BBC

Nottingham Forest are the counter-attack kings and they have the tools to get another win like the one they got over Spurs at the City Ground in December, where they had 30% of possession but won 1-0.

Forest have hit a bit of a blip of late, though, and they don't appear to be quite the same force they were a few weeks ago.

They are desperate for a win to get their top-five bid back on track and Nuno Espirito Santo's would love to get it on his return to Tottenham, where he did not last long as manager, but a draw feels more likely to me.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

'Chelsea's fixtures among the toughest'

Alan Shearer

Premier League winning striker for BBC Sport

It is hard enough to predict results in the Premier League anyway, but at this stage of the season it is even more difficult.

Chelsea's game against Liverpool on 4 May is a good example of that. Liverpool can clinch the Premier League title next weekend, when they play Tottenham, and we don't know what their attitude will be like after that.

Even with that in mind, though, I still look at Chelsea's fixtures as being among the toughest, just because they have got to travel to two of their rivals, Newcastle and Forest, as part of their run-in.

It's a good sign that they still got the result they needed at Craven Cottage but they only got back into the game when Tyrique George came on with about 12 minutes to go - they would not have won the game without him.

Nicolas Jackson has not scored since mid-December but their main man is Cole Palmer and, for several weeks now, he has not been firing at all.

They got the job done on Sunday because a young kid came off the bench to rescue them, but you have to think that to make the top five they will have to get Palmer scoring again.

Why top-five race is 'impossible to call'

Alan Shearer

Premier League winning striker for BBC Sport

There are five teams going for the three Champions League places behind Liverpool and Arsenal, with only two points between them, and this weekend showed why it is impossible to call.

Going into the latest round of games, the way I saw it there were two in-form teams, Aston Villa and Newcastle, and two sides, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, who were having a bit of a wobble.

Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, a lot changed. Villa battered Newcastle, and deserved it too, while Chelsea were 1-0 down with less than 10 minutes to go at Fulham but somehow turned it around to win.

The picture is going to keep on changing too - Manchester City play Villa on Tuesday, when I guess the other three teams watching on will be hoping for a draw - and this is what it is going to be like now every week between now and the end of the season.

Someone will have a bad result and appear to be out of it, and someone else will win and look like they are favourites, but there are plenty of twists and turns to come.

Can Sheff Utd bounce back in promotion race?

Burnley v Sheffield United (17:30 BST)

Sheffield United looked to be in driver's seat and heading for automatic promotion heading into April.

But three successive defeats to Oxford United, Millwall and Plymouth Argyle saw them fall from first to third in the Championship.

Chris Wilder's side returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City on Friday, with the manager claiming his side was "alive and kicking".

The Blades will have a chance to cut the five-point gap to second-placed Burnley when they travel to Turf Moor later today, with two games left of the regular season.

Wilder's side will then face Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers in the hope that they can pounce if one of the top two slip up during the final games.

Is PSR going away anytime soon?

Premier League

In short, not yet.

The profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) are to be retained for next season after it was agreed so by the Premier League clubs earlier this year.

It was anticipated that the clubs would adopt a new financial model for the 2025-26 campaign, but there will now be a delay to its implementation.

The clubs did not formally vote on replacing PSR with the squad cost ratio (SCR) system of financial control - which is currently being trialled alongside top to bottom anchoring rules (TBA) - but were instead asked for their views.

Almost all clubs reportedly said they were happy with SCR, apart from one unnamed club who said they preferred PSR.

However, there was disagreement over when SCR should be introduced. The debate was said to be positive and cordial.

How good have Leeds and Burnley been this season?

It's fair to say Leeds United and Burnley have been a cut above the rest in the Championship.

Sheffield United were also giving the duo company at the top throughout the season but the Blades' campaign has withered in recent weeks and they will have to settle for a third place if they don't get a result against the Clarets today.

So how good have the Championship top two been as they look to secure promotion later today?

Put simply, Leeds have been the best attacking unit in the league and Burnley have the most solid defence.

Daniel Farke's Leeds have scored 83 goals in 43 games this season - 17 more than Norwich City, who are second in that list.

Burnley, meanwhile, have conceded the least number of goals. Scott Parker's side have let in just 14 with Leeds, who have conceded 29, the second best.

