Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Summary
Nottingham Forest delivered a masterclass in counter-attacking football to dismantle Tottenham Hotspur 3–0 at the City Ground. Callum Hudson-Odoi was the architect of Spurs’ destruction, scoring twice—once from a defensive error and once with a fortuitous cross—before setting up Ibrahim Sangaré for a thunderous third. Tottenham dominated possession but looked toothless in attack and fragile at the back, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario enduring a nightmare evening. The result moves Forest further away from the drop zone, while Spurs’ top-four hopes take a significant dent.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur – Final Score
Nottingham Forest 3–0 Tottenham Hotspur
(HT: 1–0)
Goals:
- 28’ — Callum Hudson-Odoi (NFO)
- 50’ — Callum Hudson-Odoi (NFO)
- 79’ — Ibrahim Sangaré (NFO)
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur – Timeline & Events
- 04’ — 🚧 WOODWORK: Early warning for Spurs as Ibrahim Sangaré rises highest to meet a corner, but his header crashes against the post.
- 28’ — ⚽ GOAL! Disaster for Tottenham. Vicario plays a risky pass into midfield which Sangaré intercepts. He squares it to Callum Hudson-Odoi, who taps into an empty net. (1–0)
- 31’ — 🟨 Card: Nicolo Savona (NFO) booked for a late challenge on Udogie.
- 40’ — 🟨 Card: Archie Gray (TOT) receives a yellow card for pulling back Gibbs-White.
- 50’ — ⚽ GOAL! A moment of fortune for Forest. Callum Hudson-Odoi cuts inside and curls a cross that evades everyone, drifting over Vicario and into the far corner. (2–0)
- 59’ — 🔄 Subs (TOT): Ange Postecoglou makes a triple change, introducing Davies, Palhinha, and Bergvall to try and rescue the game.
- 79’ — ⚽ GOAL! Game over. Hudson-Odoi turns provider, laying the ball off to Ibrahim Sangaré, who rifles a strike from 25 yards in off the post. (3–0)
- 84’ — 🟨 Card: Pedro Porro (TOT) booked for dissent after a foul is not given.
First Half Analysis
Nottingham Forest executed their game plan to perfection in the opening 45 minutes. Content to let Tottenham have the ball (38% possession), they pressed aggressively in the middle third. Spurs looked sluggish, and their insistence on playing out from the back cost them dearly for the opening goal. Hudson-Odoi and Elanga were constant outlets, stretching the Spurs defense whenever possession turned over.
Second Half Analysis
Tottenham came out for the second half looking to respond, but the freak second goal just five minutes in killed their momentum. Forced to chase the game, Spurs left huge gaps that Forest exploited repeatedly. Despite the introduction of fresh legs, Tottenham failed to register a single shot on target in the second period. Forest managed the closing stages with ease, adding a third goal to put the seal on a dominant performance.
xG Reality Check: Nottingham Forest 1.85 | Tottenham Hotspur 0.37
Key Match Factors
- Vicario’s Distribution: The Spurs keeper’s error for the first goal set the tone for a nervous defensive display.
- Midfield Battle: Ibrahim Sangaré was a physical mismatch for Tottenham’s midfield, winning 9 duels and scoring a screamer.
- Clinical Finishing: Forest scored 3 goals from an xG of 1.85, showing ruthless efficiency.
- Spurs’ Lack of Width: Tottenham’s attacks were too narrow, playing straight into the hands of Forest’s compact low block.
Player of the Match
🏆 Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest)
Directly involved in all three goals (2 goals, 1 assist). He tormented Pedro Porro all game and was the decisive factor in the final third.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur – Player Ratings
| Nottingham Forest | Rating | Tottenham Hotspur | Rating |
| Sels | 7.0 | Vicario | 3.0 |
| Williams | 7.5 | Porro | 5.5 |
| Milenkovic | 8.0 | Romero | 5.0 |
| Murillo | 7.5 | Van de Ven | 6.0 |
| Aina | 7.0 | Udogie | 5.5 |
| Sangaré | 9.0 | Bissouma | 4.5 |
| Anderson | 7.5 | Sarr | 5.0 |
| Gibbs-White | 8.0 | Maddison | 5.0 |
| Elanga | 7.0 | Johnson | 5.5 |
| Hudson-Odoi (MOTM) | 9.5 | Son | 5.0 |
| Wood | 7.0 | Solanke | 4.5 |
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Stats
| Stat | Nottingham Forest | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.85 | 0.37 |
| Possession | 38% | 62% |
| Total Shots | 14 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 6 | 1 |
| Big Chances | 4 | 0 |
| Corners | 5 | 3 |
| Passes (Accuracy) | 310 (78%) | 540 (86%) |
| Fouls | 12 | 10 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 2 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 1 | 3 |
Top 5 Performers
- Callum Hudson-Odoi (NFO): Two goals and an assist; a career-best performance.
- Ibrahim Sangaré (NFO): Dominated the midfield and scored a stunning long-range goal.
- Nikola Milenkovic (NFO): Won every aerial duel and kept Solanke completely quiet.
- Morgan Gibbs-White (NFO): The creative hub for Forest, linking defense to attack beautifully.
- Murillo (NFO): Rock solid at the back, making three vital blocks.
Underperformers / Weak Links
- Guglielmo Vicario (TOT): At fault for the first two goals. A day to forget.
- Dominic Solanke (TOT): Starved of service but also failed to hold the ball up effectively.
- Yves Bissouma (TOT): Overrun in midfield and lost the ball for the third goal.
Substitutions Impact
- Lucas Bergvall (TOT): Brought energy but couldn’t unlock the Forest defense. (Rating: 6.0)
- Joao Palhinha (TOT): Added some steel but the game was already lost. (Rating: 5.5)
- Taiwo Awoniyi (NFO): Came on late to hold up the ball and did his job well. (Rating: 6.5)
Tactical Breakdown
- Nottingham Forest:
- Low Block: Defended in a 4-5-1 shape, denying Spurs space between the lines.
- Trigger Press: Pressed aggressively only when the ball went to Spurs’ goalkeeper or defensive midfielders.
- Tottenham Hotspur:
- Inverted Fullbacks: Porro and Udogie came inside, but this just congested the middle and allowed Forest to counter wide.
- High Line: Maintained a high line even when trailing, which Hudson-Odoi exploited for the second goal.
What This Result Means
- Nottingham Forest: Move up to 16th place, gaining crucial breathing space in the relegation battle.
- Tottenham Hotspur: Remain stuck in 11th place, with pressure mounting on the manager to turn results around.
Next Fixtures
📅 Nottingham Forest: vs Fulham (Premier League)
📅 Tottenham Hotspur: vs Liverpool (Premier League)
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur – FAQs
Q: Who won the Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham match?
A: Nottingham Forest won 3–0.
Q: Who scored the goals?
A: Callum Hudson-Odoi (28′, 50′) and Ibrahim Sangaré (79′).
Q: Did Tottenham have any chances?
A: Very few. Their best chance was a Richarlison header that went wide; they only had 1 shot on target.
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