Nottingham Forest secured a crucial 3-0 victory over Tottenham at the City Ground, moving five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ibrahim Sangare were instrumental for Sean Dyche's side, bouncing back after a 3-0 defeat to Everton. The match began with Forest showing intent, as Sangare's header hit the post and Guglielmo Vicario saved Neco Williams' follow-up shot.
The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when an error from Vicario led to Archie Gray losing possession to Sangare near Spurs' penalty area. Sangare then set up Hudson-Odoi for a composed finish. Gray almost redeemed himself shortly after with a well-taken shot, but John Victor, making his Premier League debut, made a crucial save. Forest nearly
doubled their lead before halftime, but Morgan Gibbs-White couldn't connect with Igor Jesus' inviting cross.
Early in the second half, Forest extended their lead when Vicario misjudged Hudson-Odoi's cross-shot. Omari Hutchinson and Jesus had chances to score, but it was Sangare who sealed the win with a superb strike that went in off the post. This performance marked Sangare as the first Forest player since Steve Stone in 1996 to score and assist twice in a Premier League game.
Sangare also became the first Ivorian midfielder to achieve two or more assists in a single Premier League match. His outstanding display highlighted Tottenham's defensive frailties under Thomas Frank. Spurs have now committed five errors leading to goals this season, second only to Wolves.
What. A. Win.pic.twitter.com/seDAfGCWJSNottingham Forest (@NFFC)December 14, 2025
Tottenham's struggles continued under Frank, with only 22 points from their first 16 games marking their worst start since the 2008-09 season. Their trip north was disappointing, managing just six attempts and one shot on target, resulting in an expected goals (xG) of only 0.37 compared to Forest's 1.91 xG.
This win was vital for Nottingham Forest as they aim to distance themselves from relegation worries. The team's performance showcased their potential when capitalising on opponents' mistakes while highlighting areas for improvement for Tottenham under Frank's leadership.
