Elliot Anderson and Callum Hudson-Odoi gave the home side a 2-0 lead before the half-hour mark with strikes from outside the box before Chris Wood headed home his 14th league goal of the season to put Forest firmly in control at the interval.

However, Ivan Juric's Southampton put on a much-improved display in the second period as it pulled one back through captain Jan Bednarek, who flicked a Lesley Ugochukwu shot beyond Matz Sels on the hour.

Forest thought it restored its three-goal cushion four minutes later, but VAR intervened after Aaron Ramsdale spilled Nikola Milenkovic's header into the net.
 
Sels had to make a couple of saves to keep the Saints out before substitute Paul Onuachu set up a nervy finish in stoppage-time, but Forest was able to hold on.

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said the result was a reminder for his players about the competitiveness of the Premier League.

"We won the game and that is more important. We knew it was going to be tough, they compete very well," he said.

"This league is very competitive and any team can win any game. That is a warning."

The result extended Forest's unbeaten run in the league to eight matches with it having won seven of those.

It is the club's longest streak in the top division since a run of 25 unbeaten games in 1995.

Meanwhile, Southampton manager Juric said that it is a "pity" his side is "not ready for 90 minutes". 

"We played with heart and intensity in the second half and we scored. That is how we have to score," he said.

"We are a competitive team but if we are down 10% then we are not competitive. I hope a first half like that never happens again.

"Second half we fight and score twice. Aina saved another one. At Manchester United for 80 minutes, in the second half today, we were good. But we are not ready for 90 minutes and that is a real pity."