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Tottenham: Thomas Frank highlights a range of Spurs problems after 'step back' 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest

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Individual errors, poor passing, losing duels and the squad's inability to respond correctly to setbacks were among the reasons Tottenham boss Thomas Frank listed for his side's 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

The Spurs head coach said there was "a hurricane inside me" as he described how he was trying to contain his emotions after a "burning annoying performance" led to a bad loss.

Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham - Match report and reaction

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That frustration boiled over during an interview with Sky Sports' Pat Davison, where Frank snapped back that Guglielmo Vicario's error against Fulham last month should not be compared to Forest's first goal, which he blamed on Archie Gray taking a touch from the goalkeeper's pass before being dispossessed.

While Tottenham came into the game on a three-match unbeaten run across all competitions, defeat at the City Ground means they have made their worst start to a Premier League season in 17 years.

After finishing 17th last season under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs are in the bottom half again, sitting 11th.

'No quick fix' and an ingrained issue

In his post-match press conference, Frank was asked if he is confident he'll be given time to get the club back on track.

"I think it's pretty evident, if no one gets the time, no one can turn this around," he said. "This is not a quick fix."

During his dissection of the performance, Frank made references to long-standing issues within this group, which struggled so badly in the league last season, despite their Europa League win.

Frank believes Spurs' reaction to conceding goals is a problem ingrained in the squad. "These setbacks can't affect us that much. It can't be one goal that makes it so disjointed," he said, when explaining how his side lost their way after Forest went 1-0 up.

"That's part of 'keep the structure, keep the gameplan, keep doing the right things'. That's not the first time we've seen that, this year, last year, whatever.

"That's something ongoing [he is working on with the squad], being more consistent in that."

Sloppy Spurs

Gray's mistake was the fifth time a Spurs player has made an error directly leading to an opposition goal in the Premier League this season. Only bottom-club Wolves (seven) have made more. Spurs have also made the most errors leading to opposition shots (20).

Spurs' sloppiness was a theme throughout the game on Sunday. Their passing accuracy of 79 per cent was their fourth-lowest total in the league this season.

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That contributed to Spurs managing to carve out just 0.37 worth of Expected Goals and striker Richarlison having just two touches in the opposition box all game. Spurs had just one shot on target.

"With all due respect, we're in it together, we win together, we lose together… But they need to be able to hit each other," said Frank about Spurs' passing. "That's nothing to do with structure.

"Simple passing. I think we lost the ball 20 times [from a] simple pass."

A lack of intensity

Out of possession? "We didn't win enough duels," said Frank.

Certainly, Forest won the intensity battle. "Go, go, go" was how two-goal Callum Hudson-Odoi described his team's approach to the match. They blitzed Spurs in running metrics, with the visitors posting figures which ranked among their lowest of the season.

The attitude of the Spurs squad - not for the first time this season - was also brought into the spotlight by Djed Spence's less-than-impressed reaction to being substituted.

Frank didn't see that - but he was clear on the overall picture.

"It's a step back today," he said, lamenting his side's inability to build on recent encouragement from games with Newcastle, Brentford and Slavia Prague.

There are now six days to address the wide range of problems before Spurs host Liverpool on Saturday. No quick fix? Frank needs to find solutions fast or Spurs' inconsistency could derail another Premier League season.

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Tottenham: Thomas Frank highlights a range of Spurs problems after 'step back' 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest

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Tottenham: Thomas Frank highlights a range of Spurs problems after 'step back' 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest - Sky Sports
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Individual errors, poor passing, losing duels and the squad's inability to respond correctly to setbacks were among the reasons Tottenham boss Thomas Frank listed for his side's 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

The Spurs head coach said there was "a hurricane inside me" as he described how he was trying to contain his emotions after a "burning annoying performance" led to a bad loss.

Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham - Match report and reaction

As it happened | Teams | Stats

That frustration boiled over during an interview with Sky Sports' Pat Davison, where Frank snapped back that Guglielmo Vicario's error against Fulham last month should not be compared to Forest's first goal, which he blamed on Archie Gray taking a touch from the goalkeeper's pass before being dispossessed.

While Tottenham came into the game on a three-match unbeaten run across all competitions, defeat at the City Ground means they have made their worst start to a Premier League season in 17 years.

After finishing 17th last season under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs are in the bottom half again, sitting 11th.

'No quick fix' and an ingrained issue

In his post-match press conference, Frank was asked if he is confident he'll be given time to get the club back on track.

"I think it's pretty evident, if no one gets the time, no one can turn this around," he said. "This is not a quick fix."

During his dissection of the performance, Frank made references to long-standing issues within this group, which struggled so badly in the league last season, despite their Europa League win.

Frank believes Spurs' reaction to conceding goals is a problem ingrained in the squad. "These setbacks can't affect us that much. It can't be one goal that makes it so disjointed," he said, when explaining how his side lost their way after Forest went 1-0 up.

