Nottingham Forest ran out comprehensive winners in a huge relegation six-pointer to move three points clear of the drop zone and leave Spurs hovering just one point above it.
Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi were on the scoresheet as Vitor Pereira clinched his first Premier League victory in charge of Forest – here’s how they and the rest fared on what could prove to be a pivotal afternoon in North London.
Tottenham Player Ratings
Guglielmo Vicario (GK) – 6
Nothing he could have done about Forest's first or third goals, though perhaps could have done better when he was beaten for power as Gibbs-White made it 2-0. Nonetheless, made a couple of useful saves to keep Spurs in with a sniff.
Djed Spence (RB) – 6
Accurate with 88% of his passes but didn’t threaten with crosses. Replaced at the break having won four and lost four of his eight duels.
Kevin Danso (RCB) – 6.5
Dominant in the air, winning nine out of 13 aerial duels. Also made four clearances and five interceptions.
Cristian Romero (CB) – 6.5
Came out on top in 11 duels out of 14 ground and aerial combined. Accurate with four long balls out of six but not his usual dangerous self in the opposition box.
Micky van de Ven (LB) – 6
Substituted at half time after a quiet 45 minutes. No real opportunity to make an impact his trademark ball-carrying abilities – not helped by having to play at left-back.
Pedro Porro (RM) – 6
Put in 11 crosses, finding a teammate with three of them. Could have done better in one-on-one situations, losing seven out of 11 duels.
Archie Gray (CM) – 6.5
Tried to keep Spurs ticking in midfield and had two shots himself but couldn’t hit the target. Made 13 passes into the final third.
Pape Matar Sarr (CM) – 7
Useful offensively and defensively, attempting three shots – all of which were blocked – and making two clearances and three ball recoveries. Completed two out of two dribbles.
Mathys Tel (LM) – 7
Spurs’ liveliest attacking outlet brought the best out of Selz with a long-range curler moments after Forest had gone ahead. Injury brought a premature end to a strong showing.
Richarlison (ST) – 5.5
Unable to impose himself on the game having bagged a late equaliser at Liverpool last weekend. Mustered a solitary shot before being substituted
Dominic Solanke (ST) – 6
Had two shots, both on target. Not helped by Spurs’ pronounced lack of creativity but now has just one goal to his name in his last seven Premier League appearances.
Substitutes
Destiny Udogie (for Van de Ven, 46’) – 6
Finished with 91% pass accuracy but won only a third of his nine ground duels.
Lucas Bergvall (for Spence, 46’) – 6
Made some probing runs but ultimately unable to give Spurs’ any great attacking impetus.
Randal Kolo Muani (for Tel, 67’) – 6
Had five touches of the ball and one shot in an unimpactful outing.
Xavi Simons (for Richarlison, 67’) – 6
Another Spurs substitute ultimately powerless to change the game – won five out of five ground duels.
Connor Gallagher (for Gray, 84’) – N/A (insufficient minutes played)
Nottingham Forest Player Ratings
Matz Sels (GK) – 8.5
Had nothing to do all first half – until crucially getting fingertips on Tel’s would-be equaliser, before making several more important saves in the second half. A second clean sheet in as many appearances for the Belgian.
Ola Aina (RB) – 6.5
A solid performance from the Nigeria international. Had a first-half penalty scare but otherwise comfortable.
Nikola Milenkovic (CB) 7.5
Successful in five aerial duels out of six and completed 25 of his 30 passes. Has played every minute of every league game for Forest this season.
Murillo (CB) – 7.5
A rock at the back for Forest once more. Made eight clearances, including four with his head, and four recoveries.
Neco Williams (LB) – 9 **MAN OF THE MATCH**
Great corner delivery to set up Igor Jesus for the opening goal and could have got on the scoresheet himself. Assisted Awoniyi with an inch-perfect cross to make it two assists on the day and four this term.
Ibrahim Sangare (DM) – 6
Didn’t run into any trouble while shielding the Forest defence but might have been stronger one-on-one. Contested 18 duels and only came out on top in six of them.
Elliot Anderson (DM) – 7.5
Sprayed around some lovely passes as per. Surely right in contention to start for England against Uruguay on Friday.
Omari Hutchinson (RW) – 7
Tidy with his passing and succeeded with three out of four dribbles. Also won two out of three aerial duels.
Morgan Gibbs-White (AM) – 7.5
Moved to nine league goals for the season with a no-nonsense finish to put Forest 2-0 up. Completed 16 out of 20 passes.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (LW) – 8
Did brilliantly do drive into the box and pick out Gibbs-White to double Forest’s lead. A second assist in three league outings for the 25-year-old.
Igor Jesus (ST) – 7.5
Had a nervy moment when he headed against his own post defending a corner but ended the first half by heading in Williams’ corner to give Forest the lead. The Brazilian’s first league goal in two months.
Substitutes
Ryan Yates (for Hudson-Odoi, 70’) – 5.5
Didn’t seem to have his radar on, finding a teammate with only two of his nine passes, but no damage done.
Taiwo Awoniyi (for Igor Jesus, 70’) – 7.5
Off the bench for only his second league goal of the campaign, stroking home from Williams’ cross to make absolutely sure of the points.
Dan Ndoye (for Hutchinson, 80’) – 6
Didn’t have much to do but emerged with the ball from three duels out of four.
James McAtee (for Gibbs-White, 90’ +2) – N/A (insufficient minutes played)
Nicolas Dominguez (for Anderson, 90’ +2) – N/A (insufficient minutes played)
