Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham forward Timo Werner has been speaking to Sky Sports following the victory: "I do my best to assist and help the team with those runs and those balls. Luckily, the opponent put the ball in the net.

"I am happy this guy [Micky van de Ven] scored a goal today.

"I think we started not bad. I think we had control of the game. The goal was a good attack from Forest. They had some chances when we weren't on our highest level.

"It was a deserved win in the end.

"Yesterday, I said to Micky that maybe you can score with your head. I am enjoying it a lot with this team and this guy."

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to BBC Sport following the win: "It had a bit of everything. We got off to a decent start. We imposed ourselves on the game.

"We lost our way a little bit, but the whole second half we were very dominant."

On deciding to make the double change at half-time: "Just some energy and legs. Three games in a week, they had given all they could, so we got some legs in there. Pierre [Emile Hojbjerg] and Rodrigo [Bentancur] were outstanding."

On the goals: "I love defenders scoring. We were pushing them into those areas."

On Micky van de Ven: "Just his sheer desire to be the best he can be. He has got so many great qualities. People talk about his speed, but he is strong and he is getting better and better on the ball."

On being fourth in the Premier League: "That is all we want to do, and keep going. Everyone has been banging on about us getting fourth. We are fourth now, but it doesn't stop. We will keep going.

"We are in a good shape to finish the season strong."

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham were matched by Forest in the first half but restored their lead in a dominant second period through an unlikely source.

Micky van de Ven has been a revelation in defence for Spurs since joining from Wolfsburg for an initial 40m euros (£34m) last summer.

Tottenham have won 13 and lost just two of the 20 league matches he's played in.

And with Ange Postecoglou's side pressing, the 22-year-old regularly found himself pushing into midfield. Picking the ball up on the edge of the box, he took his chance superbly for his goal, finding the top corner for his second in the Premier League.

The result meant Spurs went above Aston Villa to return to the Premier League's top four for the first time since February

The north London side continue their push for Champions League qualification when they visit Newcastle next Saturday.

Van de Ven, you imagine, will be a key player in that match as well.

Tottenham defender and goalscorer Micky van de Ven has been speaking to Sky Sports following the win: "It was a nice evening. I think it was a really important game for us and a huge three points.

"I saw Sonny get the ball and if he passed it to me, then I would just bang it.

"Unbelievable. It was my first goal in this stadium and I will never forget it. It was an important game and we have to build."

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?

Spurs fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Forest fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

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

All kick-off times BST

Listen to radio commentaries and follow live text updates here

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

Image source, Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham are "not one of the clubs who are going to be as restricted as others" when it comes to spending in the summer transfer window.

Spurs announced their 2022-23 financial results, external this week, which showed total revenue had increased to £549.6m - up from £444m for the previous year.

Chairman Daniel Levy also confirmed the club are "in discussions with prospective investors" over a minority stake, and the loss of £86.8m was put down to "significant and continued investment in the playing squad".

"My discussions around those kinds of issues are not the minutiae of a balance sheet," Postecoglou said in his news conference before Sunday's visit of Nottingham Forest.

"It is about us planning to build a side that can potentially be successful. So, that's what we're doing and nothing that is going to come out in the balance sheet is going to disrupt those plans because those plans are done in alliance with the people who make the balance sheets.

"It is not like: 'Oh, we are going to wait for the financial results before we start thinking about who we're going to sign.' All this stuff is already in planning.

"We kind of know what position we're in and what we need to do in the summer. That doesn't mean it's all going to come to fruition, of course, because there are all sorts of other factors that come into it.

"We are not one of the clubs who are going to be as restricted as others. I've had a clear line of communication about where we are as a football club.

"We're in a good position and hopefully we can build on that."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League match at home to Nottingham Forest.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Postecoglou confirmed Brennan Johnson is "fine" and should be "no problem" to be involved but Richarlison "has had a niggle the last couple of weeks and we feel like it's probably better he takes this weekend off and fully recovers". He added that "everyone else is fine" for the fixture.