"That's part of 'keep the structure, keep the gameplan, keep doing the right things'. That's not the first time we've seen that, this year, last year, whatever.

"That's something ongoing [he is working on with the squad], being more consistent in that."

Sloppy Spurs

Gray's mistake was the fifth time a Spurs player has made an error directly leading to an opposition goal in the Premier League this season. Only bottom-club Wolves (seven) have made more. Spurs have also made the most errors leading to opposition shots (20).

Spurs' sloppiness was a theme throughout the game on Sunday. Their passing accuracy of 79 per cent was their fourth-lowest total in the league this season.

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That contributed to Spurs managing to carve out just 0.37 worth of Expected Goals and striker Richarlison having just two touches in the opposition box all game. Spurs had just one shot on target.

"With all due respect, we're in it together, we win together, we lose together… But they need to be able to hit each other," said Frank about Spurs' passing. "That's nothing to do with structure.

"Simple passing. I think we lost the ball 20 times [from a] simple pass."

A lack of intensity

Out of possession? "We didn't win enough duels," said Frank.

Certainly, Forest won the intensity battle. "Go, go, go" was how two-goal Callum Hudson-Odoi described his team's approach to the match. They blitzed Spurs in running metrics, with the visitors posting figures which ranked among their lowest of the season.

The attitude of the Spurs squad - not for the first time this season - was also brought into the spotlight by Djed Spence's less-than-impressed reaction to being substituted.

Frank didn't see that - but he was clear on the overall picture.

"It's a step back today," he said, lamenting his side's inability to build on recent encouragement from games with Newcastle, Brentford and Slavia Prague.

There are now six days to address the wide range of problems before Spurs host Liverpool on Saturday. No quick fix? Frank needs to find solutions fast or Spurs' inconsistency could derail another Premier League season.

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Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs thrashed at City Ground as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario struggles again

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Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario endured a torrid afternoon at the City Ground as Tottenham suffered a 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Booed by his own supporters after his howler in a shambolic opening half against Fulham in which Spurs conceded twice in the first six minutes two weeks ago, Vicario had another disappointing game as his side missed out on the chance to secure a third straight win in all competitions for the first time under Thomas Frank.

From the off Spurs struggled to cope with Nottingham Forest's intensity. They were inches from the lead inside five minutes as Nicolo Savona's cross picked out the arriving Ibrahim Sangare, but the midfielder's header thumped the foot of the post as the visitors survived.

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Tottenham's undoing came through their own doing. Vicario's pass into Archie Gray, who was facing his own goal on the edge of his box, was a poor one, which didn't give his young team-mate much chance. Sangare nipped in and nicked it off the Spurs youngster before flicks the ball away from Vicario for Callum Hudson-Odoi to tap into an empty net.

Vicario's day didn't get any better after the break.

Hudson-Odoi's did, however, but the winger did not meant to find the back of the net with his attempted cross. Vicario misjudged the flight of the ball and it looped over the goalkeeper and into the far corner for the wforward's second goal of the afternoon.

Frank had seen enough and made a triple change as Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Palhinha replaced Djed Spence, Gray, Rodrigo Bentancur, but the desired change didn;t come for Spurs.

It was Forest who finished with a flourish as Sangare unleashed a stunning trike, which swerved away from Vicario and in off the inisde of the post as Sean Dyche's side moved five points clear of the relegation places.

'A worrying performance from Spurs'

Former Forest and Tottenham winger Andy Reid on Sky Sports:

"It was a worrying performance from Spurs.

"There were just starting to be some signs of a recovery with Thomas Frank looking like he was starting to impress himself on the club and this team.

"But they have turned in a performance like this where they haven't got going and not shown any desire. The body language didn't look good at all.

"Nottingham Forest have ran over the top of them and played better than them in every area of the game. Man for man, they were fitter and they have been better all over the pitch.

"Spurs got what they deserved from the game, which was nothing."

Story of the match in stats...

Dyche: When you take over, that's where you want to get to

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche to Sky Sports:

"The boys were outstanding from start to finish.

"Our shape was good, our pressing was good, recovery lines... so much we see as managers and coaches. And then the good stuff looked after itself. We know we've got talented players here, who want the freedom to play. But we need the framework to be right and it was today without a doubt.

"In your mind's eye, when you take over, that's where you want to get to.

"They're looking fitter, stronger - the way I like players fit - also showed some quality.

"Run, run and then we run again. It's not rocket science. Get players fit, in my world. Shape, organisation. Because if they've got talent, which I believe these have, it's building on the basics."

'Forest connections are building all the time'

Nottingham Forest goalscorer Callum Hudson-Odoi to Sky Sports:

"Our mentality from the start was go, go, go, 100 per cent. From start to finish every single person was working their socks off. You can tell we wanted it.

