Nobody said this was going to be easy. The next couple of months are certainly going to test Nottingham Forest in all sorts of ways.
They have been a tough watch at times in the past few weeks. On the road, particularly, there has been little for travelling Reds fans to cheer. Their latest trip to the capital was no different.
A poor first half from the visitors gifted Tottenham Hotspur a comfortable lead. By the time Forest improved after the break - albeit with the home side having eased off the gas - the damage was already done.
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Steve Cooper admitted afterwards that he and his players would be playing those first 45 minutes over again in their minds on the trip back north, regretting not doing better. He called out a lack of aggression and competitiveness - qualities Forest are going to need in abundance between now and the end of May.
On the road
Picking over away games has an element of Groundhog Day about it. It was a familiar story against Spurs.
Regardless of how Antonio Conte’s side had been doing prior to Saturday, they were always going to be challenging opponents. But the visitors did not help themselves by giving Tottenham an easy run in the first half.
Individual errors cost goals. But it was a poor showing all round in the opening 45 minutes. The Reds were lacklustre, careless in possession and lacking in bravery. Fraser Forster could have had his feet up. Spurs are a top-four side, they didn’t need asking twice to take advantage of that performance.
"We always knew it was going to be tough, but you have to compete and back yourselves. I shouldn't really be talking about it, but, for me, that was the big attribute we didn’t do well enough in the first half, and it cost us,” Cooper said.
There’s a balance to strike between having a go and remaining solid when playing away from home. But the very basic requirement should be to show a level of fight, and Forest didn’t before the break.
Cooper has insisted before that he’s confident there is no mental problem among his players as a result of their poor record on the road. But as the games tick by, there’s a danger it becomes that way - and that carries a great risk.
They are not the only team struggling to pick up points on their travels. It’s difficult to escape the feeling that to stay up they are going to need to find a way of getting at least a few results in their remaining away games, though.
Selection dilemmas
Cooper made two changes to his XI at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both of the players brought into the line-up were then hooked at half-time.
Jesse Lingard made his first start since December - albeit he has been injured for a spell - but did little to convince the head coach he deserves another one against Newcastle United on Friday night. Likewise, Orel Mangala was well below-par in his 45 minutes on the pitch.
With Ryan Yates not yet fit enough to start, the midfield has become a problem area for the Reds. As has selecting the right attacking system.
Changes in personnel and shape after the break made a difference. Not enough to look like there was ever really a chance of getting something out of the game, but in these lean times away from home, Joe Worrall did add to Forest’s goal tally.
They could have had another, too, but Andre Ayew’s penalty was weak. It wouldn’t have changed the outcome, but getting on the scoresheet again would have been another positive (however small), and who knows how important goal difference might be come the end of the season.
Injury woe
Cooper has said time and time again he doesn’t want to use injuries as an excuse, but they are having an impact. And if Brennan Johnson is ruled out for any length of time with the groin strain he picked up on Saturday, then that would be a huge blow.
Forest also lost Wayne Hennessey before the game had even kicked off, leaving youngster George Shelvey to be called up to the bench. And substitute Chris Wood was forced off after just six minutes, departing with a huge lump on his thigh.
Options are being hit. An already difficult task is being made even harder by the players the Reds find themselves without.
A rare positive was the inclusion of Moussa Niakhate on the bench, although he was still not ready to be directly involved. The international break should at least give some players extra recovery time. The hope is that some of those who have been absent for a while could be back for the run-in, which could prove to be key.
Survival battle
Results elsewhere, coupled with the Reds’ 3-1 defeat in north London, saw their buffer above the dotted line cut to three points. There’s no escaping how tense and nervy it is getting at the bottom end of the table.
Nine teams are still in a scrap. Nobody has yet been cut adrift, and any one of those currently in the relegation zone still has a chance of getting out of it. Likewise, those above it are well aware they are balancing on a knife edge. That’s how close it is.
Forest are finding it hard going right now. Form has dipped and they are without a win in five - although in that run, a draw with Manchester City and twice coming from behind to claim a point against Everton (on the back of a thumping at West Ham) offer something to cling to.
This season was never going to be a linear upward curve, though. Even when results and displays improved after that five-match losing streak which left Cooper’s job on the line, it was always likely there would be peaks and troughs before the campaign was done.
What the Reds have to do is ensure this current spell doesn’t become a downward spiral. They were not out of the woods a few weeks back, and they’re not down and out now - they’re still out of the bottom three.
They need to show more fight than they did in the first half against Spurs. They need to play better than they have been doing. But on both counts, they are more than capable of doing so.
How do Forest improve their away form? Have your say in the comments below
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