Match Report: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Nottingham Forest. Kane and Son strike as Spurs beat Forest.

 

Another away game to forget for Nottingham Forest as their poor run away from the City Ground continue as they fall to defeat to Antonio Conte's Tottenham Hotspur. A brace from Harry Kane and a second half strike from Heung-Min Son get a first win in three for Spurs just days after their Champions League exit to AC Milan. The Whites remain fourth in the table, six points clear of fifth place Liverpool after their defeat at Bournemouth. Forest remain 14^th but are getting ever so closer to the bottom three after no win in five games.

Antonio Conte made three changes to his side that drew 0-0 with AC Milan in the Champions League. Eric Dier, Pedro Porro and Richarlison came in for Ivan Perisic, Emerson Royal and Dejan Kulusevski. Dier coming back into the side after his performance in the defeat to Sheffield United in the FA Cup. Steve Cooper made two changes to his side that drew to Everton last week. Orel Mangala came in for Jack Colback in the midfield. Jesse Lingard made his first start since late December after his injury, he replaced striker Chris Wood.

It only took Spurs three minutes to have the ball in the back off the net. Oliver Skipp lifted a ball over the top of the Forest defence and found Richarlison and he struck past Navas. The Brazilian thought he scored his first goal of the Premier League season until after a VAR check the goal was called off as the forward was offside.

The home side did eventually find the break through on the 20 minute mark. January signing Porro crossed a ball in from the right and it found the head of Harry Kane, who in trademark fashion, found the back of the net. The England captain scored a brace in the reverse fixture and looked to cause problems for the Forest defenders again.

Kane then had a chance to get his brace. After Richarlison got into the box, he was brought down by Forest captain Joe Worrall and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Kane then smashed his penalty past Keylor Navas and got his 20^th goal of the Premier League season. Kane was denied from the spot earlier in the season by Dean Henderson but Navas could not produce the heroics of his teammate.

That was it for the first half and it felt like the same old situation for the Reds after only one away win all season in the league. Tottenham were controlling the game but struggled to create a clear cut chance other than their goals. Steve Cooper, clearly frustrated with the performance, did make two changes at the break. Lingard and Mangala came off for Emmanuel Dennis and Andre Ayew as Forest looked for more attacking threat.

Son added a third for Spurs half an hour into the second half. After breaking from a Forest attack, Richarlison picked up the ball from a Worrall clearance and sent a cross into the box. Son brought it down nicely and calmly finished into the bottom corner. It was a 6^th goal of the season for the South Korean who has had a difficult season by his standards and seemed to wrap up three points for Conte's side.

The away side then threatened Fraser Forster. A Morgan Gibbs-White corner was met by former Spurs man Serge Aurier and he was brilliantly denied by the 6'7 keeper. Then just moments later, Forster was in action again. Aurier involved again as he sent a ball in from a deep position and found Dennis at the back post and he was denied by Forster as well. Forest starting to create chances but at to late of a stage.

With nine minutes to go, Forest scored their fourth away goal of the season in the league. Felipe headed on from a Gibbs-White corner and captain Worrall headed home from the back post to score his first ever a Premier League goal. It gave something to cheer about for the away following who have not had much to celebrate away this season.

Forest then had a chance to score their 5^th away goal of the season in stoppage time. After a lengthy VAR check, a penalty was given for a handball on Kulusevski. Former Swansea City man Andre Ayew stepped up and was denied his first Forest goal by Fraser Forster. It summed up a dismal afternoon for the Reds and will not do Ayew's confidence a good.

It ended 3-1 in London and will ease the pressure on Spurs boss Antonio Conte. Spurs now slowly getting away from Liverpool in a race for Champions League qualification. Next up for Tottenham they travel to struggler's Southampton where they will look to make it two wins on the spin. Another afternoon to forget for Forest as they are still looking for a second away win. The Reds host high flying Newcastle on a Friday night kick off and they will be hoping their good home form will continue against Eddie Howe's side.

Match Report: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Everton. Johnson double denies Everton win.

 

In a crucial match at the bottom end of the Premier League, Nottingham Forest and Everton shared the points in an feisty affair at the City Ground. Goals from Demari Gray and Abdoulaye Doucoure were cancelled out by a Brennan Johnson double as Forest stretch their unbeaten home run in the league to nine. The Reds are now 14^th in the table and remain four points clear off the bottom three. The Toffee's remain in the relegation zone but only on goal difference as they are tied on points with Leeds United.

Steve Cooper made one change to his side that was swept away late on by West Ham United last week. Serge Aurier came back into the side following his injury, Neco Williams was the man who dropped out. Renan Lodi, who was a doubt for the game, started in defence. Sean Dyche made two switches to his team that lost 4-0 to league leaders Arsenal in midweek. Demari Gray lead the line, coming in for Neal Maupay. Vitalii Mykolenko came out the squad and Ben Godfrey replaced him.

After ten minutes, Dwight McNeil went down just inside the box under the challenge of Jonjo Shelvey and referee John Brooks pointed straight to the spot. Former Leicester City man Demari Gray coolly converted from the spot to score his fourth goal of the Premier League campaign. The forward scored in the reverse fixture back in August.

Just a couple of minutes later, Forest were level. Morgan Gibbs-White made his way into the box after playing a nice one two with Chris Wood. His shot was saved by Jordan Pickford but Johnson was there to pounce on the rebound and equalise for the Reds. It was a first goal in three games for the Welshman, who's form has risen up since the World Cup.

The visitors retook the lead 15 minutes before half time. An free kick was launched deep into the Forest penalty area, Michael Keane headed on for Doucoure who headed it past Navas. It was the former Watford midfielders first goal of the season and it was the perfect time to get it.

It was almost three for Dyche's men. Five minutes before half time. McNeil was allowed time and space to get a shot off from distance. This was tipped over by Navas as Everton looked to pile on more pressure on the Forest goal. The former Burnley man has not scored since October and was looking to change it in the Sunday kick off.

That was it for the first half. Forest behind at home at half time for the first time since January in an game that would of seen them go seven points clear of the bottom three if they won. It was an half of minimal chances as both team's could not create an opening. Everton taking their chances well and were frustrating Cooper's men.

It took a while for the first chance in the second half. It proved to be a vital chance though as Forest equalised in the 78^th minute. After Everton gave the ball away in their own half. Johnson played a one two with substitute Ryan Yates before thundering his shot into the top left corner and beating Pickford. The Welshman is on nine goals in the Premier League and will be looking to add more in the coming games. Yates with an assist on his first game back after picking up an injury at Bournemouth in January.

Momentum was flowing the way of Forest as they launched a counter attack with ten minutes to go. Gibbs-White put through substitute Andre Ayew on the left side and his low shot was pushed away by Pickford. Johnson couldn't quite reach the ball for the follow up and couldn't get his hat-trick.

That momentum could not find the winning goal and it finished 2-2 at the City Ground. Both sides left frustrated as a win would of put them in an good position in the table for this relegation battle. Next up for Forest they travel to London to face Tottenham Hotspur where they will look to turn their away woes around after winning just one away game and scoring three goals all season. For Everton, they host Brentford at Goodison Park where they will be looking to get out the bottom three and to start building a gap. Both sides will want to start picking up wins as it is getting to a crucial stage of the season where survival is the top priority.