The Saints were still searching for their first top-flight victory under recently-appointed manager Nathan Jones ahead of kick-off as they sought to end a dismal run of five consecutive league defeats.
The struggling home side saw Che Adams fire a golden chance wide of the target in the game’s opening stages after being sent through on goal by Kyle Walker-Peters.
In the opposing dugout, Nottingham Forest aimed to build on their 1-1 home draw with Chelsea last time out in a bid to steer clear of relegation danger.
Steve Cooper’s men came close to breaking the deadlock in the 12th minute when Brennan Johnson struck the bar with a close-range attempt following a lively counter-attack.
Jones recently admitted that his Southampton team were “gifting teams goals”. The former Luton Town boss oversaw Saints give away another 'present' in the 27th minute when some sloppy play allowed Forest to break away, with Awoniyi ultimately finding the net from six yards out.
Despite ending the opening 45 minutes on top, Southampton were once again booed off at the break.
Upon returning to the field for the second half, another careless error at the back by the Saints almost allowed Awoniyi to double Forest’s advantage, but the Nigerian international fluffed his lines and blasted over the bar.
On the hunt for a leveller, the home side had a decent spell of pressure before the hour mark, which prompted Jones to make a triple substitution on the 64th minute in an attempt to inspire a comeback.
The Saints continued to dominate possession as the clock ticked down, but they ultimately struggled to turn their superiority into goals, which was evident by their failure to register any attempts on target.
As a result, Southampton remain stranded at the bottom of the table and without a win in the Premier League since October 2022.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest)
