Once, Nuno Espirito Santo likely envisioned bringing Champions League football to Tottenham. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he was dismissed by Daniel Levy after just 17 matches in 2021, never getting the chance to realize that dream at Spurs.
Now, managing Nottingham Forest, Nuno achieved a significant victory at his former club`s stadium, taking a big stride towards European qualification for his current team.
Early goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood, with Wood having another effort ruled out for offside, were enough for Forest to claim the points. While Richarlison scored a late consolation goal for Tottenham, Forest secured the win, climbing to third place.
Despite recent consecutive losses and strong competition for a top-five finish, Forest, under Nuno, will feel confident about their chances, considering their seemingly favorable remaining fixtures.
Following their upcoming FA Cup semi-final clash against Manchester City – a momentous occasion for Forest – their final five league matches appear highly winnable.
Their remaining league games include a home match against a relaxed Brentford team and an away trip to Crystal Palace, who might be focused on a potential cup final.
A seemingly guaranteed home win against already relegated Leicester is followed by an away game against West Ham, who are likely eager for the season to conclude.
The season concludes with a home fixture against Enzo Maresca`s Chelsea. While Chelsea are competing for a Champions League spot, they haven`t appeared unbeatable.
In fact, Chelsea might be considered the most vulnerable team in that race.
For a season already considered a dream for Forest, this run-in offers an excellent opportunity to secure a European place.
Meanwhile, for Tottenham, the result adds to their woes, perfectly captured by the image of a dejected Ange Postecoglou.
The contrast was stark: a recent European high was followed by their 18th league defeat of the season.
Their previous match, a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Germany, had been one of their best performances recently. That win not only secured their place in the Europa League semi-finals, keeping their hopes for silverware alive, but it also likely eased pressure on Postecoglou and suggested the players were still fighting for their manager.
However, this defeat served as a harsh reminder of the issues that have plagued their league season, adding to the pressure on the Australian manager.
To add salt to the wounds for the home fans, many of whom seemed not to have attended, the defeat came against their former manager Nuno, in a stadium with noticeable empty seats.
It wasn`t just the final score that disappointed the home crowd, but the uninspired nature of the team`s display.
Once again, Tottenham`s defense looked vulnerable, allowing opponents to easily penetrate and create scoring opportunities.
For a team in good form like Forest, exploiting Tottenham`s fragile defense proved straightforward.
Early on, Morgan Gibbs-White tested Guglielmo Vicario with a shot in the fourth minute, which the Spurs keeper had to dive low to parry. Just a minute later, Forest took the lead with a goal that Tottenham will feel they should have prevented.
The goal originated from Anthony Elanga`s corner. Pedro Porro`s attempt to clear the ball with a header was weak, and it landed perfectly for Anderson just outside the penalty area. His powerful shot took a deflection off Rodrigo Bentancur, sending it soaring past Vicario and into the net.
Forest thought they had doubled their lead just five minutes later when Wood converted Anderson`s precise cross, but VAR intervened, ruling the New Zealand striker narrowly offside.
Undeterred, Forest maintained their focus, and in the 17th minute, Wood did make it 2-0, scoring his 19th Premier League goal of the season.
The strong forward, who saw his former clubs Burnley and Leeds secure promotion back to the top flight on Easter Monday, expertly headed Elanga`s cross into an unguarded net. Vicario attempted one of his characteristic assertive punches to clear the cross but completely missed the ball.
Vicario`s failed attempt to prevent the goal encapsulated Tottenham`s performance in the opening 20 minutes: poorly executed, lethargic, and inadequate.
The travelling Forest fans were naturally ecstatic, celebrating their team`s strong position and singing about their European dreams.
