Nottingham Forest climbed back into the Champions League places with a hard-fought 2-1 win over struggling Tottenham Hotspur, withstanding a late barrage of pressure and an 86th-minute goal to move back up to third.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been the Premier League’s surprise package in this campaign but have had their chances of a top-five finish imperilled by consecutive league defeats.
But they got their campaign back on track courtesy of an early double, with midfielder Elliot Anderson scoring just his second Premier League goal of the season in the opening five minutes, before Chris Wood ended a seven-game scoring drought with a thumping header 12 minutes later.
And it was back down to earth for Spurs after their Europa League quarter-final heroics against Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek.
Richarlison’s header late in the second half denied Forest keeper Matz Sels a 14th clean sheet of the season, but wasn’t enough to improve their standing in the top flight as they sank to a record eighth home loss of the season and remain 16th.
Follow all of the latest from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with our live blog below:
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest LIVE
- Tottenham host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League | Live on Sky Sports with kick off at 8pm BST
- '5 GOAL! Elliot Anderson volleys in early goal to put visitors in front
- '10 GOAL DISALLOWED! Spurs avoid going two goals down in opening ten minutes as Wood strike ruled offside [TOT 0-1 NFO]
- '17 GOAL! Wood thumps in header to double Forest's lead [TOT 0-2 NFO]
- '56 CHANCE! Gibbs-White strike drifts wide as Forest look to hit Spurs on the counter [TOT 0-2 NFO]
- '86 GOAL! Tottenham claw one back through Richarlison header [TOT 1-2 NFO]
Tottenham Hotspur FC 1 - 2 Nottingham Forest FC
'We want to give everything' to secure Champions League football - Sels
23:00 , Flo Clifford“With 66 points you are normally quite sure to finish in the top five but this season it might be a little bit more because all the teams around us keep winning. There's five games to go and we know what we need to do,” the keeper continues.
“We will see where we can end up but we already played an amazing season. We can be proud of what we did up until now but we want to give everything to finish there in the top five."
“Even last year when I came here it was almost the same team, so already we had a lot of quality. In the Premier League there are no easy games. We started the season well and the victory at Liverpool gave us a lot of confidence and the belief came bit by bit.”
Sels on the half-time tactical change
22:50 , Flo Clifford“When the coach brought in Morato at half time we knew that we would defend quite a lot in the second half because our speed was away with Elanga.
“The gaffer did well to bring in Callum [Hudson-Odoi] and we tried to create on the counter. We did not create a lot but we defended well.”
'It was important to bounce back' - Matz Sels
22:42 , Flo CliffordVisiting keeper Matz Sels had another strong game and offers his two cents on Sky Sports.
“We knew that after the two losses in the last two games it was important to bounce back,” the Belgian says. “And we are really happy with the three points today and to be back where we have been the whole season.
"Tottenham are a strong team that put you under a lot of pressure and we knew that they would play a lot down the sides, so the coach changed tactics at half time to try to not let the crosses come in any more.
“But you saw the statistics. It was not easy for us but we defended well and did not give a lot of chances away.”
'We really needed that' - Elliot Anderson
22:35 , Flo Clifford“They were causing us quite a lot of problems in the first half,” Anderson continues.
“We went to a back five [at half time] and that helped us deal with them a little bit. Matz [Sels] was terrific again today, so I'm buzzing for him.
“We really needed that after two defeats. We have come back and bounced back so it is huge for us. We've got to keep believing until the last game. We will be pushing.”
Nottingham Forest 'buzzing' - Elliot Anderson
22:25 , Flo CliffordForest goalscorer Elliot Anderson speaks on Sky Sports: “The result was massive for us. It was a huge game to come into to try to get three points.
“The lads dug in and we showed what we are about and we're buzzing.
“We are hard to beat, that is what we built our foundations on. Strong at the back and we have good attackers.”
He admits Forest were “a little bit” surprised at how quickly they got on the scoresheet. “We started brightly and we got two chances and were clinical.”
Focus back on Europe
22:20 , Flo CliffordAn 18th league defeat this season means Tottenham’s dismal league form continues.
Bodo/Glimt represent a winnable Europa League semi-final for the north London club, but you’d imagine the Norwegian side will feel bolstered by this performance.
FA Cup semi-final up next
22:15 , Flo CliffordMan City and Aston Villa play tonight and both will have had a keen eye on this result, with the pressure back on them for top five.
City are fourth on 58 points and Villa seventh on 57. Tight at the top.
Up next for Forest is their FA Cup semi-final... against Man City.
