Nottingham Forest beat Tottenham 2-1 to strengthen Champions League push

Nottingham Forest edge Tottenham 2-1 to climb to third in Premier League, while Spurs' struggles continue under Postecoglou.

Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest celebrates with teammates after scoring to put Forest ahead during the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Ritchie Sumpter/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Nottingham Forest bounced back from consecutive defeats to strengthen their bid for a Champions League spot with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Monday. The win sees Forest climb to third in the Premier League, just three points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa, with five games remaining. Meanwhile, the loss deepens the pressure on Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, whose side is struggling to find form in the latter stages of the season.

Forest entered the match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium sitting in sixth place in the league table, having suffered recent losses to Aston Villa and Everton. Despite this, their confidence was boosted by early goals from Elliot Anderson and top scorer Chris Wood, which provided the perfect platform to hold off a late Tottenham surge.

Early goals give Forest the edge

Forest wasted no time in asserting their dominance, taking the lead in the fifth minute following a corner kick. Anderson’s deflected shot found the back of the net, leaving Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario helpless. The visitors nearly doubled their advantage moments later, with Wood's strike ruled out by VAR for offside.

However, in the 16th minute, Wood made no mistake when he nodded home a cross from Anthony Elanga, doubling Forest's lead. The goal came just as Spurs seemed to be gaining possession and pushing forward, making it even harder for Postecoglou's side to regain their composure.

Tottenham dominated possession and recorded more shots on goal, but they failed to test Forest's defense effectively. Despite their dominance in the statistical categories, Spurs struggled to break down a well-organized Forest side.

Forest hold firm under Tottenham pressure

The second half saw Spurs press for a comeback, but Forest had their chances to put the game out of reach. Ten minutes after the break, Wood cushioned the ball into the path of Morgan Gibbs-White, whose shot narrowly missed the target.

At the other end, Forest's defense remained resolute, and in the 63rd minute, Harry Toffolo produced a spectacular overhead clearance off the line to deny Dejan Kulusevski’s header, keeping the visitors' lead intact.

Postecoglou made several attacking substitutions, bringing on former Forest winger Brennan Johnson and forward Dominic Solanke with 25 minutes remaining. These changes provided some fresh energy for Spurs, but it wasn’t enough to break through.

Richarlison pulls one back for Spurs

As the match entered its final stages, Spurs increased the pressure, hoping to salvage at least a point. In the 80th minute, Matz Sels made a superb fingertip save, diving low to his right to deny a header from Richarlison. The Brazilian forward had been one of Tottenham's most dangerous players, and his persistence finally paid off in the 87th minute.

Richarlison powered a header past Sels from a Pedro Porro cross to give Spurs a glimmer of hope. But despite the late goal, Forest held on to claim a crucial three points, solidifying their position in the race for the top four.

Forest’s European ambitions take shape

The win is a significant one for Forest, who are in the midst of a remarkable season. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, the two-time European champions have shown a remarkable turnaround, pushing for a Champions League spot. Forest have not played in the prestigious competition since the 1980/81 season, and their push for qualification could mark the return of one of England’s most storied clubs to Europe’s elite competition.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo praised his team for their resilience, acknowledging the challenges they faced against a dominant Spurs side. "It is about getting through it, especially in these moments of the season when there is fatigue, not only physical but mental, anxiety—all these things made the team go back a bit," he said in his post-match interview.

Nuno added that Forest had a “big week ahead of them,” with crucial fixtures remaining in their bid for European qualification.

Spurs’ season continues to unravel

For Tottenham, the loss to Forest marks their 18th defeat of the Premier League season, a dismal record that leaves them just two places above the relegation zone. Postecoglou's side has struggled to find consistency, and their recent poor form has intensified pressure on the Australian manager, who arrived at Spurs with high expectations.

Despite the defeat, Postecoglou remains focused on the Europa League, which now represents Spurs' best chance to secure a Champions League spot for next season. “We’ve conceded poor goals and given ourselves a mountain to climb,” he admitted after the match. “The Europa League is now the priority. We need to find some momentum in that competition and protect our players.”

Tottenham's next match sees them travel to Liverpool on Sunday, a daunting fixture that will test their resolve further. With Spurs’ league position under threat and the Europa League semi-finals approaching, Postecoglou's team faces a crucial period.

Forest eyeing Champions League

For Forest, the win has added significant momentum to their push for a Champions League spot. As they move up to third in the Premier League, they now find themselves in a fierce battle with teams like Aston Villa, Brighton, and Liverpool for a top-five finish. With just five matches left to play, every point is crucial as the race for Europe intensifies.

Forest’s impressive performance in North London reflects their transformation from relegation contenders to serious European hopefuls. If they continue this level of play, they could very well secure a Champions League spot for the first time in over four decades, a feat that would be the pinnacle of their revival under Nuno Espirito Santo’s leadership.