Nottingham Forest

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest recorded a fine 3-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday to end a six-match winless run, but were second best against Spurs.

That said, the visitors did have plenty of bright moments as their manager Nuno Espirito Santo faced his former employers for the first time.

Defender Murillo almost netted a goal-of-the-season contender, spotting Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario off his line and attempting to lob him from well inside his own half. His shot though dropped just wide.

And there were two more 'what if?' moments just after Wood's equaliser.

First Vicario could only parry Ryan Yates' low shot straight to Wood, but the forward smashed the rebound against the post from four yards out.

And then Tottenham midfielder James Maddison was lucky to go unpunished after clashing with Ryan Yates.

"I was surprised VAR didn't [send Maddison off]," Nuno told BBC Match of the Day.

"Maddison lost composure and punched Yates in the stomach.

"It's a red card. I spoke to Yates and asked him and what he felt and I saw the images. I wouldn't speak if I wasn't 100% sure."

Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates has been speaking to Sky Sports following the defeat: "Tottenham are a great team. They started really sharp and deserved to go 1-0 up. We dug deep and got back into it. They punished us with two great finishes.

"The teams at the top starve you of the ball and they play around you. We have to just take the positives and move swiftly on."

On the red card appeal against James Maddison: "James Maddison is a good player. I know he makes them tick. It is my job to disrupt the momentum. A few decisions probably didn't go our way, but we have seen the inconsistency in the Premier League this season.

"We have got a massive home game coming up, and our last performance at home was really good. It [the home form] was huge last year and we need the fans to give us the extra boost.

"We want to try and get as many points as quickly as possible."

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to BBC Sport following the defeat: "The first half was good. We were playing the game we wanted to play, controlling Tottenham, with good moments on the ball.

"We created chances and we scored. I am disappointed with the second half. We were passive.

"Chris Wood is huge for us - he scored again.

"Two moments in the first half changed the game. I was surprised VAR didn't [send James Maddison off]. Maddison lost composure and punched [Ryan] Yates in the stomach. Then the missed chance we had [when Chris Wood hit the post]."

On Maddison not being sent off: "I saw it. What I see is clear. What they saw clearly is not the same as what we saw. It is a red card. I spoke to Yates and asked him what he felt and I saw the images. I wouldn't speak if I wasn't 100% sure."

On Chris Wood's miss: "He is a good finisher. The ball goes on the post, it should be inside. Those two moments can change the game. The second half was not the standard we would like."

On returning to his old club: "It is another game. It was a pleasure to work here but now I am involved in another fight. This is our job as managers. Maybe one day I will return to the City Ground.

"It [the relegation battle] is going to be until the end [of the season], so we have to focus game by game."

Here are the key facts and figures following Sunday’s game between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

• Tottenham Hotspur have won each of their past six Premier League meetings with Nottingham Forest, their longest ongoing winning run against a current top-flight opponent, and their longest overall run in the competition since recording nine straight victories against Crystal Palace between September 2015 and September 2019.

• Since the beginning of last season, Nottingham Forest have won fewer away points (18 – W3 D9 L23) and lost more away games (23) than any other ever-present Premier League team.

• With Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro both scoring today, Tottenham have now scored 11 Premier League goals through defenders so far this season, the joint-most in the competition alongside Arsenal.

• Chris Wood has scored 12 goals for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this season, with only Stan Collymore (22 goals in 1994-95) and Bryan Roy (13 goals in 1994-95) netting more in a single campaign for the Reds.

• Murillo's own goal was the fifth Tottenham Hotspur have benefitted from in the Premier League this season, the outright most of any side.

Tottenham returned to the Premier League's top four for the first time since February by beating Nottingham Forest.

The hosts opened the scoring inside 15 minutes when Forest defender Murillo diverted Timo Werner's cross into his own net.

Forest levelled 12 minutes later through Chris Wood, who finished off Anthony Elanga's cross.

But centre-back Micky van de Ven restored Tottenham's lead in the 52nd minute with a thunderous shot from the edge of the penalty area that found the top corner.

