The stage was set for Tottenham to build on their momentum, but instead, they put on a lackluster display, suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest. The 3-0 victory was a resounding triumph for Sean Dyche's side, who have now created a comfortable five-point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone, leaving West Ham in their wake.
Ibrahim Sangaré stole the show with a sensational first-time strike that ricocheted off the upright, capping off a miserable afternoon for Thomas Frank's Tottenham. The visitors' woes were compounded by the erratic performance of their goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, who was at fault for Forest's first two goals, both scored by Callum Hudson-Odoi. Vicario's hospital pass led to the opener, and his positioning was exposed for a freakish second, leaving the Spurs faithful bewildered.
By the final whistle, the olés were ringing out, and scores of away supporters, who had been given complimentary blue-and-white scarves by Spurs, had already made their way to the turnstiles. Vicario and Archie Gray, whose combined errors led to the opener, raised their palms in a gesture of apology, a stark acknowledgment of their role in the defeat. The loss was a far cry from the Champions League victory over Slavia Prague just days prior, and it seemed that Spurs had failed to capitalize on the momentum.
Frank had made two changes to the starting lineup, promoting Rodrigo Bentancur and Randal Kolo Muani to the first team, but it seemed to have little impact on the team's overall performance. From the onset, Spurs appeared flat, and it was only a matter of time before Forest seized the initiative. Nicolò Savona's cross in the fourth minute found Sangaré unmarked, and his header crashed against the base of the post, a warning sign that Spurs failed to heed.
Igor Jesus's effort was then blocked by Bentancur, and Vicario was called into action, springing to his left to keep out a thudded Neco Williams effort. However, Spurs struggled to relieve the pressure, and Nikola Milenkovic's header sailed off target. As the half-hour mark approached, Forest seized the lead, and it was a goal that would have far-reaching consequences for the visitors.
The goal was a dreadful one from Tottenham's perspective, with Vicario's bobbled pass being picked up by Sangaré, who squared unselfishly to provide Hudson-Odoi with the simplest of finishes from a few yards out.
The lead was a testament to Forest's cunning and Spurs' lack of cohesion. Gray rattled an effort at John Victor's near post in the 33rd minute, but it proved to be their sole effort on target. A few minutes later, Igor Jesus sent a devilish cross towards the back post, but an outstretched Morgan Gibbs-White could not prod his effort on target. The visitors' anaemic display continued into the second half, and five minutes after the restart, Vicario was fishing the ball out of his net once again.
Hudson-Odoi sped down the left flank, checking inside Pedro Porro a second time, and on to his right foot, he sent a hanging cross towards the back post. Vicario appeared caught in two minds, straying a few yards from his goal, anticipating a routine collection, but Hudson-Odoi's cross spun over, and the goalkeeper was left to pick the ball out of his net. The goal was a damning indictment of Spurs' lack of resolve, and it seemed that the visitors had thrown in the towel.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Frank, who had hoped to build on the momentum from the Champions League victory. Instead, his side was left to ponder what could have been, as Forest celebrated a resounding triumph. The
In the end, it was a miserable afternoon for Spurs, and one that would be remembered for all the wrong reasons. The defeat was a stark reminder of the team's limitations, and it seemed that they still had a long way to go before they could challenge the top teams in the league. As for Forest, the victory was a resounding triumph, one that would give them a much-needed boost in their quest to avoid relegation.
Original: The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
Written by Npsports
