Forest dominate Spurs in 3-0 Premier League win at City Ground | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur as Spurs Falter at City Ground

Nottingham Forest produced one of their most convincing Premier League performances of the season with a dominant 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, a result that spoke of organisation, belief, and clarity of purpose. For Spurs, it was a damaging afternoon that unravelled quickly and raised familiar questions about progress and resilience.

Forest’s win moved them five points clear of the relegation zone and underlined the growing impact of Sean Dyche. Tottenham, meanwhile, failed to build on recent victories against Brentford and Slavia Prague and remain mired in mid table uncertainty.

From the opening exchanges, Forest looked sharper and more aggressive. They pressed high, disrupted Spurs’ rhythm, and forced mistakes, setting the tone long before the scoreboard reflected their superiority.

Forest intensity exposes Spurs fragility

Tottenham were under pressure early and relied on Guglielmo Vicario to keep them level when he denied Neco Williams after Ibrahim Sangare’s header struck the post. It was an early warning that went unheeded.

The breakthrough arrived after 28 minutes and stemmed from a costly error. Vicario’s loose pass towards Archie Gray invited pressure, allowing Sangare to win the ball on the edge of the area and feed Callum Hudson Odoi, who finished calmly. Spurs were already struggling to cope with Forest’s intensity, and the goal only heightened their uncertainty.

Forest continued to dominate territory and tempo, while Tottenham offered little response. Their play lacked cohesion, with transitions slow and attacking movement predictable. The home side went into the interval deservedly ahead, buoyed by a City Ground crowd sensing vulnerability.

Hudson Odoi and Sangare seal victory

Forest emerged after the break with renewed focus and doubled their advantage within minutes. A cross from the left drifted over Vicario, allowing Hudson Odoi to claim his second goal of the afternoon and further expose Spurs’ defensive disarray.

Tottenham’s attacking players struggled to influence proceedings. Richarlison was isolated, Xavi Simons found no space between the lines, and debutant goalkeeper John Victor was rarely tested at the other end. Forest, by contrast, remained composed and disciplined, controlling the game without retreating into caution.

Any lingering hope of a Spurs revival was extinguished late on when Sangare struck from distance. His powerful effort cannoned in off the post from 25 yards, a fitting finish to a commanding display. Vicario had no chance with the strike, but by then the damage had long been done.

Dyche momentum grows as Spurs concerns deepen

Forest’s response to recent setbacks has been telling. Heavy defeats earlier in the season threatened to drag them into deeper trouble, but under Dyche they have shown resilience and an ability to recover quickly. Since his arrival in October, Forest have lost just three league matches and have responded positively each time.

The performance against Tottenham reinforced that sense of direction. While there was fortune in how the opening goals were created, it should not distract from the collective effort, structure, and intensity that underpinned the display. Forest remain in a precarious position, but performances of this quality suggest they can create daylight between themselves and the bottom three.

For Tottenham, the defeat was another step backwards. Under Thomas Frank, signs of progress have been intermittent, and this outing ranked among their poorest of the campaign. The issues extended beyond individual errors, as the team failed to cope with Forest’s pressing and physicality.

Frank will again be asked to defend his goalkeeper, but responsibility lies across the pitch. Spurs lacked urgency, control, and resilience, leaving them exposed against a side fighting for survival.

Next up, Nottingham Forest travel to Fulham on 22 December before hosting Manchester City on 27 December. Tottenham face a daunting schedule, hosting Liverpool on 20 December before travelling to Crystal Palace on 28 December. For Forest, momentum offers hope. For Spurs, reflection and response are essential.