NOTTINGHAM Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has given the thumbs up to Super Eagles defender Ola Aina for his late goal-line clearance in Nottingham Forest’s 3-2 win over Southampton in the English Premier League yesterday.
After racing to to a 3-0 first-half lead at the City Ground thanks to goals from Elliot Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood, Southampton fought back and almost snatched a point at the death.
Jan Bednarek pulled one back for the Saints in the 60th minute and Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu netted his first goal for the club in stoppage time to make it a tense finale.
Southampton almost drew level deep in stoppage time but Aina, who assisted Wood’s goal with a precise cross, denied Bednarek on the line to heroically preserve three points for his team.
The Nigeria international was also the hero as his goal-line clearance denied Mohamed Salah the winner in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool in the penultimate fixture.
“I think he (Aina) did the same in a previous game,” Nuno said after Sunday’s win.
“It is one of his tasks. I hope it doesn’t become a problem for us, set pieces.
“We have to work on that. You have to look back and see how demanding the game before was (against Liverpool).
“The high intensity required from our players in terms of focus and we knew this could happen. It was a warning for everybody to realise this league is very tough.”
Forest are third in the Premier League table, tied on points with second-placed Arsenal, who a superior goal difference.
Their next league fixture is a tricky trip to high-flying Bournemouth on Saturday.
