Tottenham 3 – 1 N Forest

Second-half targets from defenders Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro moved Tottenham into the highest 4 after a 3-1 residence win over struggling Nottingham Forest.

Ange Postecoglou’s facet had been lucky to be degree on the break however produced a pointy second-half efficiency to strengthen their hopes of Champions League soccer as they moved above Aston Villa into fourth on purpose distinction.

Spurs took a Fifteenth-minute lead via a Murillo personal purpose after the defender had practically scored a spectacular opener from inside his personal half simply minutes earlier.

However the residence facet had been pegged again when Chris Wooden levelled within the twenty seventh minute, after which they need to have been behind seven minutes later because the Forest striker hit the put up from simply two yards out.

Spurs took benefit of that vast miss as they restored their lead early within the second half via Van de Ven’s thunderous strike (52).

Porro then gave Spurs a two-goal lead six minutes later with a robust end on the again put up to finish Forest’s three-game unbeaten run and depart them outdoors of the relegation zone on purpose distinction forward of 18th-placed Luton.

How Spurs strengthened their Champions League hopes

There have been some doubts forward of kick-off whether or not the sport would go forward after police opened a homicide investigation following a stabbing close to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium simply earlier than 6am on Sunday morning.

However Spurs confirmed the fixture, which had already been introduced ahead from Monday as a consequence of journey disruption in London, remained on practically 4 hours earlier than the 6pm kick-off.

Tottenham started the sport brightly, however it was Forest who practically took a spectacular Eleventh-minute lead when defender Murillo tried a shot from effectively inside his personal half that looped over Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and went simply large.

4 minutes later, Murillo went from practically a hero to finish zero as he was his personal internet from a Timo Werner cross to offer Spurs the lead.

A dominant Tottenham pushed for a second as Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels did fantastically to disclaim ex-Forest ahead Brennan Johnson from shut vary within the twenty fourth minute.

However three minutes later Forest punished a large open Spurs defence as Anthony Elanga burst down the fitting to chop again for Wooden, who fired residence to attain for a fourth consecutive Premier League recreation.

With Spurs rocked and Forest buoyed, Wooden ought to have had a second within the thirty fourth minute however the striker missed a wonderful probability as he smashed a two-yard rebound from Ryan Yates’ saved shot towards the put up.

Spurs had been lucky to go in degree on the break and are but to have a house half-time lead in 2024.

Postecoglou responded with a half-time double substitution as Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had been introduced on, and the latter practically made an instantaneous impression as his deflected shot from distance was tipped over by Sels.

Spurs’ quick begin to the second half was rewarded within the 52nd minute when Van de Ven hammered in from simply contained in the field for a memorable first residence purpose for the membership.

Then simply six minutes later, Tottenham scored their Eleventh Premier League purpose by a defender this season – the joint-most of any facet (Arsenal additionally 11) – when Porro drilled in from Bentancur’s flicked header to the again put up.

Porro’s strike gave Spurs full management as Forest struggled to threaten, whereas Spurs pushed to enhance their purpose distinction on Villa.

Heung-Min Son got here near doing so late on however Forest goalkeeper fantastically saved his shot onto the put up as Spurs noticed out the sport to place them on 60 factors – the identical tally they completed on final season – and make it a depressing Tottenham return for Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo after his ill-fated 4 months in cost three years in the past.

What’s subsequent?

Tottenham are again in motion on Saturday as they go to Newcastle within the Premier League; kick-off 12.30pm.

Nottingham Forest additionally play on the identical day, internet hosting Wolves; kick-off 3pm.

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