Nottinghamshire Live

Nottingham Forest look set to appoint Ange Postecoglou as successor to the departed Nuno Espirito Santo.

Reports suggest the former Tottenham Hotspur boss, who won the Europa League with the Londoners last season, has agreed terms to take over at the City Ground.

With seemingly only official confirmation missing, NottinghamshireLive took the opportunity to speak to football.london's Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold for the inside track on the man who led Spurs to glory.

How is Ange’s time at Tottenham Hotspur viewed?

AG : Ultimately he'll be remembered as the man who ended Spurs' 17-year trophy drought and gave the fans that special night in Bilbao followed by the parade a couple of days later with an estimated 220,000 of them out on the streets of N17 celebrating it all.

That European triumph will be the abiding memory of his tenure and why he'll always be welcome back in Tottenham. If you drill down there were of course difficult times at a club going through yet another rebuild, not least a dreadful second Premier

League season with a 17th-place finish after his fifth place without Harry Kane in his first campaign.

Injuries were a common theme, some in the first season through Postecoglou's extreme style of football but some of the re-injuries in his second campaign came from a plethora of reasons not of his own making and killed any momentum.

He forged a remarkable togetherness among the players through a huge injury crisis over the winter months, with double figures unavailable most weeks, a bond that eventually led them to that Europa League triumph.

Spurs fans rarely got to see Postecoglou's true brand of football in operation as much as expected after the early months of his tenure and ultimately he adjusted it to win that trophy, but the fact that most fans believed at the time that he had earned the chance of a third season says a lot about how he was viewed.

You’ve worked with both, can you put into words how different/similar Nuno and Postecoglou are in terms of football philosophy?

AG : You couldn't really get much more different. Whether in the dressing room, press conference or in terms of style both men are polar opposites in the way they act and expect football to be played.

Nuno is a man of few words and his football was always, first and foremost, about keeping the opposition out.

Postecoglou is a man of many words and his football is about goals, which brought some lovely passages of football but also a defence that spent most games racing back trying to prevent counter attacks or balls over the top.

He is a man with a very strong belief in his way of playing the game - expect lots of goals from low balls across the six-yard box - but it will be interesting to see if even the most hardened of philosophies was shaken by the experiences of his first two years in the Premier League.

Postecoglou will face another packed fixture schedule with Forest's European exploits so he will have to compromise in certain aspects.

What does Postecoglou demand of his players? Is he good at building relationships with fans?

AG: There are two sides to Postecoglou with the players. In training and on the pitch, he demands a lot and they put their bodies on the line for him.

Full-backs will be inverted and be expected to play as central midfielders at times and midfielders will have to be box to box but also switch and cover those full-backs at times.

Every player can expect to clock up the miles on the turf and the training sessions - in empty weeks - are as full-on as games in order to recreate what the players will go through in the matches.

Yet Postecoglou would also go easy on players at times, giving them extra days off and being understanding of certain personalities rather than a disciplinarian.

He was a strong man manager, a father figure of sorts and they loved him for it. When he was sacked it sparked the biggest outpouring of support from a group of players we've seen at the club.

In terms of the fans, he said a lot of the right things to begin with and the supporters bought into the style of football.

There were little missteps along the way though - not understanding some Spurs fans wanting their team to lose to Manchester City to prevent Arsenal winning the title, some clashes with abusive supporters and cupping his ear to the away faithful at Stamford Bridge after a Tottenham goal that was later ruled out.

He had lost a large number of them with the results in the Premier League earlier this year but won most back with that night in Bilbao.

How good a match are Forest and Postecoglou? How would Postecoglou react to Marinakis’ ‘hands on’ approach?

AG: From the outside it feels like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Spurs is a club that seems to be in a constant state of change and Postecoglou fell victim to that, being sacked despite claiming their first European trophy in 41 years.

Yet at Forest he will take on someone in Marinakis who is far more hands-on that Daniel Levy ever was and seemingly governed by emotions, something the former Tottenham chairman rarely was.

Postecoglou will not be told what to do and his decision to throw the Premier League essentially with weakened teams to concentrate on the Europa League, when he realised the squad could not handle both, went down badly with some in the club hierarchy.

It didn't stop them celebrating that evening in Bilbao wildly of course but it ultimately led to his departure.

It does show though that Marinakis is not going to be able to influence what Postecoglou does. The 60-year-old sticks to his guns and has walked out of previous jobs when he has not felt the full backing and he'll have no qualms about doing that in the future.

