Map shows how London could be in range of Iranian ballistic missiles as UK hits out at 'reckless threats'
Map shows how London could be in range of Iranian ballistic missiles
Some 10,000 fans lined the roads to welcome the team bus but Spurs could not get by Nottingham Forest in relegation six-pointer
Thousands of seats were left empty by full-time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Action Images via Reuters
Dom Smith
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau
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The sleepwalk towards relegation continues for Tottenham.
A bruising 3-0 defeat against a Nottingham Forest side who began the day a point and a place below them saw Spurs thrashed in a relegation six-pointer as they dropped to 17th.
It seemed they may have turned a corner after their 1-1 draw at Anfield and first victory under Igor Tudor in beating Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, and yet they are now back to square one and facing the drop with just seven games remaining.
Goals from Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi punished Spurs in their own back yard.
Brutal defeat stings for Spurs
Right from the moment around 10,000 Spurs fans lined up on the High Road to greet the team bus on a momentous day in the sunshine, it was unmistakably clear that this was a match where the result mattered far, far more than the performance.
How wrong it all went for Tottenham.
They were playing well and had been the better team when they fell behind to Igor Jesus’s header from an unmarked position from a corner as half-time approached. It knocked the stuffing out of a nervy Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where the anxiety was palpable but the atmosphere had been good.
Tottenham fans were out in force to welcome the team bus ahead of their defeat by Nottingham Forest
Getty Images
The second half was far worse. Spurs looked out of ideas and cripplingly short of a cutting edge. A Tottenham player taking too long to move the ball on would be met with groans — and that happened all too often.
Spurs suffered the ignominy, after Eberechi Eze, of once again conceding a goal to a player they thought they were about to sign in the summer when Morgan Gibbs-White, totally unmarked, stuck the ball not past Guglielmo Vicario but through him.
When Awoniyi made it three on 87 minutes, queue the mass exodus as fans headed for the exits. In truth, though, that had begun before the 70th minute on an afternoon where Spurs needed to be front-footed but were instead one-paced, toothless, and leaky.
Half-time tactical switch backfires
It made plenty of sense to start with a back four and Richarlison and Dominic Solanke in a front two following the win over Atletico, and Spurs had been the better team at half-time despite trailing.
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Why, then, Tudor felt he needed to switch things up at the interval is anyone’s guess. It didn't work out at all.
Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie came on for Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence but both were error-prone and guilty of looking off the pace.
Off the pace: Lucas Bergvall
Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
On one promising run forward by Cristian Romero, Bergvall got in his way. Udogie, meanwhile, looked rusty following injury and was miles off it.
Spurs lacked a midfield link and were too laboured in bringing the ball forward from defence into midfield and into attack. Forest defended resolutely and with sturdy organisation while also maintaining an offensive bite Spurs could only dream of. Tudor’s half-time changes backfired.
A new injury worry
Mathys Tel had been the brightest player in white with the possible exception of Archie Gray. He had taken it upon himself to be the man Tottenham were relying on to progress the ball up the pitch, taking calculated risks and beating his man time and again down the left.
The sight of play being held up while he received treatment will therefore have been the last thing Tottenham fans wanted to see.
In a season where the Spurs have been ravaged by injuries, Tel was just about the last senior outfield player yet to have pulled up. No longer. Off he went after 67 minutes, moving gingerly and replaced by the ineffective Randal Kolo Muani, a rare livewire forced off.
Spurs fans will be hoping and praying Tel is fine. Seven crucial games await, and they need his attacking threat when so few others are pulling their weight.
Injury worry: Mathys Tel
REUTERS
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Map shows how London could be in range of Iranian ballistic missiles as UK hits out at 'reckless threats'
Map shows how London could be in range of Iranian ballistic missiles
Map shows how London could be in range of Iranian ballistic missiles as UK hits out at 'reckless threats'
Map shows how London could be in range of Iranian ballistic missiles
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Spurs meet relegation rivals in huge game at bottom of Premier League
Tottenham face Nottingham Forest on Sunday
ES Composite
Oli Gent
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau
I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.
Tottenham face relegation rivals Nottingham Forest in a huge game in their battle to stay up in the Premier League.
Spurs are just one point above the bottom three but Igor Tudor’s side are boosted by their Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
With West Ham also in action at Aston Villa on Sunday, defeat for Spurs could see them drop in the relegation zone for the first time this season.
But victory would be a major boost to their survival chances.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game…
Date, kick-off time and venue
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest is scheduled for a 2.15pm GMT kick-off on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
The match will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Where to watch Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage starting at 2pm GMT ahead of the 2.15pm kick off.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest team news
Guglielmo Vicario will start in goal for Tottenham, before undergoing a hernia operation next week.
Conor Gallagher, Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall all returned from injury off the bench against Atletico Madrid, as the injury problems as Spurs begin to ease.
Joao Palhinha was able to train with his team-mates on Friday after concussion, while Spurs Dominic Solanke is expected to be fit to return.
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Forest needed extra-time and penalties to see off FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday, when Callum Hudson-Odoi was missing and Vitor Pereira clearly had one eye on Spurs as he made nine changes.
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest prediction
Spurs will be fine this season if they play like they did against Atletico but Forest are tricky customers, as Manchester City found out.
It really does depend on which Spurs side turns up and whether they will be able to channel that European fight into domestic competition.
They are going to need to - with their top-flight status at stake - but will they?
Tottenham to win, 2-1.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Tottenham wins: 59
Forest wins: 40
Draws: 29
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest match odds
Tottenham to win: 29/20
Forest to win: 2/1
Draw: 23/10
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
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