Tottenham faces a stern check at Nottingham Forest, the place the hosts have turn out to be a fortress this season.       

Nottingham Forest tackle probably the most in-form groups within the Premier League when Ange Postecoglou’s fearless Tottenham journey to West Bridgford. There haven’t been too lots of this fixture lately, contemplating Forest’s 23-year absence from the Premier League, but they are going to be charged up in opposition to the resurgent Lilywhites.

Tottenham have been victorious by a two-goal margin in each fixtures in opposition to Forest final season, though the Difficult Bushes beat their counterparts 2-0 in an EFL Cup tie that ended the London aspect’s six-game unbeaten streak on this fixture.

Steve Cooper’s aspect have steadily ascended the Premier League standings this calendar 12 months as they purpose to evolve from relegation battlers to mid-table competition. 

Their first season again within the top-flight noticed a chaotic first half of the marketing campaign, adopted by a spell of consistency they constructed upon in 2023/24 after coming so near getting at the least some extent every in opposition to Arsenal and Manchester United, Forest’s first win of the marketing campaign in opposition to Sheffield United was sandwiched by these creditable performances.

The Difficult Bushes reaped bountiful rewards for his or her spectacular work when Anthony Elanga’s break-away purpose secured a primary away win at Chelsea in 27 years, sparking their season into life. Regardless that they did not win any of their subsequent 5 matches in opposition to Burnley, Manchester Metropolis, Brentford, Crystal Palace, and Luton City, they solely tasted defeat to the Premier League champions. 

Liverpool gained by targets from Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah at Anfield, however Forest made up for that of their subsequent match. Ola Aina and Orel Mangala gave them a sensational 2-0 win over high-flying Aston Villa as they displayed their good house type within the Midlands Derby.  

Forest will now sit up for upcoming challenges with an assurance of their capacity to get outcomes. They’re definitely tougher to beat and possess an more and more medical frontline. 

Cooper has a functioning unit with an actual identification and outcomes to point out for his or her efforts thus far; they are going to have their sights firmly on ascending the league desk. 

Thus, a outcome in opposition to Tottenham might be in line with their commendable type in entrance of their house supporters. 

Spurs are having fun with a stand-out marketing campaign themselves after all of the disruptions off the pitch and modifications within the dugout final time period. Ange Postecoglou oversees a surprising run of type that has left them the one workforce nonetheless with an unbeaten file on the time of writing. 

A gap-day draw at Brentford was adopted by 2-0 victories over Manchester United and Bournemouth. A 5-2 mauling of Burnley shot a warning signal to their rivals, and so they stored successful different methods with an unbelievable comeback in opposition to Sheffield United regardless of nonetheless trailing by one purpose on the finish of ordinary time. 

The next two matches indicated Tottenham’s readiness to contend this season. They delivered completely with a pulsating 2-2 draw at Arsenal, adopted by the notorious recreation in opposition to Liverpool, the place the guests had a respectable purpose disallowed and two gamers despatched off earlier than Spurs sealed the win with a Joel Matip own-goal on the loss of life.

Luton City posed a novel problem to Postecoglou’s aspect, who had Yves Bissouma despatched off and needed to play your entire second half in search of a purpose with a person down. Spurs prevailed with a 1-0 victory, and speak of a real probability within the title race started.

After that, Heung-Min Son and James Maddison scored to wrap up a win in opposition to Fulham, after which additionally they bought most factors with a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace. 

The Lilywhites have proven all of the substances of a workforce that can problem on the high finish of the desk, whereas the dearth of European soccer permits them to maintain their greatest gamers recent for one recreation per week. 

Spurs are favorites in opposition to Nottingham Forest however should be cautious of the environment on a floor the place the hosts are but to style defeat this season. 

Match tickets

This Friday Night time fixture is ready to happen on Friday, 15 December 2023, with kick-off at 9 PM UK time. Match tickets are on sale through every membership’s web site, however they are going to be rapidly offered out given the event on the Metropolis Floor.

Their house type has been strong, so tickets for this recreation might be in scorching demand early in December, as this can be a probability for Forest followers to see their workforce in opposition to the most effective within the league this time period. 

Therefore, it could be difficult to seek out them, however determined supporters can nonetheless get their Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham tickets on a resale website. 

Staff information

Divock Origi (hip) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring) have been joined on the sidelines by Chris Wooden (hamstring), whereas Gonzalo Montiel (calf) is one other who’s injured for the Difficult Bushes. 

In the meantime, Danilo (hamstring) and Felipe (knee) are near returns and needs to be accessible in opposition to Tottenham. 

Postecoglou is main his aspect close to the highest of the desk regardless of a bunch of health points, with Manor Solomon (knee), Ivan Perisic (knee), and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) all representing long-term casualties. Then again, Future Udogie and Rodrigo Bentancur have lately returned to full health and needs to be used in opposition to Forest.

Line-ups

Taiwo Awoniyi’s return to spearhead the assault will increase Forest’s probabilities on this recreation, as he solely wants a couple of choices to seek out the online. 

Cooper will form his aspect to be compact, however their alternatives to win the sport are centered round how they will encompass their quantity 9 with the suitable service to do injury.  

Nottingham Forest: Vlachodimos; Aurier, Boly, Murillo, Aina; Sangare, Mangala, Dominguez; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi, Elanga 

Tottenham have a settled first 11 that features James Maddison and Heung-Min Son sharing the attacking burden for a workforce that at all times seems to be to create scoring probabilities. They’ll look to trigger their opponents important issues with their fluidity. 

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Van de Ven, Romero, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Richarlison; Son

Prediction

Either side appear equally matched on this recreation after we contemplate Forest’s commendable file on house soil. There may be a capability to attain targets on every workforce, however the defenses might battle to carry out.    

This may be an open recreation, and Forest will do effectively to get a end in what needs to be a bodily and well-contested matchup. 

Nottingham Forest 2-2 Tottenham

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