"Today was an outstanding performance from start to finish."

"You can see the connections are building more and more. We're improving every time we step out onto the pitch. We're enjoying our football."

What's coming up in the Premier League?

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C Palace vs Man City - Live match updates

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Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

Wharton with the ball forward and it was Dias at the back with a nervy moment as the City defence fail to clear. The linesman's flag just saves them.

Crystal Palace 0-0 Man City

Here they come...

Sky Sports' William Bitibiri at Selhurst Park:

"The players make their way out.

"We were treated to a nice reminder that Crystal Palace are the FA Cup winners by the stadium announcer as he read out the starting lineup.

"Not sure the Man City fans were best pleased about that. The City squad could help right the wrongs of that defeat in May with three points this afternoon. Let's see which way this one swings!"

Team news reminder

Crystal Palace: Henderson, Clyne, Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Mitchell, Wharton, Kamada, Pino, Sarr, Mateta.

Subs: Benítez, Devenny, Nketiah, Uche, Hughes, Esse, Clyne, Canvot, Sosa.

Man City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Nico, Bernardo, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Marmoush, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Khusanov, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis.

How to watch Palace v Man City

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Already a Sky Sports customer? Then the easiest and quickest way to watch this game is on the Sky Sports app.

Just scroll to the bottom of the homepage on the app and click the 'Watch' button to access all the Sky Sports channels.

Sky Sports customers who don't have the app, click here to download it 📱.

This afternoon's match officials

Referee: Darren England.

Assistants: Scott Ledger, Akil Howson.

Fourth official: Anthony Backhouse.

VAR: Matt Donohue.

Assistant VAR: Peter Wright.

Carra: Palace one of the best teams in the league

Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:

"Crystal Palace are one of the best teams in the Premier League.

"This is not a mid-table team near the top who shouldn't really be there.

"When you look at the underlying numbers, you see they are a top team.

"This is Crystal Palace's greatest ever team and their greatest ever manager.

"They are a proper outfit."

Jones Knows prediction

Crystal Palace have managed to score seven goals in the last four meetings with Manchester City, so the both teams to score angle is lighting up like a Christmas tree - but the market is fully aligned at a very skinny 4/9 with Sky Bet.

However, there is a smarter way to attack this angle.

The sharper play regarding goals is to back the players who score them better than anyone else in the Premier League in Erling Haaland and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who as a pair can be backed at 100/30 to both find the net through the BuildABet function with Sky Bet.

Haaland feels like a cheat code most weeks, but it's the other name on the ticket that unlocks the price. Mateta has quietly transformed from cult figure to legitimate Premier League hotshot, and the numbers back it up. In 2025 the two most prolific strikers in the Premier League are Haaland (23 goals) and Mateta (17).

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2

Premier League predictions and best bets: Sunderland to face reality check in Tyne-Wear derby? 7/1 best bet treble

Sky Sports

Man City's settled defence

Sky Sports' Nick Wright at Selhurst Park:

"Pep Guardiola made a habit of rotating his defenders in previous seasons but he seems to have settled on a clear preference this season.

"Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Nico O'Reilly start together for the seventh time in eight games.

"Others, such as Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis, appear to have fallen out of favour while John Stones continues to struggle with injury issues. He is not in the squad today."

Over to you Man City...

Sky Sports' William Bitibiri at Selhurst Park:

"Arsenal's late winner last night changed what this afternoon could have been for Man City.

"Had Wolves held on for the draw, City could have leapfrogged the table-topping Gunners for the first time this campaign.

"The race for the title is proving to be just that, but a win today will feel imperative for Pep Guardiola's side to keep up the pressure."

Palace's best ever start - Opta stats

Crystal Palace have 26 points after 15 Premier League games this season (W7 D5 L3). It's their best ever start to a campaign, and double the total they had at this stage last season (13).

They are the first side to have at least double the number of points from their previous campaign after 15 games since Newcastle in 2021-22 (10) and 2022-23 (30).

The Eagles have opened the scoring in the opening 10 minutes in four of their last six Premier League meetings with Man City but have failed to go on to win any of these (D1 L3).

Man City have lost just two of their last 20 Premier League games against Crystal Palace (W13 D5), with both defeats in that run coming at the Etihad Stadium.

Quicker than Haaland, O'Reilly is a unique left-back

The Radar column looks at Nico O'Reilly's growing importance to Pep Guardiola and the unique profile he brings to the left-back role for Manchester City.

Nico O'Reilly brings unique profile to full-back role for Man City, Ian Maatsen earns Aston Villa place - The Radar

Sky Sports

Is Pep letting the horses run free?

Sky Sports' William Bitibiri at Selhurst Park:

"When Rayan Cherki completed the move to Manchester City, it raised some eyebrows.

