Our defensive unit made 24 clearances in restricting Forest to just two efforts on goal. As always, urged on by the home crowd, the pressure was cranked up in the second half, but we withstood it all, but for a Neco Williams effort ruled out for handball by VAR.
Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven stood up to the physical challenge of Liam Delap, later teamed up with Igor Jesus, while Rodrigo Bentancur was outstanding, an extra layer of protection with Sandro Tonali. Savio also made his first start while Mykhailo Mudryk came off the bench for his debut.
We created chances – and that’s where Roberto said he wants to see us improve – pinpointing decision making as key as we failed to test Matz Sels despite 12 efforts at goal, the same tally as Forest. Omar Marmoush zipped our best chance inches wide in the first half and Micky was close with a header after the break.
Speaking to SPURSPLAY afterwards, Roberto reflected: “I’m disappointed and frustrated for the result, but for the performance, very happy. I want to see this spirit. I want to see 90 minutes to believe in ourselves, to believe in what we are doing, to believe in the team-mates, to believe in the club. This is the right spirit, and I can't ask for nothing more than this spirit.
“After that, we have to improve, for sure. What is the problem? The problem is the last third, not because we have not the quality. We have great players. Yes, I think Marmoush has the quality to score 15 goals. Mathys Tel is a top potential player. Mudryk as well. Savio is another top player.
“We have to be better in the last decision, to keep calm when we are in the last third and take the best decision. We shot with Marmoush in the last 10 minutes, and there was Robertson overlapping. If Robertson received the ball, Kudus at the second post scores alone. I think we have to work, but also I'm positive because I want to see this spirit, this fight away from home. We are Tottenham and we have to deserve, day by day, to stay in this club.”
Watch | Roberto's post-match in full
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