Tottenham Hotspur piled the strain on Steve Cooper with a 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on Friday night time.
Spurs dominated possession however seldom had management of the match on a testing night on the Metropolis Floor, with Ange Postecoglou’s males digging in deep to safe the three factors.
Cooper’s Forest have now misplaced 5 of their final six and are slowly sliding in the direction of the relegation zone, sitting 5 factors away from the underside three.
How the sport unfolded
Tottenham went near taking the lead simply three minutes in when Dejan Kulusevski picked out the run of Son Heung-min in behind, however his close-range effort was denied by the leg of Matt Turner.
Forest have been intent to take a seat in deep and hit Spurs on the counter, with Anthony Elanga first to check Guglielmo Vicario. The Italian stood tall to disclaim the Swede after around the guests’ backline, and although a late offside flag went up, replays urged Elanga could have timed his run to perfection.
Turner got here to Forest’s rescue once more when former teammate Brennan Johnson poked a shot in the direction of purpose, just for the American to get down and palm his improvised effort behind. From the ensuing nook, Ben Davies headed narrowly over.
Spurs have been beneath the cosh for a lot of the primary half, however took the lead simply earlier than the break when Richarlison leapt excessive to nod in a wonderfully whipped Kulusevski cross.
After the break, Forest threatened following a set piece as Elanga was capable of flip and discover Willy Boly free on the far facet of the 18-yard field, however the defender misplaced his composure and fired over.
Simply earlier than the hour mark, Forest had the ball within the web. Neco Williams’ cross was diverted in from six yards by Elanga, however the purpose was dominated out for offside after a VAR examine.
Again down the opposite finish, a last-ditch block from Orel Mangala ensured that Kulusevski could not double Tottenham’s lead, whereas Son’s strike on the top of a low Pedro Porro cross was denied by Turner.
However Turner was unable to maintain out Kulusevski’s highly effective shot moments later after the American’s skewed clearance was intercepted by Spurs’ quantity 21, thundering in on the close to publish together with his weaker proper foot.
With simply over 20 minutes remaining, Forest have been handed a lifeline when Tottenham have been decreased to 10 males, with Yves Bissouma receiving his marching orders after a VAR examine for a harmful problem.
Turner this time obtained a powerful hand behind a Kulusevski drive in the direction of the close to publish as the sport opened up within the late phases.
Vicario made an unbelievable save together with his left leg to maintain out a towering Harry Toffolo header as Forest threw every little thing at Spurs in the hunt for a purpose of their very own.
One other heroic Forest block – this time from Murillo – ensured Tottenham did not transfer out of sight when Porro fired at purpose.
Forest’s closing probability noticed Williams lash an effort off the publish and out off the helpless Vicario as Spurs held on to take the factors.
GK: Matt Turner – 3/10 – Tottenham’s lead grew to become unassailable when Turner flapped at Kulusevski’s strike halfway by way of the second half, giving the ball away seconds earlier.
CB: Willy Boly – 5/10 – Defended nicely for essentially the most half however was crucially crushed to Kulusevski’s cross by Richarlison simply earlier than the break.
CB: Murillo – 5/10 – Used his restoration tempo nicely to blunt Tottenham’s pacy assault at instances.
CB: Moussa Niakhate – 5/10 – A menace together with his lengthy throw-ins. Endured an enchanting battle with Porro.
RM: Neco Williams – 6/10 – Galloped up and down the pitch making tackles and looking for a method by way of.
CM: Ryan Yates – 5/10 – In some way spared a reserving regardless of making 4 cynical fouls and asking for the referee to warning Sarr. Forest wanted his vitality to play the way in which they did.
CM: Orel Mangala – 6/10 – Swept up play slightly extra gracefully than his bullish teammates.
CM: Cheikhou Kouyate – 5/10 – Bundled about into challenges although was unable to get a correct foothold within the recreation.
LM: Harry Toffolo – 5/10 – Practically got here up with a purpose on the dying however was denied by the lengthy legs of Vicario.
CF: Morgan Gibbs-White – 5/10 – Failed to make use of his expertise to take the sport by the scruff of the neck.
CF: Anthony Elanga – 5/10 – Likewise clearly had bundles of potential however could not successfully use it.
Substitutes
SUB: Chris Wooden (68′ for Boly) – 5/10
SUB: Danilo (68′ for Kouyate) – 5/10
SUB: Callum Hudson-Odoi (83′ for Mangala) – 5/10
Subs not used: Odisseas Vlachodimos (GK), Gonzalo Montiel, Andrew Omobamidele, Ola Aina, Nicolas Dominguez, Divock Origi
Supervisor
Steve Cooper – 5/10 – Forest’s gamers and supporters are nonetheless evidently behind Cooper, however they should begin producing outcomes once more.
GK: Guglielmo Vicario – 8/10 – Produced some gorgeous saves to protect a clear sheet. £17m trying increasingly of a discount each week.
RB: Pedro Porro – 6/10 – Not as helpful in assault this week however ensured that Elanga and Gibbs-White could not get to the byline so simply.
CB: Cristian Romero – 7/10 – A a lot calmer efficiency from the Argentine this week. Silky easy with the ball at his toes.
CB: Ben Davies – 8/10 – Tottenham are in dire want of a brand new centre-back, however Davies is rapidly proving he nonetheless has a component to play transferring ahead.
LB: Future Udogie – 6/10 – Defended nicely and with confidence regardless of strolling a tightrope on a yellow card for a lot of the sport.
CM: Pape Matar Sarr – 6/10 – Nowhere close to as elegant with the ball as final week however Spurs wanted his work price to recover from the road.
CM: Yves Bissouma – 1/10 – Sloppy on the ball, lacked self-discipline off it. Put his teammates beneath immense strain with one other daft pink card.
RM: Brennan Johnson – 6/10 – Withdrawn with a concussion in the course of the first half. Gave Toffolo some issues together with his tempo previous to his substitution.
AM: Dejan Kulusevski – 9/10 – Stepping up within the absence of James Maddison. Deserving of his purpose and gorgeous help.
LM: Son Heung-min – 6/10 – Spurned a few first rate openings however labored ever so exhausting for the trigger.
CF: Richarlison – 8/10 – One other all-round show up entrance for the Brazilian quantity 9, scoring his third purpose within the house of every week. Sacrificed for Hojbjerg after Bissouma’s pink card.
Substitutes
CONCUSSION SUB: Oliver Skipp (32′ for Johnson) – 5/10 – Clearly not suited to enjoying as a quantity ten.
SUB: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (72′ for Richarlison) – 7/10
SUB: Emerson Royal (88′ for Son) – N/A
SUB: Alejo Veliz (90′ for Kulusevski) – N/A
Subs not used: Fraser Forster (GK), Alfie Dorrington, Eric Dier, Bryan Gil, Jamie Donley
Supervisor
Ange Postecoglou – 7/10 – Tottenham have been uncomfortable for lengthy intervals of the sport however not often allowed Forest a transparent sight at purpose.