Jubilation in the away end
22:11 , Flo Clifford
How the table looks
22:07 , Flo CliffordThree points for Nottingham Forest takes them up to 60 and third in the table.
Spurs remain 16th, one point ahead of West Ham in 17th and one behind Everton, Manchester United and Wolves above them.
FULL-TIME: Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
21:59 , Flo CliffordForest are back up to third, and the celebrations show how much that means!
Spurs are booed by the home fans.
FULL-TIME: Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
21:58 , Flo Clifford90+6 mins: Another Forest free-kick at the corner flag, Bergvall shoves Awoniyi over, and that’s it!
Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
21:57 , Flo Clifford90+6 mins: Sosa darts forward, it falls to Awoniyi, who runs to the corner and wins a free-kick. Time running out for Spurs.
Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
21:56 , Flo Clifford90+5 mins: Free-kick to Tottenham for that Toffolo foul; Porro whips it in but eventually Milenkovic heads away. Williams gets the better of Tel on the left.
It’s tense in here.
Porro goes down clutching his left boot, but doesn’t win a free-kick.
Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
21:55 , Flo Clifford90+4 mins: Final change for Forest: Gibbs-White is replaced by Ramon Sosa.
Hudson-Odoi cuts inside and passes back to Milenkovic; the ball works its way forward but Vicario comes off his line to punt forward.
Toffolo gets booked for hauling down Johnson.
Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
21:52 , Flo Clifford90 mins: Tel shoots from range, it’s cleared but not far enough by Milenkovic, and Davies wastes another shot, blasting over the bar.
No 14th clean sheet of the season for Sels, whatever happens now, although he still leads the top flight standings.
Huge roar from the crowd as five minutes are added on!
Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
21:50 , Flo Clifford89 mins: That was a 48th cross for Spurs, and Porro’s 107th touch of the game.
Is there more late drama to come? Toffolo takes his time with a throw-in.
Yates sees yellow for hauling down Bergvall.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
21:49 , Flo Clifford87 mins: Hudson-Odoi makes another good run in a rare venture out of Forest’s half. Yes, Vicario is still there, having a very quiet 45 minutes. Hudson-Odoi lays it off for Awoniyi but the move is foiled.
Late twist!? It’s another Porro corner, Richarlison finds the net - into the far bottom corner!
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:46 , Flo Clifford85 mins: Boos from the home fans as Murillo takes his time getting up; he looked to get caught by Solanke.
All Spurs. Spence gets his header wrong and knocks it behind.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:44 , Flo Clifford83 mins: Bergvall is on for Sarr as Ange rolls the dice one last time.
Ten minutes to go, give or take.
A good corner by Porro; he makes another good cross as Bergvall recycles it for Tottenham but Morato thumps it away.
CLOSE! Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:42 , Flo Clifford80 mins: Johnson is robbed by Hudson-Odoi on the edge of the box and the Forest man breaks, but can’t quite find Gibbs-White in the hosts’ penalty area.
Now Sels makes a fabulous save! Porro lashes in a cross to Richarlison, who heads towards goal but the Forest keeper leaps out to save! Brilliant.
Williams is lucky not to shank a clearance from Johnson’s cross into his own net; instead it flies over the crossbar.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:38 , Flo Clifford77 mins: Anderson hooks in a cross looking for Hudson-Odoi, but Danso intercepts.
Goalscorer Wood, who ended a seven-game drought tonight, is replaced by Awoniyi, back from a hamstring injury.
Johnson and Toffolo go flying into the advertising hoardings grappling for the ball at the byline.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:34 , Flo Clifford73 mins: Wood charges away on the counter, although there’s not a teammate in sight, and he’s hacked down by Davies.
Good passage of play from Tottenham. Spence releases Tel down the left with Forest sprinting back to defend; Williams deflects behind for a corner but it’s dealt with.
Now Danso has a go with his left foot, under pressure as he runs across goal, and it skims wide of goal. Not bad.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:30 , Flo Clifford69 mins: That was a gift by Forest, with a Williams clearance clattering off Yates into Richarlison’s path, but Sels got his frame in to make the save.
More changes for Spurs: Solanke and Johnson are on for Odobert and Kulusevski. The big guns.
CLOSE! Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:28 , Flo Clifford67 mins: Toffolo, on his first league start of the season, has more than justified his inclusion in the squad tonight with that majestic clearance.
Gibbs-White gets a yellow for coming in late on Porro, and gives the ref a piece of his mind.