His relationship with Marinakis could help but this is certainly not a manager who will be told what to do.

Who finishes higher in the Premier League, Frank’s Spurs or Postecoglou’s Forest?

AG: That's a tough one at this early stage. I would say Thomas Frank has - the Bournemouth defeat aside - started really impressively at Spurs and the club bought or loaned well eventually in the summer transfer window.

Much will depend on how the Dane adjusts to his first experience of Champions League football and the pressure that will put on Tottenham's Premier League performances and the squad.

With Postecoglou, there was an instant burst of great form out of the gates at Tottenham but that came after a tough pre-season, albeit a messy one.

The key at Forest will be that lack of pre-season and the players not burning out as they take on the sprinting that will be asked of them in matches now.

I think Frank's Spurs will be more stable in the Premier League this season and as Forest have not had to juggle European football for 30 years, I think that will see them finish below Tottenham this campaign as they try to handle it all and the demands of a very different manager.

Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor is convinced Morgan Gibbs-White will leave Nottingham Forest next summer.

The Reds ace has been the subject of much transfer talk this time around and came close to joining Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month. The north London club thought they had snapped him up when they triggered a £60 million release clause in Gibbs-White’s contract.

Forest were angered by what they considered to be an illegal approach for their star man and the prospect of a move collapsed. Owner Evangelos Marinakis then managed to pull off one of the biggest surprises of the summer by overseeing a new deal for the 25-year-old.

Last Saturday, Gibbs-White penned a three-year contract to keep him at the City Ground until 2028. However, Agbonlahor is of the opinion he will depart the club before then.

“I’m not being funny, if you want to stay at a football club you don’t sign three-year contracts nowadays when you’re 25 years of age - you sign a five-year one or more,” the former forward said on talkSPORT. “The fact it’s a three-year contract, that says to me this time next year he will probably be gone.”

Asked if he believes Gibbs-White wants to stay at Forest, Agbonlahor added: “No. I think he’ll go to the biggest club that wants him. I think he’d say: ‘I’m devoed (devastated) that I didn’t go to Spurs.’ Of course he would.

“He obviously wanted to go to Spurs. Hasn’t happened. If they come back in 12 months’ time, he’ll be gone.”

After signing his new contract, Gibbs-White said: "I’ve felt at home at Forest from the moment I arrived. The support from the fans, my teammates, and everyone around the club has been unbelievable. I believe in what we're building here – and with the backing of Mr Marinakis and the enormous ambition he has, I want to be part of making something special. I’m excited for what’s to come."

Marinakis said: "Morgan is a special player – not just in terms of talent, but character and mentality. He represents everything we want this football club to be: he is a winner, talented, ambitious, fearless, and proud.

“There was significant interest from various clubs, but we were determined to build our future with Morgan at the heart of it. I promised our fans we would not only compete, but grow stronger and stronger every season. Today is another big step in that journey."

Nottingham Forest ace Morgan Gibbs-White is said to be ‘excited’ by the prospect of a potential move to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Reds playmaker is a top target for the north London club this summer. Indeed, a couple of weeks ago he was close to making the switch when Spurs triggered a £60 million release clause in his contract.

The move hit the buffers as Forest were angered by what they considered to be an illegal approach for their star man. But Spurs’ interest has not cooled and there has been talk of an improved £65m bid being considered.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Gibbs-White has ‘remained adamant’ he ‘wants’ to head to the capital. That is despite reports the Reds would prefer to sell to previous suitors Manchester City due to Tottenham’s recent actions.

It is claimed the England international is ‘excited’ by the project put to him by new boss Thomas Frank when Spurs initially tried to sign him. Forest, however, are seemingly reluctant to do business and the Europa League winners have been left ‘frustrated’ at the current deadlock.

Amid speculation about his future at the City Ground, Gibbs-White has carried on as normal. By all accounts he has shown a good attitude in training and he played his first minutes of pre-season last weekend when he started the 0-0 draw with Monaco.

The 25-year-old was given a warm reception by those Reds fans in attendance at Chesterfield’s SMH Group Stadium. He responded with a heart gesture when he made his way off the pitch at half-time.

Gibbs-White, who has two years remaining on his contract, did not travel with his Forest teammates to Portugal on Monday for their pre-season training camp. His absence was due to a personal matter, not transfer related, and he has since linked up with Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad.

