Dejan Kulusevski scored one purpose and arrange one other as Spurs beat Nottingham Forest 2-0, though Spurs have been handed one other absence following Yves Bissouma’s purple card.
It was a troublesome and gratifying victory friday evening soccer, And it was that first second of Spurs high quality that noticed them take the lead. Kulusevski’s fantastic cross was despatched in by Richarlison (45+2) as Tottenham set a brand new report by scoring within the fifteenth consecutive away match within the league.
Nottingham Forest – who have been largely an identical to Spurs all through – thought they’d equalized early within the second half, however Anthony Elanga had his purpose accurately disallowed by VAR for offside.
Tottenham additionally took benefit of the decisive second, including the second purpose. Beneath stress from Heung-Min Son, Matt Turner’s free cross reached Kulusevski (65), who shot the ball into the far nook.
Tottenham can’t afford to overlook any extra gamers heading into the busy Christmas and New Yr interval, however Bissouma has added his title to the checklist.
His problem on Ryan Yates earned him a straight purple card, and he’ll now miss Tottenham till after the Africa Cup of Nations. Future Udogie may even be suspended for Tottenham’s subsequent Premier League match in opposition to Everton on December 23 after choosing up one other yellow card.
Tottenham stays in fifth place and is tied with 33 factors with Manchester Metropolis earlier than the remaining matches this weekend. Nottingham Forest stay in sixteenth place, 5 factors above the relegation zone, however have now received simply one among their final 13 Premier League matches.
Afterwards, Forest supervisor Steve Cooper, who’s beneath growing stress, admitted his frustration on the errors his group made round Tottenham’s objectives.
“for [first] The purpose is, we went off the plan, we did not redouble our efforts, we allowed it [Kulusevski] “Come on in,” he stated. “It is the one time they’ve despatched an actual free cross and we have not marked it within the field. That is the extent.”
“We began the second half properly after which the second purpose shouldn’t be one thing you are able to do at any degree, not to mention the Premier League. It killed the momentum.”
How did Tottenham emerge victorious?
Tottenham dominated the early assaults, however wasted the alternatives they’d. Nottingham Forest rapidly started to search out their ft, capitalizing on some sloppy Spurs play, though they completed the primary half with out a shot on track.
There was one other damage concern for Spurs across the half-hour mark. Brennan Johnson collided with Willy Boly within the air, and got here out worse. He was finally changed by Oliver Skipp in a concussion substitution, with the house followers claiming he was “one among them” as his return to the Metropolis Floor was dropped at an early finish.
The 2 groups continued to alternate alternatives, however Tottenham took the lead within the first second of high quality. It was an excellent cross from Kulusevski, with Richarlison rising above his defender and Matt Turner sending the ball residence.
Nottingham Forest began the half with a wild shot from Boly they usually thought they’d equalized simply earlier than the hour mark. Neco Williams’ cross was was the web by Elanga – however VAR accurately disallowed the purpose for offside.
However Tottenham instantly responded by doubling their lead. It was good stress from Son to place stress on Turner, as the previous Arsenal goalkeeper raced onto the cross. The ball went straight to Kulusevski, who created some house for himself earlier than capturing the ball into the far nook.
Nevertheless, Spurs have been quickly all the way down to 10 males after a weak problem from Bissouma. He caught Yates on his raised knee and, after a VAR evaluation, the midfielder was despatched off. “He is shaking his head, however he is aware of,” Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher stated in joint commentary.
Though Spurs put issues collectively properly in the long run with one man down, Nottingham Forest continued to push for a purpose within the closing quarter-hour. Their greatest probability got here within the 84th minute, however Guglielmo Vicario someway tipped away Harry Toffolo’s header, utilizing his ft to clear it whereas concurrently falling backwards in an unbelievable little bit of goalkeeping.
The goalkeeper was once more concerned in one of many final kicks of the sport as Neco Williams’ shot hit the submit and hit Vicario’s physique. However the ball ended up hitting the submit, leaving Tottenham with the three factors.
