Tottenham Hotspur’s faltering domestic season continued on Sunday as Nottingham Forest handed them an 18th Premier League defeat, reclaiming third place with a clinical 2-1 win in north London.
Nottingham Forest boosted their push for a Champions League place with a composed and efficient victory over Spurs, who have now suffered more league defeats than any side outside the relegation zone.
Elliot Anderson’s fifth-minute volley, deflected off Rodrigo Bentancur, put Forest ahead at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Chris Wood doubled the lead in the 16th minute with a smart header from Anthony Elanga’s cross.
Despite Tottenham enjoying lengthy spells of possession, they lacked creativity in the final third.
Richarlison, making his first league start since February, was denied by Matz Sels late on before eventually scoring with a header in the 87th minute.
It was too little, too late. Ange Postecoglou’s side failed to find an equaliser, and the final whistle was met with boos from the home crowd.
Forest, the surprise package of the season, moved back into third with the result, showing their counter-attacking style remains effective despite low possession stats.
They scored twice from just three shots on target.
Wood’s goal was his 19th of the campaign, ending a scoring drought since mid-February.
Tottenham remain 16th in the table and will now likely pin their hopes on winning the Europa League to salvage a disappointing season. This loss marks their 18th league defeat, their worst tally since 2003–04, when they lost 19.
Only Arsenal and Liverpool have conceded fewer goals than Forest this season, and once again their defence stood strong, restricting Spurs to half-chances until the closing stages.
Forest are now firmly back in the hunt for a top-five finish, which could secure Champions League qualification depending on European outcomes elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ domestic form continues to decline, casting doubt over their campaign with just a handful of matches remaining.
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