SAINTS took another step towards their relegation from the Premier League after finding themselves on the wrong end of an enthralling 4-3 clash at rivals Nottingham Forest.

The Premier League was treated to a feast of goals over three games on bank holiday Monday with Taiwo Awoniyi netting a brace inside 21 minutes.

Charly Alcaraz scored his fourth league goal since a January move but former Wolves man Morgan Gibbs-White restored the two-goal lead before half-time.

Lyanco’s first goal for the club right after the break was not enough to count for anything as Danilo made sure of the three points – before Forest also had a goal ruled out and conceded a James Ward-Prowse penalty in added time.

Manager Selles made three changes to his team that were beaten at Newcastle United last time out, with Che Adams coming in to start for the first time since March.

Saints ended the night eight points adrift of safety with just three games to play – when they could have been within three points of climbing out of the drop zone with a victory.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Theo Walcott also returned to the starting fold in the place of Lyanco, Moussa Djenepo and Kamaldeen Sulemana.

While relegation-threatened Leicester City were beaten 5-3 by Fulham on Monday, Everton thumped Brighton 5-1 as the bottom of the table took further shape ahead of kick-off at the City Ground.

January’s 1-0 loss to Forest endured at St Mary’s under former manager Nathan Jones was a point in the season many supporters truly felt relegation could be on the cards.

A similar result here would all but seal it with as many as eight points possible separating Saints and safety with just three games left in the Premier League campaign.

Adams looked good value for his place in the team and threatened early on with a speculative effort before a better chance saw his shot from inside the area blocked.

But it was Forest who opened with a quick free-kick in their half and a long ball over Maitland-Niles, as Awoniyi finished the square ball for his first goal since scoring against Saints five months ago.

Three minutes later Awoniyi backed into Bella-Kotchap inside the area and thumped beyond McCarthy on the swivel to double the home side’s advantage and lift the roof off of City Ground.

Saints looked doomed but were able to re-establish a foothold in the game on the counter by the 25th minute, as excellent play from Stuart Armstrong saw Alcaraz with time inside the box to finish.  

Bella-Kotchap’s torrid evening ended after just 37 minutes with a leg muscle injury caused as Brennan Johnson stripped him down the line and Selles was forced to introduce Lyanco in his place.

The half would only get worse for Saints, though, as Gibbs-White stepped up to convert a penalty that Maitland-Niles had conceded for kicking Brennan Johnson as he attempted to clear.

Substitute Lyanco got his team off to the perfect start in the second half, though, heading on from a sublime Ward-Prowse corner to reduce arrears.

The captain’s deliveries were on point throughout the second half but just as Paul Onuachu was being readied on the bench, Forest delivered the sickener with just 17 minutes to play.

A simply stunning one-touch flick from Gibbs-White diverted Johnson’s ball to Danilo and the Brazilian hammered in to restore their two-goal lead.

Steve Cooper then brought on two defenders to shut up shop and preserve their well-earned lead, almost certainly condemning Saints to Championship football next campaign.

They almost scored again as another free-kick over the top was touched down by Felipe and lofted over Alex McCarthy – but the Red man was ruled offside after an elegant flip in celebration.

The drama continued long into the night as three minutes into seven of added time Romeo Lavia was brought down in the area and Ward-Prowse converted down the middle for his eighth league goal of the campaign.

Nottingham Forest: Navas; Aurier (Worrall, 64), Mangala, Niakhate, Lodi (Surridge, 80); Felipe, Yates (Kouyate, 69) Danilo; Johnson (Boly, 80), Gibbs-White, Awoniyi (Toffolo, 80).

Unused subs: Lingard, Freuler, Ayew, Hennessey (g/k).

Booked: Lodi.

Saints: Bazunu; Maitland-Niles, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap (Lyanco, 37), Walker-Peters; Lavia, Ward-Prowse, Walcott (Kamaldeen, 61), S Armstrong (A Armstrong, 75); Alcaraz (Edozie, 75), Adams (Onuachu, 75).

Unused subs: Caleta-Car, Elyounoussi, Mara, Bazunu (g/k).

Referee: Michael Oliver.

VAR: Paul Tierney.