The Clarets could also make it 31 regular-season Championship games unbeaten today, closing in on the 33-match record set by Reading in 2005-06.

Which clubs have been punished under PSR?

Premier League

Everton were the first club to be charged by the Premier League for PSR breaches in 2023.

An independent commission found the Toffees posted losses amounting to £124.5m to 2021-22 and docked the club 10 points, which was later reduced to six on appeal.

Everton were sanctioned again in January 2024, alongside Nottingham Forest.

The Toffees received an additional two-point deduction for being £16.6m over the loss limit for the three-year period to 2022-23.

Forest, meanwhile, were deducted four points after the club's losses to 2022-23 were found to have breached the threshold of £61m by £34.5m.

Leicester City escaped a points deduction for a breach in the three years to 30 June 2023, successfully arguing the Premier League had no power to punish them as they were already in the EFL at the time of the charge.

Kirsty Hanson scored a stoppage-time winner as second-bottom Aston Villa beat Tottenham to ease their relegation fears.

Spurs looked to have secured a battling point as goals from Jess Naz and Ella Morris helped them recover from 2-0 down following earlier efforts from Anna Patten and Ebony Salmon.

However, Villa substitute Hanson, who also scored in their 2-1 victory over Liverpool last time out, struck in the 91st minute to secure back-to-back wins for Natalia Arroyo's side for the first time this season.

The crucial success moved Villa seven points clear of bottom club Crystal Palace with three games left, while Spurs are two points clear in ninth spot.

In a scrappy encounter in the capital, Villa made the breakthrough in the 30th minute when Patten, on her 26th birthday, headed in from close range after Rachel Daly's header rebounded off the bar.

Salmon doubled their lead 11 minutes after half-time, finding herself one-on-one with Lize Kop and beating the Dutch goalkeeper with a low strike.

However, Spurs, who haven't won a league match since January, responded superbly.

Naz produced a poacher's finish in the six-yard box from a 65th-minute corner, before Morris levelled in the 70th minute, bursting on to a speculative long ball and rounding Villa keeper Sabrina D'Angelo, who had come charging out of her goal, and sliding the ball in from a tight angle.

However, Hanson broke Tottenham hearts, breaking through the home defence on to a Daly pass, before slotting a low finish into the bottom corner.

More to follow.

Player of the match

Number: 20 K. Hanson

Average rating 8.91

Number: 7 J. Naz

Average Rating: 6.84

Number: 24 D. Spence

Average Rating: 6.37

Number: 11 O. Holdt

Average Rating: 6.37

Number: 3 E. Morris

Average Rating: 6.24

Number: 25 E. Summanen

Average Rating: 6.20

Number: 1 L. Kop

Average Rating: 6.15

Number: 9 B. England

Average Rating: 6.13

Number: 29 A. Neville

Average Rating: 5.78

Number: 5 M. Bartrip

Average Rating: 5.77

Number: 10 Maite Oroz

Average Rating: 5.55

Number: 17 M. Thomas

Average Rating: 5.50

Number: 13 M. Vinberg

Average Rating: 5.47

Number: 12 J. Rybrink

Average Rating: 5.39

Number: 31 L. Gunning-Williams

Average Rating: 5.13

Number: 23 R. Ayane

Average Rating: 5.00

Number: 20 K. Hanson

Average Rating: 8.91

Number: 4 A. Patten

Average Rating: 8.63

Number: 17 E. Salmon

Average Rating: 8.50

Number: 5 L. Staniforth

Average Rating: 8.39

Number: 9 R. Daly

Average Rating: 8.37

Number: 15 L. Parker

Average Rating: 7.88

Number: 7 M. Kearns

Average Rating: 7.88

Number: 25 M. Taylor

Average Rating: 7.83

Number: 16 N. Maritz

Average Rating: 7.71

Number: 23 C. Grant

Average Rating: 7.59

Number: 22 J. Baijings

Average Rating: 7.47

Number: 33 M. Pacheco

Average Rating: 7.41

Number: 28 Gabi Nunes

Average Rating: 7.31

Number: 1 S. D'Angelo

Average Rating: 7.06

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

Related topics

Tottenham have won each of their last three home league games against Nottingham Forest, having won just one of their previous 11 against them prior (D2 L8).

Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win in the reverse fixture ended a six-game losing streak against Spurs in the Premier League. They last did the league double over them in the 1996-97 campaign.

Spurs have lost their last two Premier League games played on Easter Monday, with both of these defeats coming at home – 1-2 vs Manchester United in 2006 and 1-2 vs Norwich in 2012.

Nottingham Forest have lost just two of their last 35 league games played on Easter Monday (W21 D12), while in the top-flight they’re unbeaten in 16 (W13 D3) since a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in 1966.

Tottenham Hotspur have lost 17 Premier League matches in 2024-25, their most in one season since the 2003-04 campaign (19). Manager Ange Postecoglou is one of three Spurs bosses to lose 17+ games in a season, along with Osvaldo Ardiles in 1993-94 (19) and Gerry Francis in 1996-97 (18).

Nottingham Forest have lost each of their last two Premier League matches, having won three in a row beforehand. Only once under Nuno Espirito Santo have they suffered three defeats in a row, doing so in February and March last season.

Since Tottenham hammered Manchester City 4-0 on 23 November, only Ipswich Town (13), Leicester City (8) and Southampton (6) have picked up fewer points than Spurs (18), who have lost 12 out of 20 games since beating the reigning champions (W5 D3).

Tottenham Hotspur have lost 16 of their last 20 Premier League matches against teams starting the day in the top half of the table (W3 D1) and have lost eight out of nine (D1) since winning 4-0 against 2nd place Man City in November.

Jota Silva has scored in each of his last two away Premier League games for Nottingham Forest, both as a substitute; all three of his goals in the competition have been off the bench, scoring those from 13 shots, while in five games as a starter he’s had eight shots without finding the net.

See you soon

That's all we have for you today in the way of Women's Super League action.

You can find the match reports from Man City's draw with Everton and Aston Villa's win at Tottenham, plus any other reaction and news, over on the BBC Sport Women's Football index.

Many thanks as always for joining us and see you next time!

Before you go...

BBC Three

The women's super league reigning champions are next in league action on Wednesday night as they host Crystal Palace at Kingsmeadow.

That game is being shown live on BBC Three from 19:05 BST, with live updates available as ever here on the BBC Sport website.

A key game that will impact the title race and the relegation battle - one you don't want to miss.

Post

In case those two WSL games weren't enough to whet your footballing appetite for today, my colleagues Emma Smith and Emma Sanders are across Chelsea's huge Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona for you.

You can find all of the build up, coverage and reaction from that game here.

Table talk

Here's how today's two results have impacted the Women's Super League table.

Man City fail to make the most of neighbours United's draw at West Ham yesterday, so they now sit seven points off the Champions League places with just three games left to play.

Aston Villa remain in 11th place on goal difference but that huge win at Tottenham sees them put an extra cushion between themselves and rock bottom Crystal Palace.

They are seven clear of the Eagles with just three games left to play.

Post

FT: Tottenham 2-3 Aston Villa

So in the end Tottenham's valiant second half fightback was in vain as they were undone on the counter.

Their league winless streak in the month of April stretches to: P11 D4 L7.

The sooner this disappointing season ends the better for Robert Vilahamn and his players.

FULL-TIME

Tottenham 2-3 Aston Villa

It's a big, big win for Aston Villa as Kirsty Hanson's winning goal moves them seven points clear of the relegation spot with three games left to play.

They've won back to back league games for the first time since January 2024 and in doing so take a massive step towards securing their top flight status for another year.

GOAL - Tottenham 2-3 Aston Villa

Kirsty Hanson (90+1 mins)

Surely the winner for Villa!

Kirsty Hanson shoulders the "super sub" tag yet again as she runs free of the Tottenham defence before sliding a low finish into the bottom corner beyond Lize Kop.

That could be two winning goals in as many weeks for the Scotland international.

Post

Tottenham 2-2 Aston Villa

Kirsty Hanson does well to get to the byeline but her cut back sails over everyone in claret and blue in the middle.

Chasity Grant fires it back towards the six yard box but Missy Bo Kearns can't get enough purchase on her header to send it goalwards.

