Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham 2
Steve Cooper’s side welcomed Tottenham to the City Ground, with their recent poor form seeing them flirting with the bottom three too much for their liking. The fans continue to show their support for the manager, but he needs to back this up with points.
Ange Postecoglou’s side produced the first chance of the game as the ball was worked towards the back post to find Son but Turner managed to block his shot. An early warning for the hosts if they needed one at all.
Kulusevski then managed to find former Forest player Brennan Johnson who stabbed the ball towards goal. When it seemed to be heading into the bottom corner, Matt Turner got down well again to make a smart save.
As Forest launched high balls into the box, one was flicked on to find Boly on the edge of the six yard box. He missed the ball completely with his head with it seeming to head towards goal off his arm. Vicario saved but a free kick was awarded for handball.
Credit: @premierleague
Steve Cooper’s side continued to press but Tottenham were able to protect their keeper with a number of blocks. In the melee, Johnson suffered an injury and had to be replaced with blood streaming from his head.
Spurs went straight down the other end and Richarlison headed home from Kulusevski’s cross to give the visitors the lead just before the half-time whistle. You could tell from the look on Steve Cooper’s face that this was a terrible time to concede a goal.
Whatever he said to his side at half time seemed to work as they put the visitors under some pressure. As the ball was whipped towards the back post, it found Boly in acres of space. He controlled it well but then sliced his shot over the bar, not troubling the Tottenham keeper.
It was a huge moment in the game for the hosts and a chance where you have to be hitting the target at the very least. Key chances were falling to all the wrong players for Forest, as the last person you want that dropping to is your centre-back.
As Neco Williams then played a ball across the box, Elanga slotted home as the City Ground erupted. Sadly for the luckless Cooper, the replay showed that no less than four Forest players were offside when the cross came into the box and the goal was ruled out.
Just as it seemed Forest were about to find their way back into the game, the visitors countered. Kulusevski had the ball at a tight angle at the far post and opted to shoot rather than find one of his teammates. Somehow, the effort went straight through Turner to double Spurs’ lead.
Credit: @premierleague
It was a terrible piece of goalkeeping as Turner should never be getting beaten from there. The goal gave Tottenham a safety net that Forest did not look like penetrating at all and just about summed up their luck at the moment.
Bissouma then went in rashly into a challenge on Yates. The referee produced a yellow card but was quickly told to go to the monitor. As he changed his decision from yellow to red, the Tottenham midfielder could not believe it.
As the replay showed, he had no arguments, he caught the player high up the leg. Kulusevski almost added another with an instinctive shot from the edge of the box, but on this occasion, Turner got down well to make a one-handed save.
Forest were still not done and a speculative effort from Williams was deflected wide of the goal by Romero when his shot seemed to be heading into the corner of the goal. Toffolo met the resulting corner with a good header but somehow Vicario cleared with a stray leg.
Neco Williams then saw the ball drop to him once again, controlled the ball and shot, only to see his effort hit the woodwork. Things were just not going the way of Forest and Tottenham managed to hold on for all three points.
Steve Cooper will be wondering when his side’s luck will change, something Postecoglou was thinking only two weeks ago. However, a draw and two wins has seen Spurs stop the rot and put some pressure back on the teams at the top.
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