After a promising first half, Nottingham Forest were undone by Tottenham Hotspur with the Reds losing 3-1 away in North London. Here’s what the national newspapers had to say
The Guardian
As much as Ange Postecoglou vehemently insists that Champions League qualification is neither imperative nor the limit of his ambition, he will be hard pressed to find a Tottenham supporter not significantly heartened by their elevated league position after this victory over Nottingham Forest.
With a game in hand over Aston Villa, Postecoglou’s side are now back into fourth – a place they have not occupied since mid-February – and in pole position to feature in Europe’s premier competition next season, notwithstanding some tricky upcoming fixtures. Just do not expect the manager to show any excitement about that fact: “I couldn’t care less about the race for fourth, mate.”
It was not perfect; it rarely is where Spurs are concerned. But unlike in the frustrating draw at West Ham in midweek, they found a way to register what was, in the end, a fairly comprehensive scoreline.
It might have been entirely different had Forest benefitted from a couple of major first-half incidents. With the scoreline level after Chris Wood had cancelled out an early Murillo own goal, the New Zealander spurned a glorious chance for his second when crashing the Spurs post with a sledgehammer two yards from goal when a gentle stroke of the paint brush would have sufficed.
The Times
Tottenham Hotspur regained fourth place from Aston Villa after two spectacular strikes from two of their defenders saw off Nottingham Forest and denied Nuno Espírito Santo a measure of revenge on the club who unceremoniously sacked him in 2021.
Forest arguably had the better chances in the first 50 minutes and could have scored more than once against a fragile Spurs defence which hasn’t kept a home clean sheet in the league since October, but thereafter Ange Postecoglou’s team took control and, on a weekend when Villa and Manchester United drew, significantly strengthened their chances of Champions League football.
There was an excellent performance from Timo Werner, who induced the first goal (an own goal by Murillo), created further chances and was warmly applauded by the home fans as he left the pitch. His pace and energy is a good fit for Postecoglou’s system and with each passing game, the case to make his loan from RB Leipzig permanent feels more and more persuasive. “We brought him in because we knew we’d need him, and that’s how it’s proved,” Postecoglou said. “He’s been a big contributor.”
The Telegraph
The tedious truth about modern football is the best teams strive to keep it boring. It is all about control and the elimination of jeopardy, which makes Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur an unusual success story. His team thrives in adversity and requires risk to find its highest gear. Game management is something they have only read about in books.
Here they threw away a lead to a soft goal, rode their luck, ripped up their midfield and only then found cruising attitude against a team which is out of the relegation zone on goal difference alone. Perhaps Spurs’ best player was James Maddison, also star of this week’s episode of unexplained VAR mysteries. Peripheral and frustrated in the first half, he appeared to down Forest’s Ryan Yates with an off-the-ball one-inch punch to the guts. The incident was reviewed and cleared. The cosmic ballet goes on.
The Independent
Tottenham Hotspur took control of the top-four race after second-half goals by Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro downed relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest 3-1.
After Aston Villa dropped points at home to Brentford on Saturday, Spurs knew a victory would send them fourth on goal difference and with a game in hand, but Chris Wood’s first-half strike ensured it was level at the break.
Danilo’s own-goal put Tottenham ahead, although they were perhaps fortunate to still have 11 players on the pitch for the second half after James Maddison caught Ryan Yates off-the-ball towards the end of the first 45.
Maddison avoided punishment and helped the hosts claim a crucial win as they struck twice within five minutes via fine finishes by Van de Ven and Porro to fire Ange Postecoglou’s team above their Champions League rivals.
The Mail
Tottenham took control of the top-four race after second-half goals by Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro downed relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest 3-1.
After Aston Villa dropped points at home to Brentford on Saturday, Spurs knew a victory would send them fourth on goal difference and with a game in hand, but Chris Wood’s first-half strike ensured it was level at the break.
Danilo’s own-goal put Tottenham ahead, although they were perhaps fortunate to still have 11 players on the pitch for the second half after James Maddison caught Ryan Yates off-the-ball towards the end of the first 45.
The Mirror
Big Micky van de Ven is as Dutch as windmills, tulips or those giant wagon wheels of Edam.
And Tottenham ’s 6ft 4in centre-back was the big cheese in town as Spurs moved back into the top four above Aston Villa. Van de Ven’s rocket was the catalyst for Tottenham to turn a hesitant first-half performance into a commanding one.
Hey, Micky, you’re so fine – that line provided a lone excursion into the top 10 for Toni Basil in 1982, but Van de Ven is no one-hit wonder. At £34.5 million, he has been the rock on whom Ange Postecoglou has built Big Angeball in north London’s Lilywhite heartlands.
On the final whistle, he was serenaded with the chorus from KC & the Sunshine Band singalong classic Give It Up after being given a chasing by Forest striker Chris Wood at first but then seeing off the in-form Kiwi. Before anyone gets too excited down White Hart Lane about a return to Champions League orbit, comedy legend Blackadder went fourth as well – and look what happened to him.
Read more: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/spurs-nottingham-forest-vandeven-goal-32533187
The Sun
If Tottenham end up securing Champions League football, then Micky van de Ven deserves a hefty performance bonus.
When the Dutch defender is involved, Spurs rarely lose – if only they could keep him fit for every minute of this campaign.
And when he is in the mood, the centre-back can strike the ball with some venom, too, as he demonstrated in Tottenham’s ruthless second-half display against Nottingham Forest.
It was his left-footed screamer on 52 minutes that set Tottenham on the path to a 12th league home win.
Oh Micky, you’re so fine – and your worth to this top-four race could be invaluable.
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