Tottenham victory at Forest boosts top-four hopes

5 months ago 89

Last updated on 2 minutes ago.From the section Premier League

Richarlison scores for SpursRicharlison scored in back-to-back Premier League appearances for the first time since May 2022

Ten-man Tottenham condemned Nottingham Forest to a fifth Premier League defeat in six games as they underlined their top-four ambitions at the City Ground.

Richarlison's third goal in two games set Spurs on their way with the outstanding Dejan Kulusevski sealing victory for Ange Postecoglou's side who had Yves Bissouma sent off in the 70th minute.

The result moves fifth-placed Tottenham level on points with Manchester City, although the champions have played a game less.

Forest who sit 16th in the table, five points clear of the bottom three, have now won just once in their previous 13 matches in the English top flight, and the outcome of this contest is only likely to increase the pressure on boss Steve Cooper.

His side had their moments and showed plenty of endeavour but lacked the composure and quality in the final third that visitors were able to display in key moments.

Spurs controlled much of the first period, in which they lost Brennan Johnson to a head injury, and deservedly went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Brazil forward Richarlison nodded in from Kulusevski's superb cross from the right.

The hosts made an encouraging start to the second period and Willy Boly missed arguably their best opportunity to level, blazing over from just inside the visitors' penalty area.

Cooper's side also briefly thought they had equalised just before the hour mark but the video assistant referee correctly judged that Anthony Elanga had just strayed offside before sweeping in Neco Williams' cross.

And two errors from goalkeeper Matt Turner sealed their fate, with the American passing a clearance straight to Kulusevski before allowing Sweden winger powerful drive to beat him at the near post.

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario's reaction save from Harry Toffolo's point-blank header and a moment of miscommunication between Elanga and the Forest left-wing back summed up an unproductive evening for the hosts in the final third.

More to follow

Follow live text commentary of Nottingham Forest v Tottenham

helpHow to play

Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection

Nottingham Forest

Squad number1Player nameTurner

Squad number30Player nameBoly

Squad number40Player nameMurillo

Squad number19Player nameNiakhaté

Squad number7Player nameN Williams

Squad number22Player nameYates

Squad number5Player nameMangala

Squad number8Player nameKouyaté

Squad number15Player nameToffolo

Squad number21Player nameElanga

Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White

Squad number11Player nameWood

Squad number14Player nameHudson-Odoi

Squad number28Player nameDanilo

Tottenham Hotspur

Squad number13Player nameVicario

Squad number23Player namePorro

Squad number17Player nameRomero

Squad number33Player nameDavies

Squad number38Player nameUdogie

Squad number29Player nameSarr

Squad number8Player nameBissouma

Squad number22Player nameJohnson

Squad number21Player nameKulusevski

Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-min

Squad number9Player nameRicharlison

Squad number4Player nameSkipp

Squad number5Player nameHøjbjerg

Squad number12Player nameEmerson Royal

Squad number36Player nameVéliz

Line-ups

Nottm Forest

Formation 3-5-2

1Turner30BolySubstituted forWoodat 68'minutes40Santiago Costa dos SantosBooked at 82mins19Niakhaté7N Williams22Yates5MangalaSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 83'minutes8KouyatéSubstituted forDaniloat 68'minutes15ToffoloBooked at 90mins21Elanga10Gibbs-White

Substitutes

11Wood14Hudson-Odoi16Domínguez23Vlachodimos27Origi28Danilo29Montiel32Omobamidele43Aina

Tottenham

Formation 4-2-3-1

13Vicario23Porro17Romero33DaviesBooked at 73mins38UdogieBooked at 42mins29SarrBooked at 54mins8BissoumaBooked at 70mins22JohnsonSubstituted forSkippat 32'minutes21KulusevskiSubstituted forVélizat 90+9'minutes7Son Heung-minBooked at 79minsSubstituted forEmerson Royalat 88'minutes9RicharlisonSubstituted forHøjbjergat 72'minutes

Substitutes

4Skipp5Højbjerg11Gil12Emerson Royal15Dier20Forster36Véliz63Donley65Dorrington

Referee:Jarred Gillett

Attendance:29,296

Live Text

Match ends, Nottingham Forest 0, Tottenham Hotspur 2.

Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 0, Tottenham Hotspur 2.

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Alejo Véliz replaces Dejan Kulusevski.

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Neco Williams.

Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Cristian Romero.

Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest) hits the right post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Chris Wood.

Foul by Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur).

Moussa Niakhaté (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Moussa Niakhaté.

Offside, Nottingham Forest. Anthony Elanga is caught offside.

Attempt blocked. Moussa Niakhaté (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Pedro Porro.

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Murillo.

Attempt blocked. Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.

Harry Toffolo (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Emerson Royal (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Harry Toffolo (Nottingham Forest).

Attempt missed. Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi with a cross.

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Emerson Royal replaces Son Heung-Min.

Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Read Entire Article