Post

Tottenham 2-2 Aston Villa

Tottenham keeper Lize Kop is down and needs a bit of treatment for what looks like a foot injury.

Both managers have called their players over to the touchline for a quick chat as we head into the final five minutes.

Post

Tottenham 2-2 Aston Villa

If it stays like this Tottenham will have won 16 points from losing positions this season. Since the start of last season only Manchester City (19) and Arsenal (17) have won more points from losing positions in the WSL.

On the other side of the coin Aston Villa have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side (34), soon to be 36 if this ends level.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to take on Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final of the Europa League.

The Norwegian club are second in the top-flight in Norway. They finished ninth in the Europa League table after having beat the likes of Besiktas and Porto, before conquering Olympiakos in the Round of 16 (4-2 on aggregate). Then they beat Italian club Lazio after penalties.

Bodo Glimt were in the second division less than eight years ago and have already beaten the likes of Jose Mourinho's AS Roma and Scottish giants Celtic during the 2021-22 season.

They are the first Norwegian side to reach a European men's semi-final, while they have won eight of their last ten two-legged European ties.

Speaking after his team's quarter-final penalty shootout win over Lazio, boss Kjetil Knutsen said: "I don't believe in miracles, I believe in our journey. Today, the magic was with us. We played an extraordinary match and we're incredibly proud to be in the semi-finals."

Under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecogolou says "you're going to have to put up with me for a bit longer" as he praises his players and staff for their 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt which heloed them into the semi-finals of the Europa League.

'Europa League winner looks good on a CV'

Sami Mokbel Q&A

Sami Mokbel

BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

Question from Paul: All 3 managers of Spurs, Man Utd and Chelsea have been under fire this season. Which one benefits the most European cup win?

Excellent question. They obviously all stand to gain from winning a trophy. The glory and gratification that comes from winning a European competition is undeniable. But for Postecoglou, while it may not keep him in a job at Tottenham, it will enhance his reputation ahead of a return to management should he leave north London.

Europa League winner looks good on a CV and will certainly open doors for Postecoglou elsewhere. And the satisfaction he'll get from walking off into the sunset by maintaining his record of winning a trophy in his second season at every club he has manager will be huge.

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What is Bodo/Glimt's record in Europe?

Tottenham v Bodo/Glimt (20:00 BST)

Bodo/Glimt only qualified for Europe six times before 2020, but this is their fifth straight season playing in Europe.

In the 2021-22 Conference League, they beat a Roma side managed by Jose Mourinho 6-1, before overcoming a Celtic team managed by current Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou in the knockout round play-offs - winning 5-1 on aggregate.

The following season they played in all three Uefa competitions, losing both their Europa League group games against Arsenal. They lost in the Conference League knockout round play-offs - and again in 2023-24 - so this season's run has surpassed even their own fans' wildest expectations.

Bodo/Glimt finished ninth in the Europa League's league phase, where they lost 3-2 at Manchester United. They then knocked out Twente and Olympiakos before beating Lazio on penalties to become the first Norwegian team to reach the semi-finals of a European men's competition.

'They should not be where they are now'

Simon Stone & Sami Mokbel Q&A

Simon Stone

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Question: Will winning the Europa League or not determine Man Utd's transfer plans?

Manchester United officials will tell you there is a plan for transfers if they win the Europa League and one if they don’t. That is fairly obvious. What they are less keen to talk about is the financial impact of no Europe.

The level of players you can buy has to be lower because there is not as much money available and you can’t offer a place in the Champions League. Then, I guess, it will come down to whether United go after the same level of player – but fewer of them – and it would be more expensive, or recruit younger players from a level below. The key is getting it right.

Recruitment, as we are all aware, is not something Manchester United have been particularly good at for many years now. There is no quick fix here. It is going to take years for United to be really competitive at the top end of the league. But even with the current squad, they should not be where they are now.

'This trip is for everyone in the same situation as me'

Tottenham v Bodo/Glimt (20:00 BST)

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Bodo/Glimt fan Anders Karlsen has a fear of flying so is "really proud" to have completed the massive drive to London for tonight's game with Tottenham.

"This is the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life really," he told 5 Live Breakfast earlier.