And six minutes later, Pedro Porro netted a third for Spurs, hammering in James Maddison's pass across goal.

Victory meant Tottenham moved above Aston Villa on goal difference, having played one game fewer.

Nottingham Forest stayed 17th, only outside of the drop zone thanks to their superior goal difference over Luton Town.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

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Three matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

• Manchester United v Liverpool

• Sheffield United v Chelsea

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on darts stars Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall, who both support Manchester United.

Sutton's prediction: 4-1

Nottingham Forest's win over Fulham on Tuesday was massive for them and a point here would be really important too.

I don't see it happening, though. Nuno Espirito Santo did not have much to celebrate during his brief spell as Spurs boss in 2021, and I can't see him having much reason to smile on his return to the club.

Like I do most weeks, I am backing Tottenham to click here. I am going to make Son Heung-min captain of my fantasy team this weekend, because I am expecting a hat-trick from him, and a big win for Spurs.

I get the feeling some people are looking at Tottenham and wondering if they have lost a bit of the fizz they had earlier in the season, but I disagree.

They are not on an amazing run of form at the moment, but I still think they have had a great first campaign under Ange Postecoglou. He is all about performances and progress and I don't think anyone can deny they have made progress, despite losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich just before the season started.

Littler's prediction: I've got to go with Spurs at home. 3-1

Aspinall's prediction: 2-0

See the full list of predictions

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's trip to Tottenham in the Premier League (18:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no new injury concerns following the 3-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday and the squad will be the same.

• He provided injury updates on longer-term absentees Willy Boly and Taiwo Awoniyi: Boly is "still out and still on treatment", while the club still do not have the exact timeframe for Awoniyi's return.

• Nuno praised the reaction since receiving the points deduction, after managing to recoup the four points in just two games: "It was a good reaction. They were good games, especially the last one [against Fulham]. I think we did things really well, but we still have a long way to go."

• The Portuguese said it will be a "pleasure" to return to his former club in the opposition dugout, but added: "It is part of the past now. My focus is on Forest and I am really, really determined to try to achieve a good performance."

• Nuno is expecting a "hard" test against Tottenham, as the Reds hunt for just their third Premier League away win of this season: "It will be very hard, not only because of us but because we are going to face a very good team. Spurs are a team full of great, talented players, have a very good manager and they are in a good moment."

• He added that the aim is to "sustain" their recent performances against Ange Postecoglou's side: "This is our major challenge. This is what we are looking to try to repeat."

• On Chris Wood stepping up: "Chris has been very important for us, especially with the absence of Taiwo [Awoniyi]. He knows the needs that we have in that position and he has been performing very well. Hopefully he keeps like that - healthy and always available."

• Nuno said the fans' support will be "very important" in the final stretch of the season: "The demonstration was in the last game [against Fulham]. The noise the City Ground made and the help they gave to the players was so important for us. We know that we are going to get this support away from home, so hopefully we can deliver again."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences

There is a three point gap between Nottingham Forest and 18th placed Luton Town with seven games remaining, but will it be enough?

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, David Jackson and Colin Fray discuss the run-in and how hopes were boosted following the midweek victory over Fulham.

"They have now set the bar," said Fray. "They have proved they can get there and they need to get there again.

"Tottenham will be tough away from home. It is not going to be straightforward for them but they have shown what they can do now.

"That has to be the level they strive to get too."

Under the lights of the City Ground on Tuesday, Nuno Espirito Santo's side put three past Fulham in the first half to record a much-needed win.

"For the first time in quite some time, I felt that the atmosphere was getting back to where it was this time last season," added Fray. "It is almost as if the whole club and the supporters have gone into survival mode.

"Now it really matters and now is the time we need to come together - and it felt like that on Tuesday.

"The hope has to be that if they continue to play like they did the other night, they will get enough points between now and the end of the season."

Listen to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds

I have been in lots of relegation battles. I got relegated in my first year in the Premier League with Manchester City when I was only a teenager. I had to deal with that adversity so I know what it is like.

