Tottenham 0-3 Nottingham Forest match report: Spurs fumble relegation six-pointer despite electric atmosphere

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Pressure on Igor Tudor ramps up again after Tottenham fail to deliver in a must-win relegation six-pointer against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.

Coming into this on the back of a hard-fought draw at Anfield and an incredible, albeit ultimately meaningless, win against Atletico Madrid, one would have expected Tottenham Hotspur to carry that momentum into a game of this magnitude, especially with the home support creating a genuinely outstanding atmosphere from well before kick-off.

However, what followed was a performance that simply did not match the occasion, as the players failed to repay the faith shown by the supporters in what was, quite frankly, a damaging defeat.

First half: Tottenham 0-1 Nottingham Forest

With injuries easing slightly, Igor Tudor named one of his stronger squads in recent weeks, sticking with his 4-4-2 system while deploying Micky Van de Ven at left-back and pushing Pedro Porro further forward on the right.

Although the opening exchanges favoured Nottingham Forest, who came closest early on when Igor Jesus was denied a straightforward header thanks to a brilliant intervention from Kevin Danso, Spurs gradually took control and began to impose themselves on the game.

Mathys Tel and Richarlison both went close as the hosts built pressure, and Forest nearly handed Tottenham the opener themselves when Igor Jesus almost turned a Danso long throw into his own net.

And in typical Spurs fashion, the side on top somehow found themselves behind just before the break, as Jesus made sure to head into the correct net this time, meeting Neco Williams’ corner near the far post to give Forest the lead.

Spurs were unlucky not to equalise in stoppage time when Tel’s powerful effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Matz Sels, the woodwork denying them for the second time on the day.

Second half: Tottenham 0-3 Nottingham Forest

In what felt like a slightly rushed decision, Tudor made a double change at the break, introducing Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall in place of Djed Spence and Van de Ven.

Forest, however, continued to find joy down the flanks, and after Guglielmo Vicario had done well to deny an unmarked Neco Williams from Elliot Anderson’s delivery, the warning signs were there for all to see.

Spurs, though, failed to heed them, and it was not long before they were punished once more, this time with Morgan Gibbs-White left unmarked as he finished through Vicario’s legs after good work down the left from Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Chances did come for Tottenham, with both Pape Sarr and Bergvall finding themselves in promising positions, but while the former’s effort was well struck, the latter somehow failed to apply the finishing touch from close range.

With the stadium already beginning to empty, those who remained were given little reason to stay when substitute Taiwo Awoniyi turned home Neco Williams’ cross to make it 3-0.

Spurs Web man of the match: Mathys Tel

What’s next for Spurs?

The Spurs supporters will be utterly disappointed with the way the players performed, given thousands of them were lined up outside the stadium several hours before kick-off just to welcome the team bus and show how much the game meant to them.

Such a shame none of the players on the pitch acknowledged those efforts where it mattered, and it is very concerning given it feels like these players do not have it in them for a relegation fight.

30 points from 31 games, winless in the last 12 league games, seven more games remaining, and just one point above the relegation zone. Fans show up, and still it is not enough for the players to wake up.

It simply cannot go on like this, because Spurs would have dropped to 18th today had West Ham won their fixture.

Next up is a tough away fixture vs Sunderland.