Key stats
- Ibrahim Sangare is the first Nottingham Forest player to score and provide two or more assists in a Premier League game since Steve Stone against QPR in May 1996.
- Nottingham Forest are now unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League matches when leading at half-time (W12, D1), dating back to November 10th, 2024, against Newcastle United (lost 1-3).
- Tottenham Hotspur have a record of W0, D2, L4 when trailing at half-time in the Premier League this season.
Highlights
Analysis
With his two assists in this match, Ibrahim Sangare is the first midfielder from the Ivory Coast to record two assists in the same Premier League match.
Spurs were rarely in the contest as Forest dominated throughout.
Match report
Hunting successive PL wins for the first time since the opening two games, Spurs made a shaky start and almost found themselves trailing inside five minutes when Sangaré’s header rebounded off the post before Neco Williams forced a save from Guglielmo Vicario in the ensuing chaos.
Tottenham settled after that but were unable to carve out a clear opening, allowing Forest to break the deadlock after 28 minutes, thanks to the tenacity of Sangaré, who closed down Archie Gray on the edge of his box and poked to Hudson-Odoi for a tap-in.
Looking to make amends with what would have been the first goal of his senior career, Gray then saw his volley on the turn held by stand-in John Victor as the visitors searched for a response.
However, Sean Dyche’s side were good value for their lead, and almost doubled it before the interval as Morgan Gibbs-White came within inches of turning in on the stretch at the back post.
Only fierce rivals Arsenal had beaten Tottenham on their travels this season (W4, D2), but five minutes into the second period, that looked unlikely to remain the case as Hudson-Odoi bagged his second of the afternoon, this time inadvertently catching out Vicario with a cross that sailed over the goalkeeper.
A triple change from the away side as the hour mark approached did little to turn the tide, and with Forest still on top, the game was put to bed 11 minutes from time when Hudson-Odoi laid off Sangaré, who sent a rasping effort in off the post as a parting gift before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations.
It’s now seven wins and six clean sheets from 12 matches in all competitions for Dyche (D2, L3), whose oversight has overseen an upturn in form for a Forest side who are now four points clear of the drop zone.
As for Spurs, one win in seven league fixtures leaves Thomas Frank’s side disappointingly stuck in the bottom half of the table.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest)
Post-match comments
Tottenham defender Pedro Porro to Sky Sports:
"The away fans don't deserve this. Today this was a bad game from us. Now we're focusing on the next game.
"Every game is difficult in the Premier League. We can play on Tuesday and win in the Champions League but in the Premier League it is different.
"Maybe more intensity, I don't know. But I feel especially sorry for the fans. The fans don't deserve this today."
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank to Sky Sports:
"It was hugely disappointing. It's burning, annoying. That was a bad performance. Especially first half, overall we looked disjointed. We didn't win enough duels. And then we couldn't hit each other, it seems like we gave the ball away every time we won it back.
"Of course the first two goals are two mistakes, that happens. We need to work to be more consistent. It's two steps forward and a step back today.
"That's down to individuals. We are in it together, we win together and lose together. It's hugely irritating that we perform like this today. Simple passing, I think we lose the ball 20 times, simple passes."
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche to Sky Sports:
"The boys were outstanding from start to finish.
"Our shape was good, our pressing was good, recovery lines... so much we see as managers and coaches. And then the good stuff looked after itself. We know we've got talented players here, who want the freedom to play. But we need the framework to be right and it was today without a doubt.
"In your mind's eye, when you take over, that's where you want to get to."