Postecoglou: Tottenham confirmed their character
Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou by way of Sky Sports activities:
“It is a robust sport right here, you must earn the whole lot you get. They’re clearly very determined for factors. The group helps them – each time they get a throw-in, you are feeling such as you’ve conceded a purpose they usually’re placing it again within the field. We needed to Coping with quite a lot of issues that we would not usually must cope with.
“An important character. Clearly we had some difficulties taking part in with ten males. However a number of the soccer we performed was good too, so slightly little bit of the whole lot.”
On Richarlison beginning within the center once more: “Richie is a goalkeeping predator. Undoubtedly within the air. He has totally different attributes to Sonny. I did not suppose we’d go behind right now, I believed we’d wrestle for house on the again and I am actually pleased with him.” “Richie. Once I watched him throughout the week I used to be actually assured he was going to go on the market and do one other job for us.”
On Tottenham’s self-discipline: “I didn’t see him [Bissouma’s red card] However I suppose they slowed it down and noticed it.
“It has been a little bit of an issue. It is a effective line with these items. The gamers understand that, they usually do not need to miss video games. The concern they instilled within the gamers, right now was extra of a determined deal with than the rest.” disgusting.
“We have needed to cope with that a number of occasions this 12 months. You possibly can’t hold doing that as a result of finally you will pay for it, and we did that in opposition to Chelsea. It is one thing we hold speaking about nevertheless it’s good.” The road between them committing to what we’re attempting to do and never crossing the mark.
“We’re shedding [Bissouma, until after AFCON]We misplaced Udoji, I’ve a sense it will likely be that type of season for us. We cannot get a easy run in something. However that is okay, it builds resilience within the group.
“We’ve quite a lot of causes to make excuses, however we did not. We have been by means of a troublesome interval, and we nonetheless have some troublesome matches to come back. I feel if you undergo these intervals and also you’re steadfast in what you are attempting to do you will come out stronger, supplied you retain the religion.”
Cuper pissed off by key errors in Tottenham’s objectives
Nottingham Forest coach Steve Cooper advised Sky Sports activities:
“The result’s all the time an important [part] We’ll all the time write the narrative and we settle for that.
“We performed the sport we thought was the proper sport, we performed on a reasonably closed pitch and tried to not give Tottenham an excessive amount of house to play in. We might see how harmful they have been.
“Within the first half we did it pretty properly. For the purpose, we went off the plan, we did not double the ball, we allowed it. [Kulusevski] Come inside. It is the one time they put in an actual free cross and we did not tick it within the field. That is the extent.
“However alternatively, that is the half the place we do not do properly. Once we are given moments in and across the opposition penalty space, we do not rely them. We hit closing passes within the air and hit the ball into the purpose. The incorrect ft.
“We began the second half properly after which the second purpose shouldn’t be one thing you are able to do at any degree, not to mention the Premier League. It killed the momentum.
“There may be all the time stress and you must cope with it if you wish to excel and, in our case, keep at this degree. It will proceed. We’ll stand till we’re counted.”
Opta Statistics – Tottenham’s self-discipline downside
- Tottenham scored in 15 consecutive away matches within the league for the primary time since 16 matches between November 1984 and August 1985.
- Nottingham Forest haven’t received any of the 9 Premier League matches during which Taiwo Awoni has not began this season (D3 L6), with all three of their wins coming with him within the beginning line-up.
- Richarlison has scored in back-to-back Premier League matches for the primary time since Could 2022 for Everton. He has three objectives in his final two league video games for Tottenham, another than his first 39 objectives for the membership beforehand.
- Tottenham have acquired 4 purple playing cards within the Premier League this season, essentially the most of any group alongside Liverpool. Two of them have been provided to Yves Bissouma, making him the seventh Spurs participant to be despatched off twice in a single Premier League season, and the primary since Kyle Naughton in 2014-15.
What then?
Forest have one other residence sport to stay up for Bournemouth Saturday, December 23, at 3 p.m.
Tottenham may even play subsequent Saturday at residence Evertonat 3 pm.