Head coach Nuno has not conducted any media interviews so far this summer. But defender Ola Aina has said of the uncertainty surrounding his teammate: “No one is unsettled or rattled. Morgan is a professional.

“He is a professional. He is doing his job. Whatever is going on, that’s up to him. But everyone is happy with him and we’re all training and working hard, just like normal.”

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has refused to speak about the situation. Speaking at his first press conference as Spurs manager, Frank said: "You know me well so I will use what I've always said is that I won't speak about players from outside the club."

The seemingly simple case of an England international, a £60million release clause and Tottenham's attempt to sign a Nottingham Forest player has turned out to be far more complex than anticipated.

Spurs were ready to add the acquisition of Morgan Gibbs-White to their £55million purchase of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham and the £5million deal for Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale. This would have rounded off a hefty £120million week of transfers, reigniting excitement among supporters following a sluggish start to the transfer window.

However, things took a turn when Forest raised objections over the transfer of the 25 year old England international, bringing proceedings to an abrupt halt. So what exactly transpired, what's next, and how will it all conclude?

Our colleagues at football.London take an in-depth look at the process.

What happened

Gibbs-White's move came as a surprise to the public, although Spurs have long been interested in the former Wolves player behind the scenes. New head coach Thomas Frank had wanted him at Brentford during his time at Wolves and is known to consider the midfielder an ideal fit for his team due to his creativity and energy.

Thus, the approach seemed logical for all involved.

Tottenham Hotspur made their move, and things seemed to be progressing rapidly. However, Nottingham Forest took exception to the proceedings, alleging that an unauthorised approach had been made to their player without their consent.

They also claimed that the confidentiality of Gibbs-White's £60million release clause had been violated, with suggestions that Spurs had offered precisely the amount needed to trigger his release.

Reportedly, Forest ceased all communication with the North London club, bringing everything to a sudden standstill. Having already sold Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for £52million, Nuno Espirito Santo's team were not intending to lose the England midfielder as well in this transfer window.

So where did Gibbs-White fit into all this?

The 25 year old was scheduled for a medical at Tottenham, but sources from various sides of the saga allege that the player never actually left Nottingham to go to Hotspur Way. This was due to Forest's displeasure, and that of their owner Evangelos Marinakis, which was clearly communicated to Gibbs-White and all parties involved.

Given everything that has transpired since then, this is likely a crucial detail. If the midfielder had gone to the Spurs training ground, the situation could have escalated significantly, particularly if Forest have officially stated they did not authorise any progression of the deal.

Gibbs-White was absent from Forest's 0-0 friendly match against Chesterfield on Saturday, as he was among the international players scheduled to return to training this week. The midfielder reported for pre-season at Forest's training ground on Monday morning as planned, a fact the club highlighted by posting his picture on social media.

What action has Forest taken?

It is understood that Forest has now filed a legal complaint regarding Tottenham's approach for Gibbs-White, which the Premier League will be obliged to investigate.

Who is commenting on the situation?

Officially, no one. Neither Forest nor Tottenham have issued any statements on the matter, and when approached by football.london, the Premier League clarified they would not be offering comments or guidance on the ongoing situation.

Given the legal implications, it's understandable that we'll have to wait for the process to unfold.

What happens next?

The next step is to see if an agreement can be reached between all parties involved to resolve this transfer stalemate. There appears to be a general consensus that the deal for Gibbs-White will eventually go through, but Forest's legal complaint will undoubtedly complicate matters and prolong the process.

Gibbs-White, who has two years left on his contract with Forest, is a player the club was eager to keep. Forest may try to extract more money from Tottenham, ask the midfielder to waive any potential bonuses, or seek penalties against the north London club for what they perceive as an unlawful approach.

Much hinges on the legality of how the release clause was activated, and its existence, whether known or not, could pose the biggest issue for the Midlands team.

The longer the situation drags on, the more apprehensive Spurs supporters will become about another club seizing the opportunity to swoop in, although this wouldn't result in additional funds for Forest.

Gibbs-White seemed determined to join Tottenham to work alongside Thomas Frank and reconnect with ex-Forest teammate Brennan Johnson and England peer Dominic Solanke.

Some Forest supporters have concluded that if Gibbs-White is eager to transfer to the Europa League champions, they would prefer him to leave their club, potentially making his departure less contentious at this stage.

