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 14th 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 20th 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 6th 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 5th 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.
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