Match Report: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur | OneFootball

On Boxing Day, Spurs took the field as they took on Nottingham Forest at the City ground for gameweek eighteen of the 24/25 Premier League season.

For the task at hand, Ange opted for a line up of; Forster; Spence, Dragusin, Gray, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Sarr; Johnson, Son, Solanke.

How everything unfolded at the City Ground this Boxing Day

Within the first five minutes, Spurs had a breakaway in transition, but Son’s shot was very tame and straight at the goalkeeper. To his right was Johnson — back at his old stomping ground, and whom was in a very dangerous position, was clearly unhappy at the captain’s decision to shoot.

Just past the ten minute mark, Tottenham Hotspur linked Callum Hudson-Odoi was allowed far too much space to cut inside, but luckily fired his shot off target.

Twenty-eight minutes in, the hosts had the lead. After Spurs gave the ball away, Morgan Gibbs-White carried the ball forward, before slipping through Anthony Elanga with a through ball— who slotted into the bottom corner with a left footed finish. As he was bearing down on goal, Udogie was busy claiming an offside to the linesman, rather than trying to catch up to Elanga.

With essentially the last touch of the first half, Son struck a free-kick into the side netting. Ange’s side would go into the break with a 1-0 deficit and it all to do in the second half.

So, Spurs then have 45 minutes to break down a Nuno side with a lead to hold onto. Maybe the most predictable outcome of the season. This is being written at half-time, not full-time. It’s that obvious.

Seven minutes after the break, Forster steered an Elanga cross away, but only as far as Gibbs-White, whose effort he was able to save. From there, Spurs had a break, where they eventually wasted a corner. To make a change.

Minutes later, Johnson absolutely superbly took down the ball inside the Forest penalty area, taking Murillo out of the game, but his effort was saved by Matz Sels. By far the best chance Spurs had had all game.

Just after the hour mark, Nikola Milenkovic should have doubled the hosts lead, but headed over the bar from close range. Again, really poor defending from Spurs.

Ange responsed by introducing Maddison and Bergvall, whom replaced Bentancur and Sarr. With just under ten minutes to go, Werner and Porro replaced Son and Kulusevski. Then, Bissouma replaced Dragusin, who looked to have picked up an injury.

The game was summed up in stoppage time. Spurs had a chance to get a cross into the box, decided not to, lost the ball, and Spence was given a second yellow for stopping a counter attack.