Currently, the deal is anticipated to eventually proceed, but Forest will undoubtedly make it challenging for Spurs to poach another one of their crucial players.

Nottingham Forest are said to have held further talks with Morgan Gibbs-White amid uncertainty about the attacker’s future.

Last week, Gibbs-White appeared to be on the verge of a move to Tottenham Hotspur. The north London side had triggered a £60 million release clause in the 25-year-old’s contract and a medical was due to take place last Friday.

The Reds, however, were furious at what they considered to be an illegal approach for their star man. They have since made an official complaint to the Premier League regarding Spurs’ actions.

In the meantime, Gibbs-White has linked back up with his Forest teammates. He had been given additional time off due to his international commitments last month but returned to the Nigel Doughty Academy to begin his pre-season on Monday.

According to the Daily Mail, having returned Trentside, the England international also held talks with the club. The Reds are said to have sent an ‘explosive letter’ to Tottenham, as well as to the Premier League, and have instructed their rivals not to make any further contact with the player.

It remains to be seen what steps the Premier League now take. If they decide to investigate and Spurs are found guilty of effectively tapping up Gibbs-White, it is said they could be hit with a significant fine or potentially a transfer ban.

However, agent Sky Andrew has cautioned it could be difficult for Forest to back up their claims. He said on talkSPORT: “Here's the thing, guys, it's very difficult to prove tapping up. It's very difficult to prove that a club went direct to a player without the permission of a club. We're getting into all sorts of things here - phone records and everything.

“If it goes to arbitration, where it must go within the football rules and regulations, then Forest will have to prove that the club went directly to the player or to the agent. Most clubs know that it is very difficult to prove.

“So, this is a case now of how much will the buying club pay for the player. It won’t be £60 million, it will probably have to be more.”

As for what Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis might do next, Andrew said: "It depends how serious Marinakis is. To me, Marinakis looks like a serious guy. I wouldn't mess with him,” he said.

"He has got to decide where he wants to go with this. Once a player says they want to leave, it's very difficult to keep that player at the club. The resolution is normally to just get the best deal you can for the club. Marinakis and his people have got to sit down with Morgan Gibbs-White and decide where they go from here.”

Nottingham Forest have now officially lodged a complaint over Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White.

The England international reported for pre-season at the Reds’ Nigel Doughty Academy this morning. However, his future at the City Ground is still mired in uncertainty.

Late last week, Gibbs-White appeared to be on the verge of a move to north London. He was believed to be set for a medical on Friday after Spurs triggered the £60 million release clause in his Forest contract.

But the Reds have been left furious at what they believe to be an illegal approach for their player by Tottenham. They are understood to have now lodged a complaint to the Premier League regarding their rivals’ actions.

Noises suggest Gibbs-White is still likely to make the switch to the capital eventually. A deal appears to be on hold for now, although the likelihood is it is simply delayed rather than scrapped entirely.

Forest are said to have concerns over how Spurs became aware of confidential details in their star man’s contract. It has also been claimed Tottenham were not granted permission to speak to the player.

According to The Standard, Spurs have been notified by the Reds of ‘their objection’. The Premier League are obliged to investigate any formal complaint made.

Gibbs-White has two years remaining on his deal Trentside but the suggestion is he has shown ‘little interest’ in penning a new one. Such a stance leaves Forest in a difficult position given his value would decrease as time ticks down on his terms.

The Reds have already lost one key player this summer in Anthony Elanga. The winger completed a switch to Newcastle United last week after two years wearing the Garibaldi.

Gibbs-White was not involved on Saturday as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side kicked off pre-season with a 0-0 draw at Chesterfield. The 25-year-old was among a group of players permitted additional time off due to his international commitments with England last month.

Morgan Gibbs-White has reported for duty at Nottingham Forest’s Nigel Doughty Academy this morning amid his future being in the spotlight.

Pre-season started for the Reds last week and they drew 0-0 at Chesterfield in their first friendly on Saturday. However, Gibbs-White was among a group of players permitted additional time off due to his international commitments with England last month.

Nevertheless, there was a question mark over whether the 25-year-old would still be part of Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad by the time his scheduled return Trentside came around. He has been the subject of much transfer talk this summer and the speculation has only ramped up in recent days.

Late last week, Gibbs-White appeared to be on the verge of a move to Tottenham Hotspur. He was believed to be set for a medical in north London on Friday after Spurs were understood to have triggered the £60 million release clause in his Forest contract.

