As much as Ange Postecoglou vehemently asserts that securing Champions League qualification is not crucial nor the culmination of his aspirations, he will encounter considerable difficulty in discovering a Tottenham enthusiast not significantly heartened by their enhanced league standing after this triumph over Nottingham Forest in the EPL.
With a fixture in hand over Aston Villa, Postecoglou’s squad now reclaims fourth place – a position they have not held since mid-February – and stands at the forefront for participation in Europe’s foremost competition next season, despite facing some challenging forthcoming matches. However, do not anticipate the manager to display any enthusiasm regarding this matter: “I couldn’t care less about the race for fourth, mate.”
McBurnie strikes late to thwart Chelsea and secure a point for Sheffield United Read more It was not flawless; such perfection is rare in the context of Spurs. Nevertheless, unlike the frustrating draw at West Ham earlier in the week, they managed to achieve what ultimately amounted to a fairly comprehensive scoreline.
The scenario might have unfolded differently had Forest capitalized on a couple of significant first-half occurrences. With the scoreline level after Chris Wood had nullified an early Murillo own goal, the New Zealander squandered a splendid opportunity for his second goal by striking the Spurs post with force two yards from the goal when a delicate touch would have sufficed.
Ten minutes later, Forest captain Ryan Yates fell to the ground clutching his abdomen following an off-the-ball altercation with James Maddison. Replays revealed a rather suspicious-looking fist making contact with Yates’s midsection, yet the Spurs midfielder evaded punishment.
Punching Incident
“He punched him,” asserted Nuno Espírito Santo. “I was taken aback that VAR didn’t prompt Simon [Hooper, the referee] to reassess it more thoroughly because, truthfully, with all due respect, Maddison loses control and it’s a blow to Yates’s abdomen. It ought to have been reevaluated and a different decision made. From my perspective, it’s unmistakable. It warrants a red card.”
At that juncture, Spurs were faltering after their promising start. However, alterations to both central midfielders at halftime spurred a comprehensive improvement from Postecoglou’s team in the second half, during which the hosts were seldom challenged. Tottenham swiftly settled matters early in the second half through a pair of powerful strikes from the unexpected sources of Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro.
“Today encompassed a variety of elements for us,” remarked Postecoglou. “We initiated the game effectively, not just with the goal, and managed it adeptly. We deviated from our path somewhat towards the conclusion of the first half, but it was a commendable response and throughout the entire second half, we exhibited considerable dominance. We executed some commendable football, scored a couple of goals, and engineered a few additional opportunities against a team that is desperate for points and fiercely competitive. I believe we handled it admirably.”
Judging solely from the initial 45 minutes, there was a significant likelihood that Nuno’s first return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since his stint as the club’s shortest-serving permanent manager might yield positive results.
Following their attainment of only a second league victory this calendar year earlier in the week against Fulham – a continuation of a minor resurgence since Forest incurred a deduction of four points for breaching Premier League financial regulations – the visitors nearly seized the lead in spectacular fashion through Murillo. The Brazilian attempted an audacious lob from a distance of approximately 70 yards, but the ball veered wide.
He did, however, find the net four minutes later, albeit at the wrong end. Sustaining his impressive form, Timo Werner delivered a tricky low cross across the six-yard box, which was inadvertently turned in by the outstretched boot of the Brazilian.
Matz Sels demonstrated exceptional skill in denying Brennan Johnson from point-blank range ten minutes later, and Forest promptly found an equalizer. A delightful exchange of passes between Anthony Elanga and Neco Williams culminated in the Swede delivering a cross into the goalmouth, where Wood dispatched it into the far corner.
It marked the Kiwi’s fourth goal in as many games since his return from a hamstring injury, yet his failure to add to that tally when striking the post minutes later bewildered all those inside the stadium following a superb save by Vicario from Yates’s shot.
If the home supporters entered halftime apprehensive that their team might relinquish more points in the Champions League race that Postecoglou refuses to acknowledge, their apprehensions were promptly allayed.
Nuno expressed, “The first half was highly commendable,” as his Forest side teeters precariously above the relegation zone, with their standing determined solely by goal difference. “We contained Tottenham, we experienced favorable spells, we scored, we created opportunities. Our primary challenge is to replicate this performance for the entirety of the match.”
