Many thanks to Declan Mulcahy for his detailed report:-

Sunday 22 March 2026, 2:15pm
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur (0) 0 Nottingham Forest (1) 3

Scorers:-
Jesus, 45
Gibbs-White, 62
Awoniyi, 87

Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2):
1 G Vicario; 24 D Spence (15 L Bergvall 45), 4 K Danso, 17 C Romero (c), 37 M van de Ven (13 D Udogie 45); 23 Pedro Poro, 14 A Gray (22 C Gallagher 84), 29 P-M Sarr, 11 M Tel (39 R Kolo Muani 67); 9 Richarlison (7 X Simons 67), 19 D Solanke

Subs not used: 31 A Kinsky, 3 R Dragușin, 38 Souza, 6 Joao Palhinha

Booked: Udogie (82 foul on Ndoye)

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Vitor Pereira
26 M Sels; 34 O Aina, 31 N Milenkovic, 5 Murillo, 3 N Williams; 6 I Sangare, 8 E Anderson (16 N Dominguez 90+2); 21 O Hutchinson (14 D Ndoye 80), 10 M Gibbs-White (c) (24 J McAtee 90+2), 7 C Hudson-Odoi (22 R Yates 70); 19 Igor Jesus (9 T Awoniyi 71)

Subs not used: 27 S Ortega, 29 D Bakwa, 25 L Netz, 4 Morato

Booked: Sangare (53 foul on Romero), Awoniyi (88 excessive celebrating, removing his shirt)

Captains Armband: Gibbs-White to Yates 70

White Hart Lane, Attendance: 61,519

Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring
Fourth Official: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Tony Harrington
Assistant VAR: Craig Taylor

A disaster - Spurs lost in Forest

The pre-match expectations were positive. Spurs had gained a hard-earned point against Liverpool at Anfield last weekend. This was followed during the week by the first win under Igor Tudor against Atletico Madrid. Spurs hadn't won any of their last twelve Premier League games but then again Nottingham Forest hadn't won any of their last seven league matches either.

There was hope. The atmosphere among the Spurs supporters before the game was vibrant and the bus bringing the team to the stadium received a loud welcome.

Unfortunately it proved to be a false dawn. This was a vital game which could have provided a very positive step in the fight to avoid relegation. Spurs were comprehensively beaten and instead Forest have the momentum to avoid relegation.

Igor Tudor retained the same formation as in the last two matches but there were changes in personnel. Porro and Spence both started but Spence was at right back and Porro wide in the midfield four. Danso and Romero were the central defenders and it was unexpected to see van de Ven operating at left back. However the biggest surprise was the omission of Xavi Simons who had been outstanding against Atletico on Wednesday. Surely this vital game was a chance for him to demonstrate his creativity? The bench was full of experienced players for the first time this year.

Vitor Pereira started with the same team which drew at home to Fulham last weekend. Forest had played in Europe the day after Spurs this week. Only two of today's team started that game and a further six came on later in the game so tiredness shouldn't have been a factor.

Forest seemed to be seeking psychological advantages from the moment they came on the pitch. Gibbs-White won the toss and asked Spurs to play towards the south end in the first half disrupting their usual routine. Forest set up their pre-match huddle in the Spurs half. (There seem to be some silly games going on with team huddles right now. Last weekend Chelsea held their second half one in the centre circle and surrounded referee Paul Tierney both of which are unheard of.)

Forest showed intent to gain a result right from the start. During the first ten minutes they had 70% of possession and pressed forward but didn't create any good chances.

Spurs then had more possession for most of the remainder of the first half. A fine pass by Gray set up Tel on the left but his shot was deflected. A long throw by Danso was headed onto the bar by Igor Jesus and Richarlison couldn't reach the rebound.

There was concern when Gray, who was Spurs best player, went down after twenty minutes having collided with Sangare but he was able to continue after a couple of minutes.

Most of Spurs attacks during this half were coming through Tel on the left. He crossed for Richarlison who couldn't quite connect. Then he had a shot blocked by Aino. Spurs had a succession of corners but didn't create any chances from them.

Forest didn't win a corner until the 44th minute. Neco Williams crossed from the left to the far side of the goal. Igor Jesus was allowed a free header and scored for Forest. It was poor defending with no one marking him.

In time added on Tel unleashed a goal-bound shot but Sels tipped it onto the bar.

The first half can be summarised as follows. Spurs won eight corners and put fifteen crosses into the box. A combination of good defending by Forest and lack of creativity from Spurs meant that they didn't score. Forest had only one corner at the end of the half. Poor defending by Spurs allowed Forest to lead 1-0 at the interval and totally transformed the outcome.

Spurs came out early for the second half and had to wait for Forest. (Was this another psychological ploy?) Tudor made two changes. Udogie and Bergvall replaced Spence and van de Ven. The changes were tactical rather than a result of injuries. Given Spurs inability to create meaningful chances in the first half it was again surprising that Simons wasn't brought on.

Anderson set up a clear chance for Williams but his header was well-saved by Vicario.

Spurs had a couple of opportunities. Porro crossed but Romero's header was wide. Gray got into the box but Milenkovic blocked his first effort and the second was too high.

Spurs then had a warning when Williams sent a dangerous cross into the box that no Forest player could reach. They weren't so lucky the next time. Hudson-Odoi crossed from the left and Gibbs-White, whom Spurs tried to sign last summer, had all the time and space to score with a shot under the unprotected Vicario.

After an hour the match was effectively over as Spurs had conceded two preventable goals.

Midway through the half Simons and Kolo Muani replaced Tel and Richarlison. Why did Simons have to wait until the team was two goals behind before being introduced?

Spurs had some possession but there was no end product. Udogie crossed into the box but Bergvall at full stretch deflected it wide. A Sarr shot following a corner was deflected by Sangare.

To add salt to the wounds with three minutes remaining Williams crossed from the left and Ayoniwi scored with a shot. Again the defending was lax.

Forest have done the double over Spurs in the last two seasons and easily won each game this season 3-0.

This was a relegation six-point game that either team could have benefitted from. Forest wanted it more. They defended well and didn't allow Spurs any good chances. Forest's three goals all resulted from poor Spurs defending.

Defensive errors and their inability to win at home have put Spurs in a position where relegation is a serious threat.

Vitor Pereira and Igor Tudor were appointed within a day of each other in February. Pereira looks like the better appointment. Tudor's omission of Spurs most potentially creative player in a vital match was inexplicable.

Tudor has gained only one point from five Premier League games. Prior to his arrival Spurs hadn't conceded more than two goals in a home Premier League fixture this season. In three appalling home matches since he was appointed the team has lost 1-4, 1-3 and 0-3.

It is clear that his appointment hasn't worked out. There is a three-week break before the Premier League resumes. (An international break and the sixth round of the FA Cup). Spurs senior management must be considering making another change of manager. However the question is whether or not there is a credible candidate out there who would be prepared to accept the poisoned chalice at this stage of the season.

. Declan Mulcahy writes his fifth article in the series "A dozen definitive days"

Follow @spursodyssey

. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here!