"The reason behind my trip is actually mental health. Because of my anxiety I cannot take airplanes, I have lost a lot of my dreams – things that I have wanted to do but have not been able to because of my anxiety.

"So this trip is not only for me, it is also for everyone in the same situation as me. I want to show them everything is possible so whether the game goes this or that way, I don’t know… I just know we’re going to thrash Tottenham next Thursday so hopefully we get a good result tonight and we go through to the final."

But if Bodo/Glimt do make it to the final in Bilbao, Anders says there is "no chance" he will make the journey all the way to Spain.

Post

Ben Ramsdale

BBC Sport journalist

Rate then, you've got me for the last hour.

I've been out in the sun and feel dazed and don't really know what's going on.

I feel like a supply teacher, you could message me and tell me we're covering something completely different and I'd probably just go with it.

Europa League stuff I think - I'll try and crack on.

Bit more background on tonight's games and then a look back at some #classic semi-finals I reckon.

Bodo/Glimt makes mammoth car journey to London

Tottenham v Bodo/Glimt (20:00 BST)

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Anders Karlsen is a big Bodo/Glimt fan with a fear of flying. That makes getting to away games tricky when Bodo is more than 500 miles north of Oslo on the Norwegian coast, but Anders has managed to drive to London for tonight's game.

He set out on Sunday, driving to Norway's capital Oslo, then travelled via Sweden, Denmark, Germany and a short visit to Belgium before reaching France, where he took a ferry to England.

Last night he arrived in London after a journey of about 1,850 miles and earlier toady he spoke to 5 Live Breakfast all about it.

Asked it if was worth it, he said: "Well, I have to drive the whole way back again so we’ll see when I get home, but for now it’s definitely worth it, yeah.

"I have never done a road trip this long before. I have driven from Bodo to Oslo, but the funny thing is, from Bodo to Oslo takes the same time as Oslo to London."

'An awful season from virtually any standpoint'

Simon Stone Q&A

Simon Stone

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Question: With such bad league campaigns will Spurs or Man Utd think it's a successful season if they win the Europa League? Or is there going to be an overall sense of disappointment given how bad the league has been for both?

I suspect they would think they had got away with one. You cannot deliver the results and performances those two sides have over a 38-game season and feel satisfied. It has been an awful season from virtually any standpoint.

However, in Europe they have delivered. I think they have benefited from the fact no teams dropped into the competition from the Champions League after the group phase as it means the overall standard is not as high.

I have to be honest, I did not expect Tottenham to get through against Eintracht Frankfurt but they did and you have to make them favourites to reach the final, even though Bodo/Glimt are a far better side than most give them credit for.

As for Manchester United. Well, who knows? They were excellent overall against Lyon but contrived to throw away victory in France and then capitulate from a winning position at Old Trafford. I suspect Athletic Bilbao will be their biggest test.

If either English club wins the tournament, there will have been moments of genuine excellence. But they don’t make up for an entire season of awful performances on the domestic front.

'There will be players fully behind Postecoglou'

Sami Mokbel Q&A

Sami Mokbel

BBC Sport Senior football correspondent answering your questions

Question: James Maddison talked a good game yesterday in his news conference and says the players are all behind Ange. Do you think it's true and why then are some performances (Liverpool last Sunday) so weak and lacking passion?

As is the case at all clubs, there will be players fully behind Postecoglou and others who will need convincing.

It's only natural for players to have doubts about their manager following such a poor season.

Equally, and this is not to doubt Maddison's comments, what is he supposed to say in public?!

The celebrations on the pitch after the win in Frankfurt suggests the team are generally behind the manager. But we aren't fully party to what happens behind closed doors.

'Current indications are that Postecoglou will leave Tottenham regardless'

Sami Mokbel Q&A

Sami Mokbel

BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

Question: Does Ange need to win the Europa League to keep his job? And even if he does, is it enough? 19 league defeats this season is hard to defend?

My information is that while winning the Europa League will be a factor in determining Postecoglou’s future, the current indications are that he will leave Tottenham regardless of the outcome of their European campaign.

The Premier League form, which has been abysmal, will be a key consideration here.

Nineteen defeats for a squad of Spurs’ quality isn’t good enough.

