Nottingham Forest 0-2 Tottenham: Goals from magnificent Kulusevski and Richarlison pile on the pressure for Steve Cooper as Ange’s Lilywhites go level on points with Man City
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Richarlison’s funky pigeon has been a candidate for the RSPB endangered species list since he returned from the World Cup carrying an injury a year ago.
Months of fitness issues compounded mental health problems, form faded and the Brazilian revealed this week how a nagging groin issue caused him so much pain he limited shooting practice ahead of games.
Since surgery, however, he has returned in exceptional style with his third goal in two starts, setting Tottenham on the way to victory at Nottingham Forest and he celebrated with his signature pigeon moves in front of the TV cameras.
Dejan Kulusevski, who created the opening goal for Richarlison and was the best attacking player on the pitch, added a second for Spurs after an error by Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner, and the visitors held out despite finishing the game with 10 men.
Yves Bissouma was sent off in the 70th minute, his second red card of the season, for a high tackle on Ryan Yates. It was upgraded from a yellow on the advice of the VAR. Bissouma will be banned for four games and Destiny Udogie also miss the next match, at home against Everton, after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season.
Dejan Kulusevski was a joy to watch as he assisted Tottenham’s opener and scored the next
Tottenham’s Richarlison celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Forest
Ange Postecoglou will be delighted with his side’s win tonight as they draw level with Man City
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It complicates life for Ange Postecoglou who is already short of players but the real pressure will be on Steve Cooper warmly applauded at the end in the absence of owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Forest summoned a late flurry and Neco Williams hit a post in stoppage time but they have won only one in 13 and this was their third defeat in a row at the City Ground. Home form was the bedrock of survival last season. Without it, they are sliding into trouble.
Cooper had started with those who started in a draw at Wolves, last time out, with five strung along the back line, the midfield packed with industry and physical presence, and the pace of Antony Elanga and the quick mind of Morgan Gibbs-White up front.
With Tottenham guaranteed to push high and throw numbers forward, it is a sensible enough way to tackle them. It worked for West Ham, sitting deep and breaking with precision, selecting moments to press and force mistakes.
They almost made it work when Gibbs-White released Elanga. Sprinting clear with only Guglielmo Vicario to beat, he took the shot early. The Italian goalkeeper made the save and a flag went up for offside but it looked very tight. The 3D lines would have been in operation had he found the net.
By this point, however, Spurs really ought to have been ahead. Kulusevski threaded a pass behind right wing-back Neco Williams in the third minute, and Heung-min Son was in on goal. Son tried to slide a side-footer past Turner but the American dashed out, closed the angle, spread his frame like an ice-hockey net minder and made a vital save.
Vicario produced a number of brilliant saves tonight to keep a clean sheet and deny Forest
Forest are now in deep trouble in the table as they go winless in their last six matches
Bissouma was extremely clumsy in his challenge and he saw a red card in the second half
Turner made an even better save to deny Brennan Johnson midway through the first half. Again, the man causing problems was Kulusevski, wearing a mask to protect a broken nose. This time, the Swede burrowed into the penalty area on a run and poked a pass square as he was crowded out.
Johnson seized on the chance in a flash, fired it low across goal with a first-time effort and Turner saved at full stretch. It would be the last meaningful contribution from Johnson on his first return to the City Ground since his £47.5m transfer in August.
He cut his forehead in one of a series of frantic scrambles as Tottenham were pushed back and forced to defend against set-pieces, which included Moussa Niakhate’s long throws, offered encouragement to the home side and brought the crowd to life.
They had survived the early pressure and grown in confidence but they conceded in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
With limited attacking options on the bench, Postecoglou had sent on Oliver Skipp to replace Johnson, which meant shuffling Kulusevski from his role in midfield trio to what is a more familiar position for him, wide on the right.
And it was from here he created the goal, cutting inside onto his left foot and delivering a teasing cross for Richarlison, who timed his run, climbed above Willy Boly and glanced a header past Turner from close range.
It was his fifth of the season, his third of the week and a timely lift for Spurs.
Pressure is piling on for Steve Cooper and his Nottingham side who could go bottom three
Nat Turner gave a gift of a clearance to Kulusevski for his goal and was furious with himself
Tottenham were very resillient today and will be pleased with their back-to-back wins
Forest were much improved in the second half. They came out with more adventure and purpose after the interval and Boly should have levelled when Elanga found him unmarked in front of goal. Unfortunately, the big centre-half showed little composure and launched his effort high into the Trent End.
Elanga did find the net only to find it ruled out on a VAR check. The celebrations were muted even as he converted the cross from Williams as if most of Nottingham realised he was offside. Eventually, the officials on the pitch were informed, and ruled it out.
Spurs needed the second and it came thanks to a gift by Turner. The keeper found Kulusevski with an attempted clearance and was unable to keep out a fierce drive at head height from an angle after the Swede skipped past Niakhate.
The contests was untidy after the red card, littered by claims and counterclaims. Tottenham thought Murillo should have received a second yellow for a late tackle on Skipp, and Forest continued to miss good chances.
Vicario saved from Harry Toffolo and Elanga fired wide. By the time Williams hit the woodwork there was no way back.
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