• He also confirmed Manor Solomon is "unlikely to be involved again this year".

• On the race for top four: "I'm not looking at other club's results on the weekend to see if we can get into fourth, I just don't think that's where we are as a team. We have to focus on ourselves this year."

• On the form of Johnson, who will face is former club on Sunday, Postecoglou added: "We've made him more lethal. He's found a bit of confidence and consistency and understanding of the way we play. We bought him very much as a young player with an eye of knowing that what he does this year, there's more in him."

• On progress in his first season in charge: "I didn't have any thoughts of where we'd be. I knew after the disappointment of last year we had to show signs of progress. I think we've had two positive windows, we've definitely changed the way the team plays. We're in a better position in the table if you look at that. All those things suggest we have made progress but that doesn't mean it's been a success because every year you want to win something."

• On opponents Forest: "They're fighting for every point, every goal. We know we have to hit a certain level of effort and competitiveness every week. For Forest everything for them is crucial at the moment so we're going to have to earn everything and it's up to us to do it."

Follow the rest of Friday's Premier League news conferences

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.

Tottenham have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 24, should Newcastle be forced to sell key players this summer. (Football Insider), external

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

Image source, Getty Images

Former West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon says David Moyes' side "nullified" Tottenham with their strong defensive display in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at London Stadium.

Both sides showed endeavour but lacked a cutting edge as the spoils were shared in the London derby.

"This is always a big game between the clubs," said Gabbidon on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"West Ham did not offer much going forward but from a defensive perspective they were very good. They nullified that Tottenham team.

"Neither side deserved to win or lose the game in the end, so it was a fair result.

"Tottenham lacked a bit of sharpness and energy, especially after scoring early on in the game. I thought they would go on and dominate the game. That did not really happen.

"Ange Postecoglou made some changes second half to try to improve their game, but there was no real change. When the final whistle went both sides were puffing after what was an intense game."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts on Tuesday's Premier League game between West Ham and Tottenham.

Here are some of your responses:

West Ham fans

Ian: Time to give Moyes some credit for the tactics. West Ham's low block had Spurs running up a lot of blind alleys and ensured they were unable to create many clear-cut chances. Had West Ham been more clinical it would have been three points in the bag rather than just the one.

Eric: West Ham are in a good enough place in the league so Moyes should take the brakes off and let the players play with a bit more freedom. That might appease some of the fans.

Clacton Rd Iron: Spurs made five substitutions, Moyes made none - despite Antonio, Ward-Prowse and Coufal looking exhausted. At least 10 of the same players will be picked on Saturday and for the biggest game of the season against Bayer Leverkusen next Thursday. Change the personnel when needed, not the formation - this team will be totally burned out and done in before the second leg against Leverkusen.

Harry: I’m still frustrated at Moyes. I was begging for him not to make a defensive change but I got something worse instead: zero subs. Spurs were there for the taking - we just needed fresh legs and for Ings or Mubama to come on to help push our front three forward more, especially when our defence was more solid and structured.

Tottenham fans

Ray: Yet another goal conceded from a set-piece, although it was lucky because it came off Zouma's back. Vicario saved us from a defeat with some super stops. West Ham are a bit of a bogey team for us so this is a point gained rather than two lost. Still confident we can overhaul Villa. Richarlison should start the next game.

Andy: It's clear what Ange is building here at Spurs. The signs are there but the project needs to shift to the next stage before we'll see us killing teams off effectively and unlocking tight defences. Another player or two like Maddison are desperately needed. Overall, though, a solid performance against a stout defensive side.

Paul: Werner did nothing after the first 10 minutes. Didn’t understand Ange's substitutions in taking Bentancur and Madders off. Another missed opportunity.

Edgar: Too much passing back and a very negative attitude going forward. Players were often very greedy in wanting to score themselves when a simple pass would make a shot more certain. However, you cannot score if you don't go forward. Some 60% possession may sound good but if it's in your own half of the pitch you won't score goals.