The first Premier League home game for Nottingham Forest in 23 years was won thanks to Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi's debut goal for the team.
On Sunday, the 25-year-old bundled in from close range against West Ham United in first-half stoppage time to help his team to a 1-0 victory.
Awoniyi played for Liverpool for six years without making a single first-team appearance until leaving in 2021 for Union Berlin and later joining Forest for £17 million in June.
He told BBC Match of the Day 2, "I'm incredibly thrilled with the goal since it took me a long road to come back to the Premier League."
I'm extremely, very proud of myself because of this.
He told BBC Match of the Day 2, "I'm incredibly thrilled with the goal since It took me a long road to come back to the Premier League."
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"I'm grateful to God for it, of course, and I'm very, very proud of myself for it."
He told BBC Match of the Day 2, "I'm incredibly thrilled with the goal since it took me a long road to come back to the Premier League."
"I'm grateful to God for it, of course, and I'm very, very proud of myself for it."
Before returning to England, Awoniyi scored 20 goals in 43 games for Union in all competitions the previous season. Forest acquired him for what at the time was a club record sum.
Although his goal at the City Ground, on his first start for the team, won't be remembered as one of his best in his career, the Super Eagle understands Forest's wider picture.
The team's success is what matters most to him, he continued.
"We must extend a heartfelt thank you to the supporters, as their support kept the team going till the final horn from the start of the game until the conclusion.
After losing to Newcastle in their Premier League debut, Forest shattered their previous transfer record to acquire Nigerian international Emmanuel Dennis from Watford for £20 million. Cheikhou Kouyate, a midfielder from Senegal, was added as a free agent.
Aribo 'buzzing' after first Southampton goal
Meanwhile, Awoniyi's compatriot Joe Aribo came off the bench to also open his Premier League account as Southampton bounced back from two goals down to salvage a battling point in their 2-2 draw against Leeds.
After a lacklustre hour, and trailing 2-0 at home, under-fire manager Ralph Hasenhuttl introduced the Nigerian midfielder off the bench - and it took him 10 minutes to score for the Saints on Saturday.
The new arrival from Rangers received a pass from Adam Armstrong, rolled the ball out of the goalkeeper's reach before smashing it through the retreating Leeds defenders on the line to reduce arrears for the hosts.
Kyle Walker-Peters fired an 81st-minute equaliser from an acute angle as the Saints ended a run of five consecutive Premier League defeats.
"I'm buzzing I was able to leave my impact on the game, help the team get back, show some spirit and a fight," Aribo told BBC Radio Solent.
"I thought I had messed it up. But luckily I just shifted it onto my right and shot it. I'm surprised I scored my first Premier League goal with my right foot."
The Saints had appeared to lack a cutting edge as the stands began to empty at a sun-drenched St Mary's before Aribo's introduction.
But the 26-year-old admitted the team showed a great fighting spirit to snatch a point - and prevented a record-equalling sixth league defeat in a row.
"I think the fans helped us a lot. They stayed behind us, even though it got to 2-0 and it's really important to have that," he added.
"I think we showed a lot of fire and a lot of character out there, it's really important to have that spirit and togetherness in a team."
