It was an unhappy return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Nuno Espírito Santo as his Nottingham Forest side fell to a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur as the Premier League relegation battle takes another twist. Mickey Van De Ven and Pedro Porro added to a Murillo own goal to get Tottenham over the line despite a first half goal from Chris Wood. The result leaves Forest looking over their shoulder with Spurs claiming a big win for their Champions League hopes.
Ange Postecoglou made one change from the side that drew away to West Ham United. Pape Sarr replaced Rodrigo Bentancur in the midfield as Spurs looked to go four unbeaten. Nuno named an unchanged side from the Reds brilliant display at home to Fulham in midweek as he looked for a similar outcome.
With 15 minutes of the first half played, the home side found the opening goal. Heung-Min Son playing the ball to Timo Werner on the left side and his low cross was put into his own net by Forest defender Murillo to give the home side the lead. A disappointing moment for the Brazilian who was in the wrong place at the wrong time which gave Tottenham what was a deserved lead.
The home side almost doubled their lead in similar fashion. Werner on the left again put a low ball across which was met by former Forest man Brennan Johnson but he was brilliantly denied by Matz Sels from close range to keep the score down. Forest seemingly struggling to deal with the low balls into the box with former academy graduate Johnson almost adding a second.
The away side then found their leveller just after the 25 minute mark. Anthony Elanga on the right playing a ball into the box to in-form man Wood who found the far corner with a neat finish. That’s now four goals in four games for the Reds top scorer who is having a brilliant time under Nuno, who will be hoping to keep the 32 year old for from how until the end of the season.
Wood really should have had two. Ola Aina pulled the ball back to Ryan Yates and his shot was saved but Wood was on hand for the rebound but hit the post from close range. It looked like a certain goal for the striker after his recent run of form so it was a shock to everyone that he missed.
That was it for the first half with an even encounter between the side. Tottenham started off the better but Forest ended the half the better team and were looking to carry that momentum into the second half and try to claim an important three points. Spurs did make a change at the break with Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojberg replacing Yves Bissouma and Sarr.
Spurs then retook the lead after 56 minutes. Son laid the ball off to defender Van De Ven on the edge of the area and his left footed shot flew into the top corner to give them the lead. A second league goal for the Dutchman who’s shot gave Sels no chance and put Forest to the soil.
The home side then found their third of the game with just over half an hour to play. James Maddison with a cross from the left which was flicked on by Bentancur and met by Porro who’s first time shot found the back of the net. A first Premier League goal of the season for the former Sporting man and a goal which wrapped up three points for the North London side.
So it was Spurs who walked away with the three points after a comfortable second half performance. A big win in their race for top four with the result taking them up to fourth and level on points with Aston Villa who sit below them on goal difference. Next up is a trip to St. James Park to play Newcastle United where they will look to go four unbeaten. For Forest, it’s a disappointing result after a solid first half display from the Reds. They remain 17th but only ahead of Luton Town on goal difference. Nuno faces another former side next as they host Wolverhampton Wanderers as the season is reaching crunch time.
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