Now Forest’s defence make a hash of things as Tottenham press, but Richarlison fumbles his attempt as Sels throws his body in the way.
OFF THE LINE! Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:26 , Flo Clifford63 mins: How has that not gone in?! Spurs win a corner, Porro whips it in, Kulusevski nods it goalwards but there’s an IMMENSE goal-line clearance by Toffolo, hooking the ball out at full stretch.
All the home fans behind the goal were convinced that was going in!
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:24 , Flo CliffordHere’s that wasted header by Richarlison again.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:21 , Flo Clifford59 mins: More changes for Forest. Goalscorer Anderson seems to think he’s coming off but is sent back on by Nuno. Dominguez, who got the assist for Anderson’s opener, and Danilo come off for Yates and Hudson-Odoi.
CLOSE! Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:18 , Flo Clifford56 mins: Gibbs-White misses a chance to triple the visitors’ lead!
Forest counter, Wood drops in a lovely ball to Gibbs-White but he fires it wide on the half-volley. That was their first attempt on goal since Wood’s 17 minutes in.
Tottenham’s wide men try again but no dice.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:14 , Flo Clifford52 mins: Tottenham are again seeing nearly all of the ball.
Danso sends in a decent ball to Sarr, just yards from goal, but Sels collects before Sarr can strike. He’s claiming there was a pull on his shirt in the build-up that put him off. Certainly looked that way.
VAR is back in operation after that fire alarm.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:09 , Flo Clifford47 mins: For those wondering, the last time Tottenham won a Premier League game when trailing by two or more goals at half time was nearly 15 years ago, in November 2010 (they won 3-2 vs Arsenal).
Tel picks up where he left off, sprinting into the box before he’s dispossessed by a sliding challenge. He nicks it back but is shoved over by Murillo and wins a free-kick. Too much on his delivery and Sels pushes away.
SECOND HALF: Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:07 , Flo Clifford46 mins: Back underway!
We also hear that with a fire alarm going off, VAR is out of action. Fingers crossed nothing serious going on there.
SECOND HALF: Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
21:06 , Flo CliffordKevin Danso and Ben Davies come on at half-time for Romero - on a yellow, understandable - and Van de Ven.
For Forest, Morato is coming on for Elanga. Nuno looking to shore up in defence?
HALF-TIME: Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:51 , Flo Clifford45+3 mins: Some boos ring out from the home fans as the half-time whistle goes.
Forest lead at the break courtesy of Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood, and could have a three-goal cushion if Wood hadn’t had a tap-in ruled out for offside.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:49 , Flo Clifford45+2 mins: Three minutes added on to this half.
Sky Sports tell us that Porro has had the most touches of the game so far, with 58. He gets another one as he scraps with Anderson at the corner flag.
CLOSE! Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:46 , Flo Clifford45 mins: Tel gets the better of the Forest defence and whips a cross to Richarlison, but it’s a little too high for him.
Spurs have had over 70% of possession but absolutely zero composure in the box.
Murillo is limping and may need to be replaced.
CLOSE! Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:44 , Flo Clifford42 mins: Oh, Spurs.
Odobert curls in another lovely cross and this time Tottenham have two players at the back post, but Richarlison flings himself at it and gets in the way of Sarr, also going for it. They both end up in a heap on the deck and with no goal to show for it.
Now Romero goes into the book for one hefty challenge too many, this one again on the battered and bruised Anderson.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:42 , Flo Clifford40 mins: Dominguez drops back to head away a Porro cross, but Tottenham recycle and come again. He misses another but then gets his face in the way of Richarlison trying to volley - effective.
Forest were looking pretty solid defensively but in the last couple of minutes it’s just got a little bit scrappier. Anderson blocks another Porro cross; now Dominguez gets his pass all wrong and Tottenham counter.
Williams makes a mess of a clearance yards out from goal but Tel blasts an attempt over the bar. Ange has his head in his hands.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:38 , Flo Clifford36 mins: Dominguez wins the ball and sets up Forest on the counter, laying it off for Elanga. Romero makes a good if slightly feisty challenge to stop him in his tracks.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:36 , Flo Clifford35 mins: Subs Maddison and former Forest man Johnson have a natter and seem in good spirits on the sidelines, despite the score. Will Ange bring on the big guns or save them for the Europa League?
Spence darts down the left and fires in a cross, but Milenkovic makes the clearance. Forest have ridden a wave of Spurs pressure and the pace has calmed down a little.
