Forest Make Light Work of Tottenham With Blistering Start
If you showed up to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium expecting another routine home win, the opening quarter-hour of this Premier League fixture would have floored you. In a stunning display, Nottingham Forest scored twice inside 16 minutes, leaving Tottenham Hotspur struggling to recover—a deficit they never managed to overturn.
Just five minutes after kickoff, Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson made a darting run into the box and pounced on a loose ball to rifle home the opener. The Spurs defenders looked stunned, and the crowd’s early energy quickly faded. It didn’t get any better for the hosts, as Chris Wood doubled the lead after a slick counter-attack. The experienced striker timed his run perfectly, losing his marker and slotting the ball past Guglielmo Vicario to make it 2-0.
The sudden lead put Forest in a position to dictate the match. Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Ben Davies struggled to keep the defence tight in the absence of their regular flow. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s midfield—anchored by Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, and Dejan Kulusevski—couldn’t wrestle control away from a disciplined Nottingham Forest team who pressed and harried at every turn. Richarlison, usually lively upfront, had his best chance with a well-placed header, but Forest’s keeper Matz Sels was equal to it.
Discipline, Injuries, and Missed Opportunities Shape the Afternoon
The game never found its rhythm, with plenty of disruptions. Matz Sels required attention after a heavy collision, forcing an extended stoppage and adding further unease for Forest supporters who know just how vital their keeper has been. However, Sels shook off the knock and continued, making key saves to frustrate Tottenham.
Spurs manager turned to his bench, bringing on Dominic Solanke for Dejan Kulusevski to add presence in attack, while Brennan Johnson replaced Wilson Odobert as the home team chased a response. The substitutions barely moved the needle, as Forest’s backline, led by Kevin Danso, gave little away. Danso even fancied his luck from distance, sending a long-range shot wide as Forest pushed for a third goal to seal the deal.
Tempers flared midway through the match when Morgan Gibbs-White flew into a challenge, earning himself a yellow card. Tottenham tried to use set pieces and aerial balls to spark some life, but Forest always seemed a step ahead. In the dying stages, Brennan Johnson dug deep on defence and drew a free-kick on the edge of his area to relieve the pressure and help run down the clock.
As the whistle blew, the frustration was plain to see among the Tottenham players and fans. Forest, though, celebrated a well-earned victory—one that keeps their Premier League ambitions very much alive. The visitors showcased efficiency and discipline, converting their early chances and defending with grit, while Tottenham were left pondering what went wrong on a day when nothing seemed to click.
