NIGERIAN stars Taiwo Awoniyi and Alex Iwobi played pivotal roles today to help Nottingham Forest and Everton secure crucial victories in English Premier League clashes against Southampton and Brighton respectively.
Awoniyi struck his first-ever brace in English football tonight as Forest defeated Southampton 4-3 at the City Ground to climb out of the relegation zone.
The Super Eagles striker netted Forest’s first two goals of the game in the 18th and 21st minutes, the second a brilliant volley from inside the Southampton box.
Southampton halved the deficit in the 25th minute through Carlos Alcaraz but Forest restored their two-goal lead with a Morgan Gibbs-White penalty just before half-time.
Bottom side Southampton refused to go away quietly, scoring through Lyanco six minutes into the second half to make it 3-2, before Danilo again gave the hosts a two-goal cushion with a 73rd minute strike.
Southampton, who brought on towering Nigeria striker Paul Onuachu for the final 14 minutes, had the last say with James Ward-Prowse’s penalty in added time, but it was not enough to earn them a point.
With the win, Forest rose to 16th, two spots and three points above the relegation places. Southampton are stuck in bottom place, eight points from safety with only three games left.
Earlier, Everton pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the Premier League this season, stunning Brighton 5-1 at the Amex Stadium.
The ever-present Iwobi put in a hard shift and assisted one of the goals as the Toffees secured a sweet victory that took them out of the drop zone.
The visitors were 3-0 up against a befuddled Brighton side in the first half through breakaway strikes from Abdoulaye Doucoure in the first and 29th minutes, and a 35th minute own goal from goalkeeper Jason Steele.
Iwobi set up Dwight McNeil to make it 4-0 in the 76th minute, before shell-shocked Brighton found a consolation goal through Alexis Mac Allister 11 minutes from time.
McNeil added insult to Brighton’s injury in added time to make it 5-1 as Everton moved up to 17th, two points clear of the relegation zone and their hosts stay in seventh spot.
Also today, Leicester City sank deeper into relegation waters after a 5-3 defeat at Fulham.
Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was a 60th minute substitute for Leicester City as they slipped to 18th place, two points from safety.
