'Evil': Southampton manager Ivan Juric aims to exploit unique gameplan to disrupt Nottingham Forest

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Nottingham Forest welcome Southampton to the City Ground on Sunday, looking to take advantage of their opponent’s miserable Premier League form.

The Forest squad are currently seven games unbeaten following Tuesday’s draw with Liverpool, a game in which Arne Slot hailed Matz Sels for his heroics in between the sticks.

In contrast, Southampton have lost four consecutive Premier League games and haven’t tasted victory in league action since early November.

The two sides couldn’t be more contrasting in their current states, with Clinton Morrison predicting a top-four finish for Forest whilst the footballing world is unanimous in its prediction of Southampton to be relegated.

Given their need for a drastic change of fortune, it comes as no surprise that Saints boss Ivan Juric is hoping his side will show some very specific attributes on Sunday that may disrupt Nuno Espirito Santo’s usual Forest style.

Ivan Juric banking on ‘evil’ performance vs Nottingham Forest

Speaking after his side’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United, Juric had some choice words to describe what he needed to see from his side at the City Ground on Sunday.

Juric said: “There are some moments where you need to be more evil and manage the game differently. […] I’m from Italy and we are the best in the world for mentality and how to win a game.

“There’s a moment where you have to be Italian! Lose time, some fouls, go back a bit more […], we’re missing that.”

Southampton have conceded a whopping 47 goals in the Premier League this season, a stark contrast to Forest who currently boast the most clean sheets in the league which has led to Paul Robinson praising Sels’ work in goal.

Juric will be looking for some sign that his side is capable of the “Italian” performance he’s looking for, however, no such inspiration can be found in the reverse fixture between the two sides.

Nottingham Forest dominated Southampton in August

Espirito Santo’s side went to Southampton in August and came out victorious thanks to a Morgan Gibbs-White goal.

Gibbs-White was actually criticised by Forest fans for his performance on the South Coast, but the same couldn’t be said for the Forest manager who showed his class against Southampton.

Despite Southampton having 65% of the ball, they only managed one shot on target compared to Forest’s eight, creating an xG of 2.45 for the visitors.

The Forest coaching staff seemed to create the perfect gameplan to nullify the then-Saints boss Russell Martin, playing 25 accurate long balls and five crosses.

Defensively, Espirito Santo’s side were also perfect, winning eleven aerial duels and 45 ground challenges, with Sels in goal only having to make a singular save.

Juric’s plans may see the game play out slightly differently, but Forest can take plenty of comfort from the excellent display they produced back in August.