- Southampton U21 sit 6th in the Premier League 2 table on 30 points from 16 games, Nottingham Forest U21 are 20th on 17 points from the same number of fixtures.
- Southampton U21 have conceded 2.14 goals per game on their travels.
- Southampton U21’s Nicholas Oyekunle has scored three of his side’s last eight goals.
Opposing styles may lead to an open match
Nottingham Forest U21 have struggled at home in the Premier League 2, winning two, drawing one and losing four of their seven games since the start of the season. They’ve conceded an average of 1.43 goals per home game, so even if they find their goal scoring form, they may not keep Saints at bay.
Warren Joyce took over the Nottingham Forest U21 team in December 2022, he prefers a direct style, focusing on developing physical wide attackers and strikers. Forest usually play a 4-3-3 and attack using the width, counter attacking and direct balls into their front three, who have to make runs to create chances.
Matthew Paterson is a possession-first coach, having instilled a high pressing, through the thirds, 4-2-3-1 philosophy on the Saints academy since taking over in September 2024. The Saints like to overload in the center, forcing wide defenders into 1 v 1 duels. The best way for them to create high-value chances is to overload the center, using their No.10 and overlapping full-backs to press the ball from the wings.
Southampton are in better form
Forest U21 are coming into this one in very poor form, winning one, drawing one and losing three of their last five. They are currently on a three-game losing streak, while Saints have been more consistent with one win, three draws and one loss in their last five.
Southampton U21 are favoured at 24/25 for this one, while Forest are underdogs at 109/50. I think the bookies have got this all wrong, as Saints are in a much better league position, have better form and have won one and drawn one in the two previous Premier League 2 H2H clashes. The second of those was a 2-0 away victory last season.
Over 2.5 goals at 57/100 looks great value, as the two sides have leaky defences and both will look to impose their style on the game. I think Saints have the better of this fixture but Forest can be dangerous in transition and could nick it, so I’m backing the visitors to edge it.
