Notebook – Spurs vs Nottingham Forest
We return to action on Saturday as we take on Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (3pm kick-off UK).
Ahead of the game, here are all the fixture’s key points of note...
1 - Needing to bounce back
It goes without saying, the last week has been a difficult one. With three back-to-back defeats, all by a single goal, it has certainly been a tough period, especially as we saw the end of two cup campaigns. However, 12 games of the season still remain and we are in the battle for a Champions League place. We have enjoyed good form in the league as of late, with four wins in our last six, but, after a disappointing last eight days, a returning to winning ways against Forest would be most welcome and a huge boost as we look to rebuild our momentum.
2 – Last time out against Forest in the league
Back in August, we continued our unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 win at the City Ground. In a top-flight fixture not seen since the late 1990s, the newly-promoted side started brightly at their packed-out home but we managed to take the lead just five minutes in as Harry Kane produced a precise finish to round-off our first attack. We were made to work hard for our victory as Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson thwarted Harry from the spot 10 minutes after half-time but our number 10 wouldn't be denied a second with nine minutes remaining as he stooped low to head home Richarlison's divine cross.
Highlights: Forest 0-2 Spurs | August, 2022
3 – Head-to-head - 90s nostalgia for Forest
That win in the East Midlands made it three league victories in a row against Forest - all spread across a 24-year spell. With the reds having endured a 23-year hiatus from the top flight following their 1999 relegation, prior to this campaign we had last faced them in the 1998/99 season, and we came out on top in both of those encounters.
In our last home league match against the Tricky Trees, we ran out 2-0 winners thanks to second-half goals from Chris Armstrong and Allan Nielsen in November, 1998. However, prior to our current run of three wins on the spin, Forest had the upper hand in this match-up, winning six and drawing the other of the preceding seven matches.
4 – League Cup clashes
Despite our league victory at the City Ground earlier this campaign, our last encounter with Forest did see us beaten as we fell 2-0 on Trentside in our Carabao Cup third round clash in November. After a battling first period, two second-half strikes in quick succession from Renan Lodi and Jesse Lingard saw the Reds ultimately edge us.
Interestingly, the Reds’ last visit to N17 came at the same stage of the competition eight years earlier. Hosting Forest at White Hart Lane in September, 2014, we went behind in that game following Jorge Grant’s 61st-minute opener, but we managed to it around in the last 20 minutes as Ryan Mason levelled the scores with an absolute belter - his first ever goal for the Club - before Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane helped us complete the comeback as we triumphed 3-1.
Highlights: Spurs 3-1 Forest | September, 2014
5 – Unlikely draw
In 11 Premier League meetings with Forest there has only been one draw. That came in March, 1995, when Colin Calderwood rescued an away point three minutes from time with all four goals coming in a dramatic last 11 minutes at the City Ground. Fast forward to 2023 and we are one of two sides yet to register a draw in the league since the turn of the year, winning five and losing five.
6 – Harry at the double
Harry’s brace in the reverse fixture this term means he remains our only current player to score against Forest in any competition (3). Our Club record scorer is two goals away from hitting 20 Premier League goals in a single season for the sixth time, something only Sergio Agüero (6) and Alan Shearer (7) have achieved previously. The England skipper is also looking to become our first player to score home and away against Forest in a league season since Gary Mabbutt in 1982/83.
Legacy Collection - Gary Mabbutt
7 – Forest form
Forest went unbeaten in their first five Premier League games in 2023 (W3 D2), but they come into this game winless in their last four (D2 L2). Away from home this campaign, the East Midlands side have only beaten Southampton so far and have scored the least goals of any side (3).
8 – Beware of Brennan
Brennan Johnson is Forest’s top scorer this season with seven goals to his name and has also provided two assists. Seven of those nine goal involvements have come in his nine appearances so far in 2023 (5 goals, 2 assists) - only Erling Haaland and Marcus Rashford have been involved in more this calendar year.
9 – Urban Forest
Nottingham Forest travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having lost eight of their last 10 league games in London (W1 D1), with their only win coming at Wimbledon in 1999. This season, Forest have fallen in all three of their visits to the capital by an aggregate score of 11-0 (5-0 vs Arsenal, 2-0 vs Fulham and 4-0 vs West Ham United).
