Tottenham dealt massive blow in survival battle as 3-0 Forest defeat takes them one step closer to relegation | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur may have sealed their own fate in the Premier League battle for survival after suffering a damning 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in the high-stakes relegation six-pointer.

The North Londoners had built up a head of steam coming into Sunday’s blockbuster after snapping a six-match losing streak and a seven-game winless run with a positive result against Liverpool.

Igor Tudor’s troops were able to snatch a point from the reigning champions and teased further resurgence by outscoring Atletico Madrid 3-2 in their Champions League last 16 second leg.

That result may not have salvaged Tottenham’s Champions League hopes as they crashed out 7-5 on aggregate following a 5-2 humiliation in the first leg.

However, there was a general feeling that the result provided a massive morale boost in the dressing room, considering how the campaign has panned out for the Europa League holders.

Having failed to taste defeat twice in a row, Tottenham came into this relegation dogfight against Forest as slight favourites, although the Tricky Trees also had reason to believe they could get a result.

Vitor Pereira’s side had overturned a 1-0 Europa League deficit against Danish outfit Midtjylland in their last outing away from home.

They secured a 2-1 victory that sent the game to a penalty shoot-out, where they ultimately prevailed to set up a Europa League quarter-final date against Porto.

Both sides came into this game with a measure of confidence, knowing anything but a win may well seal their fate in the heated relegation battle.

Unfortunately for Spurs, they were not up to the task. After a cagey first half that saw both sides cancel each other out, it seemed like the score would remain level heading into the break.

The first real opportunity fell to the hosts when Richarlison’s header from Mathys Tel’s corner flashed across the face of goal and went behind.

Tudor’s side came even closer moments later when Igor Jesus headed Kevin Danso’s long throw against his own post.

But it was the visitors who ultimately prevailed as Jesus redeemed himself following that massive reprieve.

He rose highest to head home Neco Williams’ corner at the far post, leaving Tudor and his troops with plenty to ponder at the interval.

You’d expect Tottenham to restart with a vengeance, but it was Forest who came close to doubling their advantage just 10 minutes into the second half.

Williams nearly turned scorer when he met Elliot Anderson’s delivery at the far post, but could only aim straight at Guglielmo Vicario despite being left in acres of space.

Forest were knocking on the door, and Tottenham failed to heed the warning, so it was hardly a surprise when the visitors eventually doubled their advantage as Callum Hudson-Odoi set up Morgan Gibbs-White just after the hour mark.

Tottenham hardly put up a fight from that moment, leaving Taiwo Awoniyi to put the final nail in their coffin as the Nigerian turned home Williams’ delivery late in the game.

Unsurprisingly, the boos rang through the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the final whistle as the Europa League holders fell to their 15th Premier League defeat of the season.

West Ham United’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa means Tottenham get to keep their heads above water, maintaining a one-point advantage over the 18th-placed Hammers.

However, defeat to Forest could spell trouble for Tudor and Spurs, who now have just seven games to turn things around before catastrophe hits.