Tottenham Hotspur (A) 21/04/25

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Richarlison 87'                               Anderson 5'

                                                         Wood 16'

5 teams racing for 3 positions. Just 2 points separated 3^rd to 7^th. Forest had to watch 3 out of 4 of their rivals pick up maximum points. They had to watch themselves slip from 3^rd, the place they had held for 4 months, to 6^th ; Pressure was mounting as they had to wait until their Monday night trip to North London to bounce back. A win would put them back into that third spot. Huge pressure. But we know how our Forest like to do things.

Off the back of back-to-back loses for only the third time this season, the Reds were in need of a win to reignite their Champions League dreams. They were going to a struggling Spurs side who sit 16^th; their lowest league positioning in 48 years! The Lilywhites cemented their place in the Europa League semi-final after beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 on aggregate. It’s all Spurs really have left to play for as they close a very poor league campaign. Ange named 6 changes in his side whilst Nuno made 3 with a surprise inclusion for Harry Toffolo, starting his first game in the Premier League since last May. Forest’s 1-0 win on Boxing Day was their first win in 7 against Spurs but they have not done a league double over the Lilywhites since 1996/97.

It was Forest who had the first attempt of the game. Elliot Anderson played a lovely ball, through the lines, into the feet of Gibbs-White who turned to shoot from 25 yards out. His low effort attempting to find the bottom right corner was well stopped by Vicario. Anthony Elanga’s corner was headed clear at the near post by Pedro Porro. This is one of Spurs’ tactics: Porro clears on the front post to Kulusevski on the edge of the box for a quick break. However, Dominguez got in the way flicked the ball to the edge of the box for Anderson to have a shot. Kulusevski had already began the run so Anderson could get the shot away on the volley and find the back of the net with the help of a deflection. The Reds have scored first in 24 top-flight games this season, more than any other side.

In their last 11 games when going behind, Spurs have failed to win so it was going to be an uphill battle. Things seemed to go from bad to worse as Chris Wood poked the ball beyond Vicario from a sublime ball over the top from Anderson but following a VAR check, the Kiwi was offside. Moments later things did go from bad to worse as Forest doubled their lead. Forest had a free-kick just inside the host’s half. Murillo played it out to the left for Elanga with no one in white tracking his run. The Swede crossed the ball into the danger area where Wood headed in. Vicario had come out a long way for the ball but the striker got there first for his 19^th goal of the Premier League season. Spurs were trying their luck from distance but shots from both Odobert and Kulusevski were well saved by Sels.

Chances to decrease the deficit were coming thick and fast. Porro whipped in a ball from the right which Neco Williams looked to clear with a diving header. Instead, he missed the ball and it landed at the feet of Tel who looked to have a brilliant opportunity but could only blast his shot well wide. Porro played the ball to Tel down the right side of the box. He crossed for the back post where Richarlison looked to have an open net but Pape Sarr got in his way and he could only head wide.

Once again, it was the visitors to have the first real chance of the second half. From a Sels long kick, Gibbs-White got up above Davies to head down for Wood. He flicked the ball back into the England international’s path as he bore down on goal. He took on the shot first time only to fire just wide of the left post. The hosts nearly halved the deficit but were denied by one of many goal line clearances from Forest this season. Porro crossed in a corner from the right which was flicked on at the near post by Kulusevski and looked to be looping over Sels and in. To rescue was Harry Toffolo who almost scissor-kicked the ball off the line. Just minutes later, in a moment of chaos, Spurs forced the Forest ‘keeper into another good save. In an attack for the hosts, Porro looked to find Tel on the right side. Williams intercepted the pass, but his clearance hit teammate Ryan Yates and landed in the path of Richarlison. He looked to hit the shot on the volley but Sels rushed out and made him self big to deny the Brazilian.

As the clock ticked down and Forest sat deep to hold on to their clean sheet, the chances kept falling for Spurs. Porro saw Richarlison in the box and delivered in a pin-point cross for the unchallenged striker whose header looked to be bouncing into the bottom left corner. However, Sels got down to stop him and parry it away. Time was running out for Ange’s side but in a crucial moment, they found a crucial goal. Again, Porro delivered in a delightful ball from the right and this time, Richarlison managed to head beyond Sels and into the bottom left corner. Time did run out and the Lilywhites fell to their 18^th loss of the season. Meanwhile, Forest were celebrating.

 On Monday, I thought all the boys were outstanding especially Elliot whose performance was definitely man of the match worthy. Also plaudits to Danilo who had a much better performance then recent games and Toffs who hasn’t played in while and came back like nothing changed. That goal line clearance! I thought we handled the pressure extremely well especially after dropping to 6^th and losing our last 2. We have only lost 3 games in a row under Nuno once. We also have a good record on Easter Monday, unbeaten in our last 17 top-flight games. Now we get to look forward to our trip to Wembley this weekend!

Spurs: Vicario; Spence, Van de ven (Davies 46’), Romero (Dango 46’), Porro; Sarr (Bergvall 81’), Bentancur, Kulusevski (Johnson 67’); Tel, Richarlison, Odobert (Solanke 67’)

Forest: Sels; Toffolo, Murillo, Morato, Williams; Anderson, Dominguez (Yates 58’); Danilo (Hudson-Odoi 58’), Gibbs-White (Sosa 90’), Elanga (Morato 46’); Wood (Awoniyi 76’)