CLOSE! Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:33 , Flo Clifford31 mins: Spurs continue to press. Odobert sends in a lightning-quick, sharp-angled cross across the face of goal that narrowly drifts wide, but there was no-one in the box to receive.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:31 , Flo CliffordChris Wood has had a busy start to this game, first with the tap-in that was disallowed, then with the header that stood and completely caught out Vicario.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:27 , Flo Clifford26 mins: It was a poor challenge by Romero, who was lucky to avoid a booking, who gave away the free-kick that led to Anderson’s goal and the opening of the floodgates. Now he wins the ball and catches Anderson in the follow-through, which looks a bit painful.
Just before that Williams got away with a testing challenge on Spence, timing it to bring his man down on the edge of the box, but won enough of the ball to avoid an untimely penalty.
Sels makes a comfortable save from Kulusevski.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:25 , Flo Clifford23 mins: Tottenham are doing their best to respond. Tel has been a lively presence and curls in a cross. Porro recycles it but Wood clears; Sarr comes again for Spurs but Milenkovic’s big frame is there to hoof away.
Porro and Tel combine again but the teenager’s header ends up on the roof of the net.
Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:23 , Flo Clifford20 mins: That one stands, a 19th Premier League goal for Wood this season and first in seven games.
Odobert strikes from the far side of the box - or is that an attempted cross? - but it’s wide.
Sels now dives to punch out another attempt by Odobert. Belt and braces.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:19 , Flo Clifford17 mins: Forest win a free kick, Murillo plays it down the line to Elanga, who crosses in to Wood and he’s back on the scoresheet!
Romero and Van de Ven give him loads of space and he thumps his header over the outstretched hands of Vicario. Terrible defending.
Tottenham 0-1 Nottingham Forest
20:16 , Flo Clifford14 mins: The hosts now look to get back into this game, having made a decent start but been completely bamboozled with that early Forest goal. Porro shoots from range.
Spurs win a corner and Tel is in space to nod in, but it’s blocked.
DISALLOWED! Tottenham 0-1 Nottingham Forest
20:13 , Flo Clifford11 mins: Spurs are let off the hook as Wood was an arm offside, according to the semi-automated tech.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
20:12 , Flo Clifford10 mins: Anderson has been an absolute livewire and now tees up another goal, booting the ball forward to Wood, who pokes it past Vicario at close range. The keeper really should have got to that.
Check for offside...
Tottenham 0-1 Nottingham Forest
20:11 , Flo Clifford9 mins: Forest are up to third as it stands. That’s just a second Premier League goal this season for Anderson, although the deflection off Bentancur was a big help, disrupting Vicario’s rhythm.
They continue to press, with Elanga looking lively, but his move is snuffed out.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Nottingham Forest
20:07 , Flo Clifford5 mins: Incredible start for the visitors!
Forest take a corner, it’s headed out to Anderson just outside the box and he smashes it goalward. It takes a hefty deflection off Bentancur and Vicario can’t keep it out.
SAVE! Tottenham 0-0 Nottingham Forest
20:06 , Flo Clifford4 mins: Milenkovic grapples with Richarlison with the ball nowhere near either of them, the Serbian just making his presence known early doors.
Vicario has to make an early save! Gibbs-White takes a touch and fires off a curling right-footed shot, with the keeper diving to his left to palm it away.
Tottenham 0-0 Nottingham Forest
20:04 , Flo Clifford2 mins: Tottenham are on the front foot early on. Spence shows off some nice footwork against the club he impressed on loan for, pulling it back as the hosts press forward.
Tel wins the ball back immediately after conceding it in the Forest box and has an early attempt, but it’s a bit tame and deflected. Now Sarr whips in a cross but there’s too much on it. Good start.
KICK-OFF: Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest
20:02 , Flo CliffordWe’re underway!
Team news
19:57 , Flo CliffordQuick reminder of how we line up tonight:
Tottenham XI: Vicario, Pedro Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence, Sarr, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Odobert, Richarlison, Tel.
Substitutes: Kinsky, Danso, Davies, Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall, Maddison, Johnson, Solanke.
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Toffolo, Dominguez, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Elanga, Danilo, Wood.
Substitutes: Miguel, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi, Hudson-Odoi, Moreno, Yates, Sosa, Abbott.
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest LIVE
12:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleA very good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest. The good news for Spurs is that their safety has been officially confirmed after Saturday and Sunday’s results - not that 16th spot looks a particularly pretty place for the Europa League semi-finalists to be.
It’s a tricky home test for Ange Postecoglou’s side tonight as they welcome a Forest side in need of a win to restore their Champions League hopes after slipping out of the top five. Kick off is at 8pm BST.
