Many thanks to Declan Mulcahy for his report:-

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture

Saturday 5 September 2026, 3:00pm
Premier League
Nottingham Forest (0) 0 Tottenham Hotspur (0) 0

Nottingham Forest (3-4-2-1): Oliver Glasner
26 M Sels; 23 J Cunha, 31 N Milenkovic, 5 Murillo (2 O Diomande 90); 34 O Aina (27 D Munoz 59), 21 X Schlager, 24 J McAtee, 3 N Williams; 14 D Ndoye (11 I Jesus 59), 10 M Gibbs-White; 19 L Delap (9 C Wood 74)

Subs not used: 12 John Victor, 25 L Netz, 8 N Dominguez, 22 R Yates, 7 C Hudson-Odoi

Booked: Milenkovic (52 foul on Marmoush), McAtee (78 foul on Kudus)

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1);
31 A Kinsky; 23 Pedro Porro, 6 J-P van Hecke, 37 M van de Ven (c), 13 D Udogie (3 A Robertson 61); 30 R Bentancur, 16 S Tonali; 17 Savio (20 M Kudus 61), 8 C Gallagher (18 M Fernandes 83), 11 M Tel (27 M Mudryk 74); 22 O Marmoush (19 D Solanke 84)

Subs not used: 39 M Dubravka, 5 M Senesi, 14 A Gray, 15 L Bergvall

Booked: Udogie (45+1 foul on Ndoye)), Fernandes (84 Foul on McAtee)

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this picture

The City Ground, Attendance: 30,686

Referee: Craig Pawson, Assistant Referees: Lee Betts, Matt Wilkes, Fourth Official: David Webb, VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Alex Chilowicz

One point, no goals and a controversy

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this picture

Spurs had lost their first two Premier League matches this season and the last four league meetings with Nottingham Forest. So there was some apprehension going into this game. A goalless draw meant that both sequences were ended. However Spurs haven't scored a goal in their first three league matches for the first time since the 1974-75 season and the first time in three consecutive Premier League games since November 2021

There was also some controversy as Forest had a goal disallowed for handball after VAR intervention.

Roberto de Zerbi made three changes from the team which lost to Newcastle United at home last weekend. Destiny Udogie, Savio and Conor Gallagher replaced Andy Robertson, Archie Gray and Mateus Fernandes. Pedro Porro returned to his usual right back position. Savio made his full Premier League debut and Mykhailo Mudryk came off the bench for his Premier League debut.

There was one change in the Forest team which drew 2-2 at Anfield last weekend. New signing Liam Delap who had come on as a substitute in that match made his full Premier League debut replacing Igor Jesus.

It was a hard-fought physical battle. The number of fouls committed by a team in a Premier League match is typically in the 10 and 19 range but Forest managed 22 today (compared to Spurs 13). Tonali and Savio were each felled in the first half without fouls being awarded. They both recovered without needing treatment

Forest were solid in the middle of the pitch throughout the game. Spurs could only make progress down the wide areas. In the first half most of the threat came down the left side.

The concentration of players in the central areas reduced the number of chances created during the match. Forest had 12 shots and Spurs one less. Forest had two shots on target while Spurs had none for the first time since April 2022 against Brentford under Antonio Conte.

The only save either goalkeeper made came early in the first half when McAteer shot straight at Kinsky who caught the ball easily.

Spurs best opportunity of the first half came when Pedro Porro put Marmoush through at the edge of the box but he steered his shot wide of the left post. However he had tangled with Neco Williams in the process and had the shot been on target it would have been disallowed.

Forest dominated possession for the latter part of the first half without creating too many opportunities. Just before the interval Delap set up Gibbs-White whose shot was blocked by Kinsky but he was subsequently adjudged offside. Udogie received the first booking in time added on when he prevented Ndoye from making a break.

Neither manager made any changes at half time.

Spurs created opportunities early in the second half. Savio took the ball into the box but his effort was blocked.

Marmoush was fouled on the edge of the box by Milenkovic who was booked for his troubles. The free kick presented a good opportunity but Marmoush shot straight into the defensive wall.

Spurs won a corner. Savio crossed from the right to the near post. Van de Ven got his head to the ball under pressure from Sels the goalkeeper. He steered it narrowly wide and this was Spurs best chance of the match.

Around the hour mark both teams made their first changes. Robertson and Kudus replaced Udogie and Savio.

A heart-stopping moment occurred around the 65th minute. Gibbs-White lifted the ball over Kinsky. Tonali and van Hecke were behind Kinsky. However they got into a horrible tangle and neither could clear the ball. Williams took advantage and headed the ball over the goal-line. It looked like Spurs had fallen for yet another second-half sucker punch.

Then it became apparent that VAR was looking at a potential handball. It confirmed that the ball had hit Williams' arm. The goal was disallowed to the relief of the Spurs players and supporters. However in the post-match press conference Neco Williams and his manager Oliver Glasner were adamant that the player hadn't handled the ball and accused the VAR official of guessing.

Kinsky set up Marmoush on the edge of the Forest box with a fine long clearance. The latter went for goal and his shot was too high when he could have passed to Kudus who was better positioned.

Jesus failed to connect with a ball in the Spurs box. He claimed he had been impeded but the foul went the other way.

Mudryk replaced Tel to make his debut. A little later Fernandes and Solanke replaced Gallagher and Marmoush. Fernandes made an immediate impact being booked for a foul on McAteer 35 seconds after coming onto the pitch!

With a few minutes remaining Kudus crossed from the right into the box. Solanke, who had scored a hat-trick in a previous Premier League appearance for Bournemouth at the City Ground, headed over.

In time added-on Spurs had the opportunity to launch a final attack from a throw-in from the Forest half. Kudus took responsibility but produced a foul throw thus handing the throw-in to Forest. This was a reflection of Spurs attacking intent this afternoon.

Spurs made poor use of set pieces today. They won 10 corners (to Forest's 2) and some free kicks. Apart from van de Ven's header in the second half they were all wasted.

Still Spurs gained a point today. There have been some improvements from match to match. The team is still finding its way. However there are still legitimate concerns.

At the start of the season a minimum of five points could have been expected from these three games. So come the end of the season if Spurs are challenging for Europe or in a relegation struggle those four lost points could prove costly.

Brentford, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest have played nine games between them in the Premier League this season. There have been only two wins in all those games both against Spurs.

The ability to turn opportunities into goals is worrying. Along with Aston Villa and Coventry City, Spurs have failed to find the net in their first three league games. This is the first time ever that this has happened in the English top flight division.

Spurs next two league fixtures are at home to Everton and Aston Villa. Winning these two games is essential if Spurs are to mount a serious league campaign this season and to end the horrible home league form which has resulted in only one win so far in this calendar year. Everton are the only team against whom Spurs have won their last four Premier League fixtures

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