26 December 2024
Nott’m Forest 1 Tottenham 0
High-flying Nottingham Forest welcomed Tottenham to the City Ground. The visitors were finding life difficult of late, unable to stop conceding goals. The hosts were looking to cement their place in fourth with victory, much to the surprise of everyone this season. Ex-Forest player Brennan Johnson was hoping this would be a happy return to his old club.
As a Spurs attack broke down, Forest immediately got the ball to the dangerous Gibbs-White. He spotted the run of Hudson-Odoi and played a sublime pass through the visitors’ defence to find him. The former Chelsea winger cut inside onto his right foot with only one thing on his mind. Sadly for the home fans, he could not keep his shot down as it whistled over.
The game was starting to turn into an end-to-end affair. Tottenham were probing and worked the ball to Johnson at the back post. He drilled an effort towards the far corner but Sels got down well to save. Despite their recent form, you know this Spurs side are a threat to anyone in attack. Forest were going to have to be wary of overcommitting in attack and leaving themselves open.
Gibbs-White was pulling all the strings in midfield and his range of passing was causing the visitors problems. One such move saw Elanga with the chance to shoot from the edge of the box. Fortunately for Postecoglou’s side, Forest had not seemed to find their range just yet. The winger’s shot went over the target without really troubling Forster.
Moments later Gibbs-White made a bursting run through the middle. He threaded it in behind the Spurs’ defence for Elanga to run onto and slot past the advancing Forster. The City Ground was bouncing as the ball nestled into the back of the net. Spurs only had themselves to blame, they were giving Forest’s danger man far too much time and space on the ball.
Kulusevski was looking as dangerous as ever. He got into the box, twisting and turning defenders. Once at the byline, he laid it off into the path of the advancing Johnson. His first-time shot was tipped over the bar by another brilliant reaction save from Sels. Postecoglou’s side had their work cut out to beat the Forest keeper on this form.
Into the second-half and a teasing cross from the hosts was poorly clawed away by Forster. It dropped to Gibbs-White but the keeper redeemed himself as he threw himself at the shot to deflect it wide of the goal. The Spurs’ stopper had come under some criticism for errors recently and the last thing he needed was another assist for an opponent’s goal.
Tottenham were starting to dominate possession and put some real pressure on Forest. However, they were struggling to create clear-cut chances all too often. They managed to force a corner and as the ball came into the box Sels punched clear. It was recycled and Johnson turned his man brilliantly but as he looked to slot it into the bottom corner, the hosts’ keeper saved again, this time with an outstretched leg.
In such a tight game, Spurs were starting to get infuriated by the performance of Sels. He had denied them three great scoring chances. With time running out it was backs against the walls for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. They had a lead to protect and were not going to risk a late equaliser chasing a second goal it would seem.
The Forest manager made four late changes in order to get some fresh legs on the pitch. Some of his players were looking dead on their feet. As Maddison was penalised for a trip out wide, Spence was booked for throwing the ball away. The frustrations of the visitors were there for all to see, the hosts were doing a real number on them.
As another Tottenham attack broke down moments later, Spence was penalised for a trip, preventing the counter-attack. The referee did not bat an eyelid as he produced a second yellow card and gave the full-back his marching orders. At this point Postecoglou could not believe his luck as he lost yet another defender for their next game.
Neither Johnson nor Spence will look back at their return to the City Ground with any fond memories. The former was denied a goal twice by the impressive Sels while the added-time sending off summed up Spurs’ fortunes currently. The win put Forest five points clear of the side below them as fans continue to dream of adventures in Europe.
Tottenham couldn’t buy a win at the moment and find themselves languishing in twelfth place in the table. The pressure is mounting on Postecoglou, with many questioning whether he is the man to lead the club forward. Injuries are plaguing his side at the moment and they are looking vulnerable in defence as a result. Whether the club give him money to spend in the transfer window remains to be seen.
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