Jamie Carragher has compared Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi to former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba for his first half performance vs Southampton.
The 25-year-old was the beneficiary of good work by Brennan Johnson to put Forest in the lead in the 18th minute. It got better for the Reds and Awoniyi just three minutes later when he turned well to put the ball beyond Alex McCarthy in the Southampton goal.
It was in analysing the goal during the half time break that Sky Sports pundit Carragher made the comparison. He reminded me of Drogba as soon as I saw the goal,” he said on Monday Night Football.
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“Absolutely brilliant. I've been in that position as a defender.
"The turn - and bang. Brilliant."
The Saints did hit back through a counter-attack of their own to half the deficit, but Forest restored their two goal lead from the penalty spot when Ainsley Maitland-Niles caught Johnson when trying to clear the ball.
Fellow pundit Martin O'Neill praised Johnson for winning the penalty. "I have a load of sympathy as he doesn't see him,” the Reds legend added.
“He's going to clear the ball. Johnson is very clever. He's been terrific."
Forest saw their advantage halved again in the opening minutes of the first half to set up what could be a nervy end of the game. Defender Lyanco rose highest to head in a James Ward-Prowse corner to make it 3-2 in the 51st minute.
Forest saw out the win in the end to move them above Everton and Leicester City and two points clear of the bottom three ahead of the final three games of the season. The Reds travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in their next outing next weekend.
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