Nottingham Forest Seek Crucial Win Over Spurs to Regain Champions League Momentum and Avoid Unwanted Nuno Record
Nottingham Forest face a pivotal clash against Tottenham Hotspur, needing a win to regain control of their Champions League aspirations—and to steer clear of a potentially damning record for head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
Peter Bankes will officiate the match, a detail that may raise concerns among Forest supporters given his recent decisions involving the club. However, with Champions League qualification on the line, Forest can ill afford to be distracted.
On a more positive note, Espirito Santo expects a stronger showing from Chris Wood, who made a quiet return from injury against Everton. That game was ultimately decided by a defensive mistake from Murillo, handing the Toffees a 1-0 win.
There’s no understating the importance of Monday night’s fixture. Forest must bounce back quickly, but there’s added pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo, who is looking to avoid equaling his worst run of results since taking the helm.
Espirito Santo Close to Unwanted Record
Since replacing Steve Cooper, Espirito Santo has largely impressed, guiding Forest with composure and ambition. However, back-to-back defeats have now brought him to the brink of matching his longest losing streak as Forest boss—a run that dates back over a year, when he was battling to avoid relegation.
The current streak includes:
Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest (5 April)
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton (12 April)
And could mirror his previous three-game losing stretch:
Aston Villa 4-2 Nottingham Forest (24 February)
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool (2 March)
Brighton 1-0 Nottingham Forest (10 February)
With Heung-min Son ruled out for Spurs and Forest having already beaten them earlier this season, there is cause for optimism. Still, Spurs enter the match buoyed by their Europa League semi-final qualification and home advantage.
Forest’s Troubles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Their last visit to North London, in April 2024, was one to forget. Then in the thick of the relegation battle, Forest fell 3-1 to Tottenham. Goals from Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, and an own goal by Murillo sealed their fate, despite Matz Sels putting in a standout performance.
Match stats from that encounter painted a stark picture:
Shots on target: Spurs 7, Forest 6
Corners: Spurs 12, Forest 2
Aerial duels won: Spurs 11, Forest 6
Tackles won: Spurs 11, Forest 7
Sels was once again among Forest’s top performers, just as he was on Boxing Day. But with the current emotional contrast between both sides ahead of Monday’s match, Forest may need more than individual brilliance to change the narrative
Nuno Espirito Santo risks matching unwanted Nottingham Forest record in Monday’s Tottenham clash