I do not think people crack or feel anxious in relegation fights, but you know when you are beaten. It is hard to fully motivate yourself as a team to get the desire to go back out there.

In these battles there are always people complaining and there are changes too. Managers are under pressure and fans add pressure as well.

There is no doubt that it is difficult.

There might not be a lot of hope for those teams in the relegation zone at the moment, but those players will still want to be playing in the Premier League next season. So they still have to use this time to shine because they inevitably will want a move back to a top-flight club.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Here are the key facts and figures before Sunday's game between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

• Having lost six of their seven Premier League games against Nottingham Forest between 1993 and 1997, Tottenham have now won their past five against them, keeping four clean sheets in the process.

• Nottingham Forest have won just two of their past 25 away Premier League matches (D7 L16). Since winning their first away game under Nuno Espirito Santo on Boxing Day at Newcastle United, Forest are winless in five on the road (D2 L3).

• Tottenham have won 11 of their 15 home Premier League matches this season (L4) and are the only side yet to draw a match on home soil in 2023-24. Since losing three in a row in November and December, Spurs have won seven of their past eight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (L1).

• Forest manager Nuno took charge of 10 Premier League matches as Spurs manager at the start of the 2021-22 season. Mauricio Pochettino won away at Spurs earlier this season with Chelsea and there has only been three instances previously of two former managers winning away at a former club in a season: Glenn Roeder and Harry Redknapp at West Ham in 2006-07, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish at Blackburn in 2011-12 and David Moyes and Marco Silva at Everton this season.

• Son Heung-min has been involved in 11 goals in his past 12 Premier League appearances at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (seven goals, four assists) and scored in Spurs' 3-1 home win over Nottingham Forest last March.

• Since the turn of the year, former Forest player Brennan Johnson has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other Spurs player (seven - four goals, three assists). His 12 total goal involvements in 2023-24 (five goals, seven assists) are the most by a Welsh player in a campaign since Gareth Bale in 2020-21 (13 - 11 goals, two assists).

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from this midweek's Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Nottingham Forest are triggering a contract extension for Nigeria defender Ola Aina after the 27-year-old's impressive debut season at the City Ground. (Telegraph - subscription required, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Tom Gayle
Match of the Day commentator at the City Ground

Image source, Getty Images

Just before kick-off a huge tifo of Morgan Gibbs-White was revealed at the Trent End. Nottingham Forest's number 10 was depicted eyes closed, with an index finger pressed into each ear. It’s his trademark goal celebration and it was accompanied beneath by a message which read “Shut everything out and play your game”.

Speaking to the 24-year-old afterwards he revealed how the sight of the banner was both “touching” and “incredible”. Feelings which he quickly switched to extra motivation, adding: “I knew when I saw that, I had to pay them back."

For those who’ve never seen Gibbs-White play in the flesh, he’s all action. His outrageous outside-of-the-right-boot assist for Callum Hudson-Odoi’s opener, and goal in first half stoppage time, will understandably dominate the headlines, but he brings so much more.

Most obvious is the work-rate. He will literally run himself into the ground, as demonstrated by the weary figure he cut when being replaced in the 77th minute. Yet what I enjoy most about his game is the confidence and ability he has to regularly receive possession, with his back to goal, in and around the halfway line, under pressure, and subsequently perform a variety of body bending pirouettes, to turn his man, drive away with the ball, and spearhead the attack. Quite simply, if Gibbs-White is on it, so are Nottingham Forest.

Nuno Espirito Santo is a man of few words, but he stepped away from the norm when I moved the post-match interview topic onto Gibbs-White.

He told me: "He's very talented, no doubt about that. He's reaching the levels of a football player that is almost complete. He reads the game well, he has talent, he can score. The biggest challenge is to keep Morgan at that level”.

It's his second season at the club. He was signed from Wolves for an initial £25m, which is expected to rise to a club record fee of £42m. His performances in Garibaldi red are attracting interest from others, irrespective of whether Forest will be playing Premier League football next season.