The powerbrokers at Spurs know that. The other factor here is Postecoglou’s connection with supporters. A significant section of fans have turned on Postecoglou. Once that happens, it’s hard to turn round.

At this point, it would be more of a shock if Postecoglou was to remain.

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Tottenham Hotspur and Bodø/Glimt have never previously faced each other in any competition. Spurs have won all four of their previous European games against Norwegian teams, beating Lyn 6-3 (away) and 6-0 (home) in the 1972-73 UEFA Cup and Tromsø 3-0 (home) and 2-0 (away) in the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League.

Bodø/Glimt have lost all three of their European meetings with English clubs, losing home and away against Arsenal in the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League, while they lost 3-2 away at Man Utd earlier this campaign in the group stages.

This is Tottenham Hotspur’s ninth major European semi-final and first since the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League against Ajax. They’ve lost the first leg of their last two semi-finals (1-2 vs Hajduk Split in 1983-84 UEFA Cup, 0-1 vs Ajax in 2019) but recovered each time to reach the final.

Bodø/Glimt are the first Norwegian side in European football history to reach the semi-final of a major competition. It’s the first time there will be a country’s team represented in the final four for the first time since Ukraine’s Dynamo Kyiv reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 1998-99.

Including qualifiers, Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten in their last 19 home matches in European competitions (W15 D4) since losing 1-0 to RB Leipzig in February 2020. It’s the longest ongoing run of any English side who has featured in Europe this season.

Bodø/Glimt have lost each of their last three away UEFA Europa League matches, all in the knockout stages, and have won just once away from home in 10 attempts (D3 L6), a 2-1 win at Braga in the group stage this season. The only two teams to lose the away leg of the last 16, quarter-final and semi-final and reach a Europa League final are Ajax in 2016-17 and Rangers in 2021-22.

Bodø/Glimt have made 296 tackles in this season’s UEFA Europa League, the most by a side in one season since 2017-18, when Marseille (309) and FC Red Bull Salzburg (346) made that many. Midfielder Patrick Berg has made a record 63 tackles this season, although he is suspended for this first leg.

Tottenham Hotspur have given 36 UEFA Europa League appearances to teenagers this season, the most by an English club in a season, and 26 starts by teenagers are the joint most with Man Utd in 2019-20.

Dominic Solanke has been involved in seven UEFA Europa League goals this season (3 goals, 4 assists), the most by a Spurs player in a campaign since Carlos Vinicius in 2020-21 (6 goals, 3 assists). The only Englishmen with more in one season for any team are James Tavernier for Rangers in 2021-22 (7 goals, 2 assists) and Bobby Zamora for Fulham in 2009-10 (6 goals, 2 assists).

Bodø/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen is the second Norwegian manager to take charge of a UEFA Europa League semi-final, along with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019-20 and 2020-21 for Man Utd. Norwegian managers have lost all eight Europa League games against English teams, however.

"You're going to have to put up with me for a little bit longer."

On Wednesday, Ange Postecoglou admitted to having "no idea" if he would still be in a job following the Europa League quarter-final second leg trip to Eintracht Frankfurt.

But, following Thursday's 1-0 victory in Germany, Tottenham are through to a semi-final against Norway's Bodo/Glimt and have a first trophy in 17 years in their sights.

"Our fans have been through a tough time. Hopefully this gives them something to look forward to," said Postecoglou, whose Spurs side are 15th in the Premier League.

"I'm the same coach that I was yesterday. The players have never lost belief. People like to mock and diminish my achievements but I'll leave that there.

"I don't care, it doesn't bother me, it doesn't affect what I do. For me, it's always about the dressing room. Do the players believe? Do the staff believe?

"That's much more important than what others may make of me.

"So, unfortunately for a lot of you, you're going to have to put up with me for a little bit longer."

Despite being on the way to equalling their lowest Premier League finish, set in 1994, Postecoglou said he never lost faith in his players and feels his players have kept faith in him.

"They've been so united in believing in what we're trying to achieve here," the Australian manager said. "And that is what gave me heart all along that if we got our own slice of luck in terms of getting some players back [from injury], that I really believed this team could achieve. That is what keeps driving me.

"Not at any stage have I felt they lost any belief in me or what we're doing. That is crucial when you're having a difficult season, but there is also a season of opportunity there."