Extended player ratings: Saints 0 Forest 2

Davis - 7: Even by his recent high standards, he made a truly exceptional save to get a fingertip to a shot from just six yards. A one-handed save from similar range in the second half just seemed routine for him of late. He was guilty of some sloppy handling in the second half, but shouldn't be blamed for being lobbed by Garner's wonder goal - no one saw that coming. All his good work is simply improving our goal difference at present and he deserves much better protection.

James - 5: Slowly improving as a defender even if he did get caught out of position too often and made some clumsy tackles. Made up for it with a vital interception and a block to keep the score down. Poor delivery into the box wasn't helped by his seeming unwillingness to get to the byline. I'll say it again, he'd made a half decent right midfielder.

Pearce - 4: Seems to have gone backwards of late, summed up by a terrible slip to gift Forest a chance. As our key defender in the air should have been more alert for the opening goal and the less said about the defending on the ground the better. Perhaps he is carrying an injury after all.

Perry - 5: Short of his recent best, he had a busy afternoon with so little protection in front of him. Still got in some well timed challenges and tackles, but again where was the marking for the first goal?

Skacel - 5: For a player with such a talented left foot, his delivery into the box was very poor, failing to beat the first man time and time again. Was involved in some slick moves down the left with Holmes and Surman but the lack of end product made it all rather pointless. Showed he can run with the ball as well with a penetrating dribble into the box, that like so much of Saints' attacking came to nothing.

Cork - 6: A class apart, he glided past players with ease, but also got stuck in with some well-timed and some less well-timed challenges. Overrun in the second half, frustration got the better of him towards the end when he tried to do it all on his own from 30 yards with some wasteful shooting.

Surman - 5: Despite displaying some lovely touches on the ball, he looked back to the Surman of last year in this performance, where he was outmuscled and outworked by an equally youthful Forest midfield. Hit the post with a sweet strike from distance that may have changed the game had it gone in.

Lallana - 5: Started the game brightly on the right hand side pushing forward well and taking the game to Forest, helped by Jason Euell's prompting to keep the width. A switch with Euell put pay to that as Lallana faded out the game and got deeper and deeper. Some beautiful skill on the ball but those ballet shoes need steel-toecaps to add some power to his shooting.

Euell - 4: Having talked up Jason Euell during the week on this site, he looked back to his pre-Pearson worst with some poor first touches and cheap concession of possesion. Didn't use his height to best effect in the box by failing to get on the end of the few crosses that beat the first defender.

Holmes - 5: Clearly short of match fitness, he gave his all and was Saints' main outlet on the left flank adding width, but unfortunately not enough consistent quality into the box. Involved in some neat moves down the left, but also needed to get on the end of chances from the other flank.

McGoldrick - 3: A player desperately short of confidence, he had a very poor afternoon, unable to hold the ball up or get anywhere near the crosses coming into the box. Looked a shadow of the skillful, if erratic, player of earlier in the season and had to endure the ignominy of the cheers that greeted his substitution. Needs a spell in the reserves to get his confidence back.

Wright-Phillips - 4: Made a lively start to create a chance within a couple of minutes of coming on, but that was it. Guilty of not even challenging for the ball when it came to him in the air and rarely tracked back when the ball was surrendered. Not good enough.

Gasmi - 2: Looked to be suffering from culture shock as the reality of Championship football hit home. Jumped out of a challenge within seconds of coming on and then writhed on the ground after a fair challenge. Showed some skill on the ball, but without the courage to compete for it, it's pointless.