Tottenham Hotspur vs. Nottingham Forest 1:2 – An English legend close to comeback

The "Monday Night Game" of the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur vs. Nottingham Forest 1:2 (0:2) on Easter Monday was our Match of the Week this time. For Forest, it was about crucial points in the race for Champions League spots 2025/26. And the "Tricky Trees" showed just that...

First things first: When it comes to Tottenham Hotspur football trips, there's no lack of entertainment. In the 17 previous home games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, 62 goals were scored.

For the upcoming season, the English top flight could secure ten spots across all three competitions – matching the record set by Ligue 1 in the 1997/98 season.
Tottenham Hotspur still has a title chance in the Europa League, as do the "Tricky Trees", who will face Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinal on April 27, 2025, at Wembley.

But there's also a chance that Nottingham Forest football trips could lead to their first-ever Champions League qualification.

Nottingham had a dream start against the home-weary "Spurs" (already with eight home defeats) – 1-0 through Elliot Anderson after five minutes. That already meant third place in the standings at this early stage of the match.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Nottingham Forest 1:2: Chris Wood celebrates with Anthony Elanga (left) after making it 2-0 for the “Tricky Trees” in the 17th minute. Photo: Imago Images / Action Plus

Great start for Nottingham at the London football temple

"Anderson really struck that shot well," analyzed English football legend Alan Smith on Sky Sports UK, "the deflection made things tough for Guglielmo Vicario."

Things didn't get any easier for Tottenham… Just five minutes later, Forest striker Chris Wood tapped the ball over the line for what seemed to be the second goal – a marginal offside decision saved the "Spurs" in that scene…

But only briefly. After 17 minutes, Wood headed in a cross from the left from the edge of the six-yard box to make it 0-2. It was his 19th goal of the season – only Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Erling Braut Haaland of reigning champions Manchester City, and former Dortmund player Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) have scored more in the Premier League than the Australian. The assist came from Anthony Elanga.

Bayern loanee Mathys Tel (40') missed the chance to pull one back for the North Londoners from six yards out. Brazilian Richarlison then squandered a header from under two meters just a minute later. And many were asking – not just in the stadium – how did he not score that?

Boos for the “Spurs”

A symbolic moment for the Spurs' weak Premier League season.

The logical consequence: boos from the steep stands at halftime.

The hosts came back into the game late: Richarlison headed in from nine meters after a right-wing cross by Pedro Porro to make it 1-2 (87'). The team from White Hart Lane had dominated the second half, pinning Nottingham back near their own penalty area.

Nottingham didn’t have a single touch in the Tottenham Hotspur box throughout the second half and added time. Former Union Berlin player Taiwo Awoniyi fired up the traveling Forest fans one more time in the final minute of stoppage time – five minutes had been added – and tried to kill time with runs down the flank.

It worked – Nottingham Forest won 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur after a gritty second-half performance.

But: Nottingham Forest won at Tottenham Hotspur with just 30 percent possession – a kind of quality in its own right.

"We have a clear idea of how we want to play," said Nottingham's Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo on BBC’s Match of the Day, "we’ve found our identity and have been able to fight for every ball this season."

And that’s what the Premier League is all about.

Which teams will still visit Tottenham Hotspur at home in the 2024/2025 Premier League season?

Tottenham Hotspur will next play at home on May 11, 2025, in the London derby against Crystal Palace.

In the final match of the season on May 25, 2025, they will host Brighton & Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

When does Tottenham Hotspur play in the Europa League?

Tottenham Hotspur will play the Europa League semifinal on May 1, 2025, at home first against Norwegian side Bodö / Glimt.