Ibrahim Sangaré and Callum Hudson-Odoi starred as Nottingham Forest beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0, a victory that moved them five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone in a game featuring some flowing and exciting football. George Edwards was at the match
If there’s a perfect way to say farewell, Ibrahim Sangaré did just that today.
The Ivorian will now be unavailable until mid-January as the African Cup of Nations commences next weekend, leaving a hole in Forest’s midfield that, based on today’s showing, will be a huge void to fill.
Two assists and an absolute firecracker to make it 3-0 as Forest ran riot against Tottenham Hotspur, Sangaré ran the show in the middle of the park and would have been the standout player with or without his goal contributions.
Sangaré has been on a long journey in a Forest shirt but is now flourishing in the manner in which was anticipated when he signed from PSV two-and-a-half years ago. Operating next to Elliot Anderson, you’d expect Sangaré to be the anchor, but he was absolutely everywhere against Tottenham — pressing, recovering the ball and getting into goal-scoring positions, strutting across the pitch with swagger.
Along with Morgan Gibbs-White, Forest’s midfield trio had their best collective game since they overpowered Brentford on opening day, in turn probably Forest’s best display since then.
AFCON two seasons ago completely took the wind out of Sangaré’s sails; returning from the competition with an illness he never quite shook off, struggling with injury for large periods last season. While representing his country is a huge honour, it seems that every time he gains consistency in a red shirt, something comes along to halt his progress.
Sangaré’s brimming confidence was perfectly displayed as he latched onto Callum Hudson-Odoi’s layoff and swept the ball in from range off the far post, wheeling away with the biggest grin in Nottingham on his face, signing off in style.
The pair combined in reverse for Forest’s opening two, with Hudson-Odoi notching twice on his first start since 1 November, adding to his solitary goal of the season back in August.
Hudson-Odoi has grappled with injury himself this season and struggled to be a constant threat out wide; two goals that made the City Ground bounce again providing the perfect catalyst to kickstart his season.
Sangaré and Hudson-Odoi’s partnership may have won Forest the game in front of goal, but Murillo returning to the back four alongside Nikola Milenkovic showed the importance of their alliance, securing the Reds’s sixth clean sheet in 12 games under Sean Dyche.
Player of the season last year, Milenkovic appears far more settled and comfortable with his explosive Brazilian partner alongside him; Murillo is often Forest’s principal playmaker and defensive stalwart rolled into one.
Having that pair guarding your goal is exactly what you’d want making your Premier League debut, with John Victor starting in the absence of Matz Sels and exuding the same levels of confidence as his other 10 teammates. On the ball he excels, but he had his most assuring game between the sticks from a goalkeeping perspective today, a game with stakes higher than any he had played in before.
Making it a hattrick of Brazilian standouts, Igor Jesus may not have got on the scoresheet, but his presence and performance was vital to Forest’s flowing display.
His newfound ability to hold the ball up allowed Forest to build from him, using his strength and runs to get the ball forward and work around him. Jesus is currently an immovable object both for defenders and from the starting XI, making his £10 million fee look an absolute steal.
Collectively, Forest played some awesome, flowing football throughout, capitalising on a toothless display from their visitors in yellow. Tottenham offered nothing while Forest offered everything, creating all different types of chances and moving the ball with pace and assurance as they grew more confident in the match.
They dominated in every area, reacting to an abject performance at Everton last week with two vital wins and two performances different in nature but equal in effectiveness. That’s now three wins in four, with Forest scoring two or more goals in two-thirds of Dyche’s games at the helm, the manager playing simple but effective football that works to the strengths of every player.
He has reinstalled that relentless nature that served Forest so well last season. Two minutes into stoppage time with the game won, they were still dogged, pressing with real intent and bite right until the final whistle.
Dyche and his players now look forward to a week off before their trip to Fulham next Monday evening, and while they might be temporarily waving goodbye to their midfield maestro, they will be determined that their current spirit is here to stay for the weeks and months ahead.
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