Southampton 0-1 Nottingham Forest: Daily Echo player ratings

Southampton's first home game of the Premier League season ended in a meek defeat to Forest due to Morgan Gibbs-White’s second-half goal.

The Forest captain crashed the ball home after the hosts’ defence had failed to deal with a corner to leave Saints without a point after their first two games.

It reflected an insipid attacking display from Russell Martin’s side, who registered only a single shot on target. Here is how we rated the players...

Starters

Kyle Walker-Peters was our pick of the starters (Image: Stuart Martin)

Alex McCarthy - 7.

Not bad at all. Got away with kicking one to the opposition as he went semi-long but otherwise was no problem in possession and dealt with the few challenges he was presented with. These included a couple of smart saves at his near and far post to keep the scores at 0-0 and 0-1. 

Yukinari Sugawara - 6.

Decent. Was not as obvious a threat as he was at Newcastle but a decent well-rounded performance with and without the ball from the Japanese. Attempted a weak-foot volley from outside the box which flew over. Set up Downes and Walker-Peters for chances in the first half. 

Taylor Harwood-Bellis - 5. 

Started fine but lost his composure towards the match and was substituted after a few stray bits. Second successive match he has visibly not been happy out there. Played one straight out for a corner and was lucky it was not an own goal in the first half, even more loose in the second. 

Jan Bednarek - 6.

Looked a little bit shaky to start but grew to become reliable once again. Gave away the ball for Forest's first chance and was beaten to slide tackle by Ola Aina for the second. Had the most successful actions of any Saints player and had a 99 per cent pass success rate (121/122).

Jack Stephens - 6. 

Decent enough performance from the skipper with and against the ball. A particularly good bit of defending to cut out an Anthony Elanga ball across the box, and another against Elanga on the counter. Skinned by Elanga later on after the goal, but the Swede shot at McCarthy. 

Kyle Walker-Peters - 7.

The most key player in the team. Pops up all over the pitch and looks tidy with it, would be a real miss if he is sold in the final few days of the window. Decent defensively and had a couple of shots but didn't test the keeper - the only Saint to manage over 0.01xG during the match. 

Flynn Downes - 6. 

Some loose first-time passing but the most heavily involved of the midfielders. Great defending on the stroke of half-time to keep things level. Closed down the opposition with intent all game but lost the ball a couple of times loosely after the break as Forest ramped up the pressure. 

Will Smallbone - 6. 

Failed to impact the game enough. Loose first-time pass in the early stages. Had good success drawing Forest out with the pinch pass and was usually an accurate distributor but sometimes too safe in possession. Performed the joint-fewest actions of any Saints player with Aribo.

Joe Aribo - 6. 

Worked hard but was ultimately caught in possession for the goal. Performed the joint-fewest actions of any Saints player with Smallbone. Set up Walker-Peters for a chance and was relatively tidy when he had the ball, but this was not often and the subs who came on outshone him.

Adam Armstrong - 5.

Kept going all game and came alive for a brief period in the second half but was basically anonymous before that. The times he did get on the ball and tried to beat his man, he dribbled straight into them. Managed one shot all afternoon and it did not reach the keeper.

Ben Brereton Diaz - 6.

Tried to show skill on the ball and was the most involved of the forwards. Lost the ball more than any other player but this was as a result of actually getting on it and trying things. Looked a bit clunky at times and found it difficult to impact the game from a wide position. No shots. 

Substitutes 

Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes made his Saints debut (Image: Stuart Martin)

Sam Edozie - 5.

Came on after the goal in the 71st minute. Very disappointing afternoon for Edozie where nothing came off, with his performance summed up by a loose touch under no pressure which went out for a goal-kick. Won a couple of set-pieces with his crosses. A shame for him. 

Cameron Archer - 5.

Came on after the goal in the 71st minute. Added some threat through the middle and we saw some more link up from him, but failed to get on the end of Taylor's dangerous cross in a chance which could have put Saints level. Slipped in the box in another key moment. 

Charlie Taylor - 6.

Came on in the 76th minute. Produced a dangerous low cross into the box which Archer could have scored. Another corner sailed into Matz Sels' hands. Not much else to write about but added some additional width playing as a natural left-sider, made an impact. 

Mateus Fernandes - 7.

Came on in the 76th minute for a good debut. Neat and tidy on his Saints bow with few risks taken but made a good impact. Looked strong in his duels, winning two, and completed 100 per cent of his passes (11/11). Involved twice in creating the chance for Taylor to cross. 

Tyler Dibling - 7.

Came on for the last six minutes of regulation time and made a difference by adding energy and intent, even if the final ball was not always there. Fouled a lot as Forest attempted to stop him and worked hard both ways. Making a real case for more minutes under Martin.