However, the Reds are considering legal action against what they believe is an illegal approach by their Premier League rivals. With that in mind, a deal appears to be on hold for now - although it may well be that it is simply delayed rather than ruled out entirely.

In the meantime, Gibbs-White is back on the banks of the Trent to begin pre-season training. The club posted a picture of the England international arriving at the Nigel Doughty Academy with the caption: “Back with the group.”

Striker Chris Wood, centre-back Nikola Milenkovic, goalkeeper Matz Sels and midfielder Ibrahim Sangare were also captured linking back up with the Reds. But the photograph of Gibbs-White, in particular, certainly got Forest fans talking on social media. Below is a look at what they have been saying.

@maybebrayyy: well this is awkward #NFFC

@IanMurrayHall: Tweet Of The Year #nffc

@NFFC_JD: Haha forest know exactly what they’re doing posting that #nffc #NFFC

@jethrofairley: Would’ve been hilarious if Elanga was there as well #nffc

@JGNFFC_: but i thought he was waiting in a hotel in london right now? #NFFC

@NoTweetsForTony: No medical today then? lol #nffc #thfc

@forestmad80: Awkward… #NFFC

@LiloNffc: Forest social media trolling the football world by posting MGW arriving at training #NFFC

Tottenham Hotspur remain hopeful of completing a deal for Morgan Gibbs-White with Nottingham Forest’s potential legal challenge likely to delay, rather than rule out, the transfer.

But amid the wait, there will be concern among Spurs fans that another club could swoop now that the attacking midfielder’s £60m release clause is public knowledge.

Forest’s reported potential legal challenge relates to a possible breach of a confidentiality agreement within Gibbs-White’s contract, with the club said not to have given permission for Tottenham to engage with the England international.

Football London’s Tottenham Hotspur reporter Alasdair Gold suggests progress could be made from Monday, with the weekend delaying developments.

He also thinks supporters in north London may be concerned that a player who looked on course for a medical could now be poached by a rival.

Gold wrote: “It's difficult to predict right now with complete certainty as it's an unusual situation, and that's reflected in media coverage across the board, but the feeling among many at this early stage seems to be that Forest are more likely to hold up the deal than prevent it.

“The fact that this has all happened just before a weekend means little was likely to progress in these two days when it comes to legal matters or potential Premier League complaints.

“Neither club is commenting on the situation and the Premier League also declined to comment when I approached them today about whether a complaint has actually been lodged by Forest.

“Spurs are believed to be hopeful the deal will go through eventually while Forest are distinctly unimpressed by the whole thing, as they could lose both Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga in the space of a handful of days which won't go down well with their fans.

“Much will come down to the legal aspect of the contract and the details within it, for from the outside it seems simple enough that amid it all a release clause has been triggered regardless of whether the Midlands club wanted knowledge of it to be available.

“The worry of course for Tottenham fans will be whether this delay in proceedings allows another club to enter the fray and go about it in a way that Forest do not have an issue with.

“However, that also surely gets messy from a legal standpoint as Spurs had the deal all but done with the player set for his medical before Forest reportedly cut off communications.

“I would imagine Monday will bring with it far more answers in terms of whether a complaint has been formally submitted with the Premier League and whether anything of a legal nature has truly begun or whether it was simply considered and found to be fruitless.”

Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo insisted Nottingham Forest did not have a point to prove as their 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur took them back up to third in the Premier League.

The Reds had dropped to sixth in the table prior to kick-off in the capital on Monday night, with some pundits questioning their Champions League credentials as a result. But they bounced back from successive defeats courtesy of goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood.

The match was not without some nervy moments, though, including in the final minutes after Richarlison had reduced the deficit late on. But Forest came through to claim a huge victory. Below is a look at what Nuno had to say after the final whistle in north London.

On facing a test of nerves…

“The final minutes were full of anxiety and wishing the time to go faster. Tottenham had us against the ropes.

“We are very proud of the way we competed. We reacted really well from the previous performances.

“The team competed well. We started well with the two goals and were dominant - even without the ball, we tried to contain Tottenham.

“Even though they had chances, we had Matz (Sels) at a high level again and the clearance from Harry Toffolo. The spirit is about that. The way we compete is as a team.”

On starting well…

“We try. We wish that we could be more positive going forward in the second half, but you have to credit your opponent. When you are in front, the priority is to contain.”