Speculation surrounding his future won’t go away, but for the player, his focus is clear. There was no hesitation from Gibbs-White when asked if there is enough quality in the Forest dressing room for them to stay up.

“100%," he told me. "We were in the same situation last season, so we know exactly what we need to do. I know for a fact that the boys will get together and get it done.”

Image source, Getty Images

Fans have been giving their views on the battle at the bottom after Everton earned a point at Newcastle and Nottingham Forest scored a key win over Fulham.

Everton fan and podcaster Matt told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: "I think that there were times early on in the game in particular where it looked like Everton would kind of flounder their way through another football match without laying a glove on the opponent.

"I think funnily enough it was the goal that got disallowed for Newcastle that kind of sparked Sean Dyche to life and to make the uncharacteristic triple substitution before the hour mark. Those three players that came on and particularly Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave Everton a bit of positivity in the game.

"I feel like there's a dark cloud hanging over the football club at the moment and we're clinging on trying to find any sort of light. Calvert-Lewin scoring last night and getting Everton getting a decent point is certainly light."

Forest fan Leasha Pridmore said: "We seemed to sort of drop off a bit and as a Forest fan we've seen it so many times where we have gone 2-0 up and ended up losing. So it was really nerve-racking but I'm glad we held on thankfully.

"I think if we could just keep doing what we did yesterday - especially with that starting line-up - I think we'll be OK."

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest boosted their hopes of Premier League survival with three potentially vital points against Fulham on Tuesday.

It had been 99 days since Forest last scored three goals in a game, but efforts from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White secured a convincing victory.

"Forest have got everything in their armoury to go on and have more good games," said former Premier League defender Phil Jagielka on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"They have not managed to do it [win] for whatever reason, but they will be hoping now that they can have a few more victory parties after the games."

Wood's strike meant he has scored in three consecutive league matches, while Hudson-Odoi has racked up five goals in 22 Forest appearances - having needed 72 outings to yield the same return for Chelsea.

But is was Gibbs-White who ran the show.

The 24-year-old has now been directly involved in 11 goals in the Premier League.

"Nuno will be very happy with the resilience of the team," added former Newcastle United and Tottenham centre-back Sebastien Bassong.

"When you have a manager who can assess his assets that well, Nuno will be able to put them in their best positions and allow them to play freely and consistently.

"That will give them confidence to handle the upcoming games better."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts on Tuesday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Fulham.

Here are some of your responses:

Shaun: Nuno picked the right players and got them to go at Fulham. He made sure they did not settled for a one-goal lead and got them to push on. Nuno now knows what the players can do, so let's see more of it.

Martin: For the first time in ages it sounded like the boys were enjoying themselves. Heart in mouth after Fulham scored but a well-deserved victory and three points. Glad to see Gibbs-White getting his name on the scoresheet - he brings so much to us. Well done, lads!

Sean: It was the kind of game where we showed just how good we can be. Fast-paced, clinical attack - and we could have had more. Equally as important, our heads didn't drop when Fulham scored. Defensively we were stronger, whereas last season that could have led to more opposition goals. Great atmosphere too. Got to keep this up now to the end.

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

After a tumultuous few weeks where Nottingham Forest were handed a four-point deduction for breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, Nuno Espirito Santo's side urgently needed to do their talking on the pitch to put breathing space between themselves and the bottom three.

A superb first-half performance with goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White was enough to ensure they took all three points against Fulham on Tuesday.

Coupled with the point they earned against Crystal Palace on Saturday, that four-point deduction has now been cancelled out with the club also saying they will appeal the decision.

An appeal process alone cannot be relied upon but positives must be taken from the performance at the City Ground.

Wood's brilliant strike meant he has scored in three consecutive Premier League appearances, while Hudson-Odoi has racked up five goals in 22 Forest appearances - having needed 72 outings to yield four for Chelsea.

Nuno's side have taken a much-needed step towards safety with their first ever win over Fulham in the top flight and, three points clear of the drop zone, they will travel to Tottenham on Sunday with renewed confidence about their hopes of staying up.