Nottingham Forest 3 - 0 FT Tottenham

Hudson-Odoi's Brace Shatters Tottenham's Top-Four Hopes

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 32/100. Forest's clinical execution and midfield intensity exposed Spurs' fragility, delivering a 3-0 demolition that reshapes the relegation battle narrative.

The Midfield Masterclass

Ibrahim Sangaré orchestrated a performance of rare authority at City Ground, pulling strings with two assists and a goal that left Tottenham chasing shadows. The Ivorian midfielder's 9.9 rating reflected his dominance—he wasn't just passing; he was dictating the rhythm, tempo, and outcome. When Callum Hudson-Odoi finished his brace in the 50th minute, it was Sangaré's vision that unlocked the space. Forest's midfield claimed 81% pass accuracy while Spurs managed just 0.37 expected goals—a chasm that told the entire story.

Hudson-Odoi's Clinical Edge

Hudson-Odoi's two-goal haul arrived with surgical precision. The 28th-minute opener came from Sangaré's assist; the second, five minutes into the second half, doubled the damage before Spurs could recalibrate. His 9.2 rating masked the psychological blow—every finish was composed, every movement purposeful. By the 79th minute, when Sangaré capped the rout with his own goal (assisted by Hudson-Odoi), the narrative had shifted entirely. Forest had transformed from relegation-haunted underdogs into a side capable of dismantling top-half opposition.

Tottenham's Defensive Collapse

Spurs' defending was porous and panicked. Three yellow cards suggested frustration rather than tactical discipline, while their six total shots—just one on target—revealed an attack that never materialized. Nikola Milenković's 7.7 rating underscored Forest's defensive solidity; the Serbian centre-back was rarely troubled because Spurs lacked the balance to create danger. Possession (52%) meant nothing when the final pass was absent and the press was toothless.

The Turning Point

The 28th minute—Hudson-Odoi's opener—was the kill shot. Forest seized early control, Sangaré's midfield dominance suffocated Spurs' transitions, and by halftime, the contest was effectively over. Spurs' form (LWDLL) continued its downward spiral; Forest's (WLWLW) suddenly looked sustainable.

Survival Math: Forest's Quiet Desperation Meets Spurs' Inconsistency

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 54/100. Two teams treading water meet in a fixture that matters more to the home side's survival hopes than Tottenham's top-four ambitions.

The Setup

Form tells the story here. Nottingham Forest sit 16th with a -7 goal difference and just three wins from twelve games—their recent W-W-D-L-L run offers false hope. Tottenham hover in 10th, five points clear but bleeding momentum with back-to-back losses sandwiched around draws. The Stakes are asymmetric: Forest need points to climb out of the drop zone; Spurs need a statement to arrest their slide. Balance favours the visitors on paper, yet neither side inspires confidence.

Key Battle

The goalkeeping duel becomes the match's spine. Matz Sels has made 15 saves across five games with two clean sheets, while Guglielmo Vicario mirrors those numbers exactly. Whoever's backline cracks first loses; expect both keepers to earn their wages in a low-scoring grind.

Our Prediction

Morgan Gibbs-White's three goals in four games give Forest attacking teeth, but Tottenham's defensive solidity—despite recent wobbles—should absorb the pressure. Spurs exploit the flanks, Forest hit on the break. Draw feels inevitable: 1-1, with both sides leaving frustrated but not devastated.