetus when he came on, but it was sloppy defending and sloppier attacking from Southampton that gave us the three points. If Forest get a decent and fit attacker, we should be fine. Fingers crossed!

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

For all Southampton’s dominance of the ball against Nottingham Forest, they had just five shots to show for it… averaging 128 passes for every shot they had.

Meanwhile Forest made the most of what possession they had as they took 23 shots – the most they’ve had in a Premier League game since being promoted.

Nottingham Forest have submitted a third bid of £29.7m to Feyenoord for Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez, 23, which would be a record sale for the Dutch club. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Crystal Palace are considering a move for Arsenal's England forward Eddie Nketiah, 25, after his potential switch to Nottingham Forest broke down. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 4-0 Everton

• Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to Sky Sports following the victory: "Very pleased. I think we played a good game. First half, we were on top of the game. Southampton had a spell in the second half of course, they are at home.

"We played well. We were really dominant. We knew the game was 90 minutes so we didn't get desperate. I felt we were able to reach the goal.

"We are asking and demanding a lot from the players, but they are giving good answers. We did right to control the game and control the ideas of Southampton to get in charge of the game.

"I think we are asking a lot of things from the players and Morgan [Gibbs-White] is one of them. He can give many days like this.

"It is not about the points now. We cannot get over the moon because we have a game on Wednesday, so we are preparing for the next one."

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest may have been disappointed to start their season last week with a point at home to Bournemouth but four points out of a possible six is a great start for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.

After conceding a late equaliser at the City Ground last week against Bournemouth, Forest traveled south to take on newly-promoted Southampton with a first three points of the season high on the agenda.

Forest started the game well and with plenty of intent when attacking the Saints defence, and this was thanks to Morgan Gibbs-White pulling the strings in the middle.

Everything threatening that Forest did in attack came through their captain and it was only right Gibbs-White grabbed the winner in the 70th minute.

Forest grew in confidence and this is thanks to their talented captain, who is only 24-years-old and driving his team-mates on to better things.

Gibbs-White said after the game to Sky Sports about his desire to add more goals to his game after only scoring five last term: "I feel like I need to add more goals and that's what I want to do."

Well, he's got one in two games and looks as dangerous as ever.

Nottingham Forest goalscorer Morgan Gibbs-White has been speaking to Sky Sports after the win: "We stuck to what the manager wanted us to do. I felt like we had control, but you knew that there was going to be a reaction from Southampton.

"It is about taking that chance, and luckily I did. The original [header] was meant to be a header across the goal and, fortunately, it fell to me and I was in the right place.

"I feel like I need to add more goals and that is what I want to do. We have got the three points and we go home happy."

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have won three consecutive Premier League away games for just a second time, previously doing so in March-April 1995 which was a run of four games.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on the Saints' performance, external

What did you make of Forest's display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

There are seven games on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction.

Follow live here

*All times are BST

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week two, he takes on Make Me A Mixtape hosts Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Southampton were brilliant at Newcastle. If there was a criticism of them it was they didn't really create enough when Newcastle went down to 10 men. Southampton's performance deserved something.

Forest had the horrendous injury to Danilo, which is a big blow to them. But I am going to go for Forest.

Amfo's prediction: 2-0

Stephens' prediction: 1-1

That is your first one I'd say is controversial. I feel like Southampton will have some of that post-promotion buzz in their first home game, but it will only be enough to get them a point.

Read the full predictions and have your say

This season, English top-flight clubs are trialling a new financial system that limits spending based on the earnings of the bottom side, designed to "protect the competitive balance of the Premier League".

Football finance expert Rob Wilson tells The Football News Show why, if permanently introduced, it could make the top Premier League sides less competitive against their European counterparts.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you who has made the most Premier League appearances for Nottingham Forest.

Club servant Steve Chettle is the answer, chalking up 174 games in England's top flight on his way to more than 400 appearances for the Reds.

Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association tells The Football News Show why he is concerned at the current and potential future financial rules in the Premier League.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer