Ola Aina missing, Awoniyi features as Nottingham Forest down Spurs to move up to third

Ola Aina missing, Awoniyi features as Nottingham Forest down Spurs to move up to third

Izuchukwu Akawor • Izuchukwu Akawor • 22:34 - 21.04.2025

Forest stun Spurs 2-1 with early Anderson, Wood goals! Sels' heroics, Elanga's assist seal vital win, lifting Forest to 3rd. Spurs slump to 16th despite late Richarlison strike.

Nottingham Forest secured a vital 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, propelling themselves up to third place in the Premier League table and reigniting their Champions League ambitions. 

The win was built on a blistering start, with Forest taking a two-goal lead inside the first 16 minutes through Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood.

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Forest's opener came early when a corner fell to Anderson, whose deflected strike slipped past Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who was at fault for the goal. 

Wood then doubled the lead with a glancing header, although he had an earlier goal disallowed by VAR for offside. 

Chris Wood continues to shine for Forest.

After establishing this advantage, Forest shifted to a defensive setup with a back three, absorbing Tottenham's intense pressure for the remainder of the match.

Tottenham dominated possession with 70% and fired 22 shots compared to Forest's four, but their efforts were repeatedly thwarted by Forest's resilient defence and goalkeeper Matz Sels.

Ola Aina missed the game. || Imago

Sels made several crucial saves, including denying Richarlison twice before the Brazilian finally scored a late header in the 87th minute. 

Despite Spurs' late surge, Forest held on to claim the three points. Notably, Ola Aina was missing from the Nottingham Forest lineup due to an injury, while Taiwo Awoniyo featured in the match from the bench. 

Awoniyi was a second half sub. || Imago

Meanwhile, Anthony Elanga, known for his Premier League involvement with 15 direct goal contributions this season (six goals, nine assists), played a role in Forest's performance, including assisting Wood for the winner.

The victory marked Forest's first league double over Tottenham since 1997 and was a testament to the transformation under former Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who has turned around a club that was battling relegation last season into genuine European contenders. 

Elanga was decisive again for Forest.

This win also sets Forest up with momentum ahead of their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

Tottenham, meanwhile, suffered their 18th Premier League defeat of the season and remain 16th in the table, struggling to find consistency between their Europa League commitments and league form. 

Despite the loss, players like Richarlison and Mathys Tel had chances to respond, but Spurs were ultimately undone by their early defensive lapses and Forest's clinical finishing.

Wood heads in the winner.

In summary, Nottingham Forest's early goals and disciplined defensive display secured a crucial 2-1 away win against Tottenham Hotspur, moving them up to third place in the Premier League, while Spurs' dominance in possession and shots was not enough to overturn the deficit