"That's no reflection of the France international's talent or potential, given his already lofty reputation since a teen, it was more given Pep Guardiola's track record with flair.

"Jack Grealish would be the most recent example. He arrived at the Etihad as one of the league's most exciting creators but quickly became shackled by the responsibility of the Guardiola machine.

"Cherki, though, despite Guardiola questioning some of his recent tricks, has managed to strike the balance of entertaining and doing his part for the side.

"The 22-year-old ranks first for big chances created per 90 (1.6) and expected assists per 90 (0.55), while he’s assisting a goal every 80 minutes (5 in 398 mins), the best ever ratio in a Premier League campaign.

"He'll be another to keep an eye on this afternoon. It's a tighter pitch here at Selhurst, will the tricks still be on display?"

Guardiola with Man City squad

Pep Guardiola was unable to attend Man City's pre-match press conference, with Kolo Toure filling in. But he's with the squad at Selhurst Park, as expected.

Glasner's Palace thrive out of possession

Seventeen of Crystal Palace’s last 20 Premier League wins have come when they’ve had lower than 50% possession, with 13 of those coming in 2025.

The last team to have more than 13 wins with the lower share of possession in a year was Newcastle in 2022 (14).

Last time out: Man City 3-0 Sunderland

Last chance to see Sarr before he's off to AFCON

Sky Sports' William Bitibiri at Selhurst Park:

"Ismaila Sarr returns to the starting lineup for City this afternoon after missing three games due to a knee injury. He makes his 100th Premier League appearance.

"His comeback is a welcome one, but it will be short-lived with the forward due to report for AFCON duty next week with Senegal.

"Oliver Glasner has spoken of how necessary Sarr is for his ability to stretch defences with runs in behind, something that few others in his squad can do for his side.

"The Austrian coach expressed a desire to dip into the market while Sarr is in Morocco; it remains to be seen whether that will happen.

"For City, Rayan Ait-Nouri, who hasn't had the start to life he would have hoped for since joining in the summer due to injuries, will be off to represent Algeria."

AFCON 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Man Utd's Bryan Mbeumo among UK-based players selected for tournament

Sky Sports

Doku absent for Man City

Jeremy Doku misses out for Manchester City. The winger is not in the squad as Tijani Reijnders comes into the starting line-up in the only change from the 3-0 win over Sunderland.

That means another outing for Pep Guardiola's first-choice back four of Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Nico O'Reilly.

Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden will play in support of Erling Haaland up front.

John Stones, Rodri and Mateo Kovacic remain absent.

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FA Cup third-round draw: Tottenham vs Aston Villa as holders Crystal Palace visit non-league Macclesfield

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FA Cup holders Crystal Palace have been handed a trip to sixth-tier Macclesfield in the third round of this year's competition, while Tottenham will take on Aston Villa.

Villa's trip to Tottenham is one of four all-Premier League ties, with Everton facing Sunderland, Newcastle taking on Bournemouth and Brighton travelling to Manchester United.

Record 14-time winners Arsenal head to Portsmouth while Chelsea travel across London to take on Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

Liverpool will play Barnsley at Anfield, while last season's runners-up, Manchester City, are at home to League One Exeter City.

FA Cup fixtures | Latest news

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Nottingham Forest are away to Championship side Wrexham, Brentford will travel to financially troubled Sheffield Wednesday, while there will also be a Brian Clough derby as Derby County take on Leeds United.

There was no dream Premier League tie for the lowest ranked team, Weston-super-Mare. They will visit Grimsby Town, while Boreham Wood will face either fellow non-league outfit Brackley Town or Burton Albion.

FA Cup third round draw in full - all ties to take place on weekend of January 10

Wolves vs Shrewsbury Town

Doncaster Rovers vs Southampton

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town

Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic

Ipswich Town vs Blackpool

Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest

Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea

Manchester City vs Exeter City

West Ham United vs QPR

Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford

Fulham vs Middlesbrough

Everton vs Sunderland

Liverpool vs Barnsley

Burnley vs Millwall

Norwich City vs Walsall

Portsmouth vs Arsenal

Derby County vs Leeds United

Swansea City vs West Brom

Salford City vs Swindon Town

Boreham Wood vs Brackley Town or Burton Albion

Grimsby Town vs Weston-super-Mare

Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers

Newcastle United vs Bournemouth

MK Dons vs Oxford United

Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City

Cambridge United vs Birmingham City

Bristol City vs Watford

Stoke City vs Coventry City

Macclesfield FC vs Crystal Palace

Manchester United vs Brighton

Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town

Key dates for the FA Cup 2025/26

Third round: Saturday January 10 2026

Fourth round: Saturday February 14 2026

Fifth round: Saturday March 7 2026

Quarter-finals: Saturday April 4 2026

Semi-finals: Saturday April 25 2026

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