Nottingham Forest stuns Spurs and jumps to third

Nottingham Forest delivered a huge statement in the Premier League’s top-four battle on Monday night, securing a 2-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur in London. The victory sees Nuno Espirito Santo’s side climb back into third place, reigniting their Champions League ambitions with just five matches left in the season.

Fast start from Forest

Tottenham, with Micky van de Ven back in the starting lineup, was once again caught cold in the early minutes of the match. Nottingham’s Elliot Anderson pounced on a loose ball following a corner and fired home a well-placed shot to give the visitors a 0-1 lead after just five minutes. Anderson continued to be a menace and thought he had grabbed an assist five minutes later with a brilliant through ball to Chris Wood, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Still, Forest kept the pressure on. In the 17th minute, Wood found the net again and this time it counted. A superb delivery from Anthony Elanga found the New Zealand international, who calmly slotted home his 19th goal of the season to double Forest’s lead.

Spurs struggle to convert possession into goals

Despite dominating possession and creating more chances throughout the match, Tottenham failed to make it count on the scoreboard. The Londoners looked frustrated and short of ideas in the final third as Forest defended with discipline and organization. Richarlison managed to pull one back for Spurs in the 87th minute, sparking some late hope for a comeback. However, it proved too little, too late, as Forest held firm to seal a crucial three points.

Forest back in the top four fight

The win snaps a two-game losing streak in the league for Nottingham and propels them back to third in the table. With the top five spots in the Premier League earning Champions League football this season, Forest’s grip on a historic European berth is far from secure — but this result shows they’re still very much in the fight. Tottenham, meanwhile, continues to slip at a crucial stage of the season. Questions will be asked of manager Ange Postecoglou and his team’s mentality, especially with tough fixtures ahead and their hopes of European football beginning to fade. As the race for Champions League places tightens, Forest has momentum on their side. Spurs, on the other hand, must regroup quickly to avoid being left behind.