On the importance of unity when under pressure…

“You need all the togetherness and help you can have. We do it. We help each other in those situations. Clearances off the line are all about that.”

On having Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi to carry the ball up the pitch…

“That is one of their main characteristics. They have the talent to give us this step forward high up the pitch.”

On being written off by pundits…

“First of all we have to realise that we are in a fight that no one expected - us included - and it’s normal. But I don’t want to prove nobody wrong. It’s about us.

“We have a big desire to compete. We like to compete and the players enjoy it.

“We are in the mix against big teams and that can only make us proud. We embrace the challenge.

“We are ahead of a big week for us - we’re going to Wembley to compete against a big team.

“There are a lot of games ahead of us. As long as we keep this approach and compete well, you never know.”

On playing after rivals have already played…

“I have been asked about that before. I honestly believe it doesn’t have an impact.

“Whether we play first or last, we have to keep the same approach. We have been trying to do it since the beginning of the season.

“We are not looking at what other people do, because we cannot control them. You have to go about your task on the pitch. I really believe that (the fixture schedule) doesn’t have an impact.”

On whether gaining a result against Spurs is particularly satisfying…

“No. Maybe you don’t know me enough to ask that question, but I am not that type of person.

“I was honoured to be manager of Tottenham; a huge club. I wish Tottenham all the best for the future. You wouldn’t ask that if you knew me better.”

On wishing time was going quicker at the end…

“Everybody! Us, the players, our fans, our fans at home, all counting the seconds!”

On whether the end of the season will be similar…

“No, the end of the season is going to be anxiety and nerves. We have to deal with that.”

On Toffolo’s clearance symbolising Forest’s spirit…

“Not only that. We have been talking a lot since the beginning of the season about the importance of the squad.

“Even though a player doesn’t start, I still believe he is going to play a part. And Harry did it.

“We are going to need them all. We are going to go to Wembley with players out and we have to find solutions, so every player in the squad has to commit himself to give a hand. Harry did it and did fantastic.”

On the importance of Wood getting on the scoresheet…

“Not only what he has been doing this season, but this nasty injury he had with the national team pushed him back. Last week, we pushed him. But today I think Chris felt more comfortable on the pitch. We are going to need everything Chris has to give us.”

On whether he expected to have a season like this…

“No. Why not? Basically because we don’t approach the competition like that.

“The aim was clear, it was how could we improve from last season? Last season, we stayed up on the last day of the competition, against Burnley.

“The moment we finished, the goal was just to improve. Don’t care about the table, just improve players and see how much we can get out of them. That was the priority.”

On managing Elanga after he picked up a knock recently…

“Yeah, but I think he is going to be OK. He did really well.

“He is always a threat for opposition defenders. He put in a fantastic cross (for Wood).

“It was up to decide to change it a little bit, to try to get what we got in the first half. I think he is going to be OK.”

On no Jota Silva in the squad…

“We don’t have Ola (Aina) or Eric Moreira, so we had Zach Abbott on the bench.”

Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo admitted he was wishing the minutes away at the end as Nottingham Forest hung on for a big 2-1 win away to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Reds had taken a two-goal lead with 16 minutes gone in the capital, courtesy of goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood. But they came under plenty of pressure from their opponents and faced a nervy finale when Richarlison pulled one back for Spurs in the closing minutes.

Goalkeeper Matz Sels had already made some excellent saves to keep the hosts at bay and Harry Toffolo had chipped in with an outstanding goalline clearance. Victory took Forest back up to third in the Premier League table, after they had started the day in sixth place.

“The final minutes were full of anxiety and wishing the time to go faster. Tottenham had us against the ropes,” Nuno said.

“We are very proud of the way we competed. We reacted really well from the previous performances.

“The team competed well. We started well with the two goals and were dominant. Even without the ball, we tried to contain Tottenham.

“Even though they had chances, we had Matz and the clearance from Harry Toffolo. The spirit is about that. The way we compete is as a team.

“We wish that we could be more positive going forward in the second half, but you have to credit your opponent. When you are in front, the priority is to contain.

“You need all the togetherness you can have. We help each other in those situations.”

The Reds had gone into the game looking to bounce back from successive defeats. Losses to Aston Villa and Everton, coupled with results elsewhere over the weekend, had seen Nuno’s team drop down the table. But the result means Champions League qualification remains in their own hands with five matches to go.