Nottingham Forest 4 Southampton 3: Forest earn huge win in seven-goal thriller to leave doomed Saints needing miracle
TAIWO AWONIYI answered Forest fans' prayers with the first half double which helped haul Steve Cooper's side clear of the relegation zone.
Then praised the Lord for helping him find the strength to end his seven-match drought when it mattered most.
The Nigerian lit the touchpaper on this epic seven-goal thriller, stunning Saints with a rapid double in three-and-a-half deadly first half minutes before lifting his shirt to reveal a message close to his heart.
Hallejuh - Hosanna - Psalm 3 v 5 - Peace.
It seemed a fitting tribute because this was a Premier League basement battle of biblical proportions.
Even the heavens opened as this engrossing 90 minutes was played out in a downpour which would have tempted Noah to stay indoors and watch it on the box!
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Forest weathered Saints' early storm before Awoniyi struck twice to send Ruben Selles' side ever-closer to the Championship trapdoor.
But Carlos Alcaraz threw his side a lifeline midway through a frantic first half, firing home Stuart Armstrong's cutback.
Morgan Gibbs-White restored Forest's two-goal lead just before half-time when Ainsley Maitland-Niles' clipped Brennan Johnson instead of the ball inside the box.
And from the resultant spot-kick MGW held his nerve to score.
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Saints had never recovered from a two-goal first half deficit in 32 previous attempts.
But they gave it their best shot and sub Lyanco powered a header past Keylor Navas just after the break to set up a nerve-shredding second half.
Keylor Navas was bombarded with crosses as Saints went for broke, pinning Forest back.
However Brazilian sensation Danilo sent the City Ground bonkers 17 minutes from the end when he bagged his third goal in three Premier League games to give his side some breathing space.
This was the 100th meeting between the clubs but rarely can so much have been at stake.
Both of these struggling sides had lost five of their last six league games.
As if that wasn't enough to worry about, Everton then cranked up the pressure several notches by thumping Brighton in the tea-time kick-off.
That stunning result sent Forest into the bottom three before a ball had been kicked and appeared to give them the jitters early on.
Moussa Niakhate skied an attempted clearance in his own box inside the opening minute, forcing Keylor Navas to frantically punch clear under pressure from Che Adams.
Then the Scotland international came close with a curling shot from just outside the box which flashed narrowly wide.
Felipe did well to throw himself in front of Adams to block his shot for a corner as Forest wobbled.
But Cooper's men bounced back off the ropes to seize the lead after 18 minutes.
Forest took a quick free kick and Danilo swept a sensational 40 yard pass wide to Brennan Johnson who skipped round Maitland-Niles and pulled the ball back for Awoniyi who expertly beat McCarthy.
The Nigerian sprinted off in glee and lifted his top to thank the Lord.
He had further cause to be grateful three and a half minutes later when he added a second.
Alcaraz was robbed by Serge Aurier who delivered the ball in and Saints never managed to clear their lines.
Danilo helped the ball on to Awoniyi who wheeled around to volley past McCarthy for his sixth goal of the season - half of them against Saints!
Perhaps Forest got complacent because Gibbs-White was short with a pass to Mangala and Ward-Prowse pounced.
The ball was eventually worked to Stuart Armstrong who cut back for Acaraz to beat Navas from eight yards.
Armel Bella-Kotchap then tried to play catch-up with Brennan Johnson and lost.
The defender's hamstring pinged and he was replaced by Lyanco.
Forest struck again from the spot just before the break as Morgan Gibbs-White sent the ball down the middle after Maitland-Niles failed to see Johnson and clipped him.
The bedlam continued after the break as Saints hit back again when Lyanco powered home a header
But Forest responded again as MGW played a cute flick to Danilo who made it three goals in three games with a left foot finish to make it 4-2.
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Even then Saints refused to give up and, after Felipe had a goal disallowed for offside, Saints earned a stoppage time penalty which Ward-Peowse slammed home.
Catch up with all the action from the City Ground...