Nottingham Forest continued their stunning Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground on Boxing Day. Anthony Elanga’s first-half strike proved decisive as Forest climbed to third in the table, piling more misery on struggling Spurs.
Match Recap
First Half
Nottingham Forest entered the contest in fine form, and their confidence was evident from the opening whistle. The hosts controlled the early exchanges, with Morgan Gibbs-White pulling the strings in midfield.
The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Gibbs-White delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Anthony Elanga, who made no mistake in slotting the ball past Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster. The goal marked Elanga’s third consecutive game with a goal, cementing his status as one of Forest’s key attacking threats.
Tottenham struggled to impose themselves, with their only notable chance of the half falling to Brennan Johnson, whose tame effort was comfortably saved by Matz Sels.
Second Half
Spurs attempted to raise their intensity after the break but found Forest’s defense impenetrable. Radu Dragusin and Murillo marshaled the backline superbly, ensuring Tottenham’s attacking trio of Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, and Dejan Kulusevski had little room to operate.
Forest, on the other hand, looked dangerous on the counter, with Elanga and Gibbs-White combining effectively. Tottenham’s task became even harder when former Forest player Djed Spence was shown a second yellow card in the 88th minute for a clumsy challenge, reducing Spurs to ten men.
Despite a late push, Tottenham failed to trouble Sels, and Forest comfortably saw out the game to secure their fourth consecutive Premier League victory.
Key Player Performances
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Matz Sels (7.5/10)
Commanded his area well and made crucial saves to preserve Forest’s clean sheet. - RB: Ola Aina (7.0/10)
Solid defensively and supported the attack when needed. - CB: Radu Dragusin (7.8/10)
Dominant in the air and composed under pressure. - CB: Murillo (7.6/10)
A rock at the back, snuffing out Tottenham’s rare attacking threats. - LB: Gonzalo Montiel (7.2/10)
Energetic display on the left flank, contributing both defensively and offensively. - CM: Ryan Yates (7.3/10)
Worked tirelessly in midfield, breaking up play and driving Forest forward. - CM: Nicolas Dominguez (7.0/10)
Provided excellent cover for the defense and distributed the ball effectively. - RW: Callum Hudson-Odoi (7.1/10)
A constant threat with his pace and trickery. - AM: Morgan Gibbs-White (8.0/10)
Man of the Match. Orchestrated Forest’s attacks and delivered the assist for Elanga’s goal. - LW: Anthony Elanga (8.0/10)
Clinical finish and a lively presence throughout. His form has been pivotal to Forest’s rise. - ST: Chris Wood (6.8/10)
Held up the ball well but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.
Substitutes:
- Joe Worrall (6.5/10): Provided defensive solidity in the closing stages.
- Taiwo Awoniyi (6.3/10): Brought energy to Forest’s attack late on.
Tottenham (4-3-3)
- GK: Fraser Forster (6.8/10)
Made some good saves but could do little about Elanga’s goal. - RB: Djed Spence (5.0/10)
Struggled against his former club and was sent off late on. - CB: Archie Gray (6.2/10)
Showed promise but lacked experience in key moments. - CB: Micky van de Ven (6.5/10)
Solid defensively but offered little going forward. - LB: Destiny Udogie (6.4/10)
Energetic but struggled to contain Forest’s wingers. - CM: Rodrigo Bentancur (6.6/10)
Worked hard but couldn’t influence the game. - CM: Yves Bissouma (6.5/10)
Broke up play well but lacked creativity. - CM: Pape Matar Sarr (6.3/10)
Quiet performance in midfield. - RW: Dejan Kulusevski (6.2/10)
Failed to make an impact on the right flank. - ST: Dominic Solanke (6.0/10)
Isolated for much of the game. - LW: Son Heung-min (6.5/10)
Tried to spark Spurs into life but lacked support.
Substitutes:
- Richarlison (6.3/10): Injected energy but couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Key Stats
- Forest’s Winning Streak: Nottingham Forest have won four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since May 1995.
- Elanga’s Hot Streak: Anthony Elanga has now scored in three consecutive league games after going 28 matches without a goal.
- Tottenham’s Boxing Day Blues: Spurs lost on Boxing Day for the first time since 2003, ending a 16-match unbeaten streak (W12, D4).
What’s Next?
- Nottingham Forest: Forest will look to maintain their momentum when they travel to face Wolves in their next Premier League fixture.
- Tottenham: Spurs must regroup quickly as they host Brighton & Hove Albion in a bid to end their poor run of form.
Final Score: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham
