Just as Tottenham appeared to be generating some momentum, they put on a limp display and suffer an embarrassing defeat at Nottingham Forest. Ibrahim Sangaré leathered in a sensational first-time strike in off an upright that pinballed around Guglielmo Vicario’s net to cap the 3-0 victory and a deeply satisfying week for Sean Dyche, whose side established some welcome daylight between them and the relegation zone, moving five points clear of West Ham.
An unedifying defeat for Spurs was underpinned by another erratic performance by their goalkeeper, who was at fault for Forest’s first two goals, both scored by Callum Hudson-Odoi; Vicario’s hospital pass led to the opener and his positioning was exposed for a freakish second. By the end, the olés were out in force on a truly miserable afternoon for Thomas Frank.
Scores of the away supporters who were given complimentary blue-and-white scarves by Spurs headed for the turnstiles long before the final whistle, after which Vicario and Archie Gray, whose combined errors led to the opener, raised their palms by way of an apology.
Spurs hoped to build on Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Slavia Prague and win three games in a row for the first time since October last season. Frank made two changes from midweek, Rodrigo Bentancur and Randal Kolo Muani promoted to the starting lineup, but Spurs appeared flat from the first whistle and were fortunate that after darting towards the penalty spot unmarked Sangaré’s fourth-minute header from Nicolò Savona’s cross crashed against the base of a post. Igor Jesus’s effort was then blocked by Bentancur before Vicario was called into action, springing to his left to keep out a thudded Neco Williams effort.
Spurs struggled to relieve the pressure. Nikola Milenkovic sent a header off target and approaching the half-hour Forest seized the lead. It was a dreadful goal from Tottenham’s perspective. There was little danger when Cristian Romero, the Spurs captain, passed back to his goalkeeper on the edge of the six-yard box but Vicario bobbled a pass into Gray and Sangaré stormed in to pickpocket the 19-year-old, who called for the ball but was oblivious to the Forest midfielder breathing down his neck.
Sangaré was in on goal but he squared unselfishly to provide Hudson-Odoi with the simplest of finishes from a few yards out. Gray, head bowed, looked as if he wanted the City Ground to swallow him whole, ignoring Bentancur’s embrace.
How would Spurs react? Poorly. Gray rattled an effort at John Victor’s near post in the 33rd minute after the former Forest loanee Djed Spence chopped inside Omari Hutchinson and it was a damning indictment that it proved their sole effort on target.
A few minutes later Igor Jesus sent a devilish cross towards the back post but an outstretched Morgan Gibbs-White, whom Spurs attempted to sign in the summer, could not prod his effort on target. It was a counterattack that stemmed from Mohammed Kudus, not for the first time, running into a blind alley, leaving the visitors vulnerable after committing numbers.
Gibbs-White tried his luck with a back-flick that, via Bentancur, deflected wide, though the referee, Sam Barrott, neglected to award a Forest corner. Gray was then booked for crunching Williams, but only because he was trying to make amends after Kudus was crowded out by red shirts. Victor went down with a calf injury in the second half, perhaps because he was a bystander.
Spurs were stodgy and anaemic. It was a theme that continued into the second half and five minutes after the restart Vicario was fishing the ball out his net again. Hudson-Odoi sped down the left flank and after checking inside Pedro Porro a second time and on to his right foot he sent a hanging cross towards the back post, presumably in search of Igor Jesus, who again impressed in attack for Forest.
Vicario appeared caught in two minds but after he strayed a few yards from his goal, anticipating a routine collection, Hudson-Odoi’s cross spun over him and into the far corner of his net. Sangaré, however, saved the best until last, scissoring across the ball to rocket in a superb third off the upright.
Dyche’s celebrations are usually low-key but even he could not conceal his emotions, swivelling in the home dugout and turning to his assistants Ian Woan and Steve Stone to acknowledge the audacity of the finish.
“I’ll have to get the VAR to have a check on that … I’m disappointed in myself if I have got involved in that nonsense,” Dyche said with a smile. “It’s obviously quite the challenge, so many games, injuries and all that, but you’ve got to find enjoyment from it.”
