Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham highlights as Kulusevski and ...
Hello and welcome to football.london's live coverage of Tottenham's Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest.
Fresh from their 4-1 triumph over Newcastle United last Sunday, Ange Postecoglou's team will be intent on making it back-to-back wins as they look to up the pressure on the top four.
It certainly won't be easy for Spurs, though, especially with the City Ground set to be a cauldron of noise as Steve Cooper's men play under the lights.
Forest's home record proved key to staying in the Premier League last term and they have already beaten high-flying Aston Villa on home soil this season.
Tottenham correspondents Alasdair Gold and Rob Guest are covering the game with all the build-up and the action as it happens on the pitch and reaction from the supporters and media.
Scroll down for all of our latest updates from the City Ground.
22:00Rob Guest
Tottenham win 2-0 at the City Ground.
21:48Alasdair Gold
Emerson replaces Son.
21:32KEY EVENT
Yves Bissouma sent off for Spurs after the referee is told to look at his monitor after a challenge. Looked like he was trying to block the pass but he's ended up catching Yates high up his leg. Hojbjerg replaces Richarlison.
21:26KEY EVENT
Spurs score a second goal. Two mistakes from Forest keeper Matt Turner as he first kicks the ball to Kulusevski and then parries the Swede's powerful shot into this net.
21:21KEY EVENT
Forest have the ball in the net courtesy of Elanga. However, the goal is ruled out for offside following a VAR check.
The attacker was one of a group of three Nottingham Forest players in the middle of the box queuing up to convert Neco Williams' inviting cross from the right flank.
He was a half a yard offside, though, and Spurs have got away with one.
21:10Rob Guest
Good start to the second half from the hosts as they create a chance for Willy Boly.
Anthony Elanga is the architect as he picks out the centre-back all on his own in the area but he blazes his effort way off target despite having time on the ball.
Big chance for Forest and one they should have really taken.
21:05Rob Guest
The second half is up and running.
Big 45 minutes coming up for Ange Postecoglou's men as they look to hold on to all three points.
20:52Rob Guest
Tottenham lead 1-0 at the break courtesy of Richarlison's header on the cusp of half-time.
The goal has come at the perfect time for Ange Postecoglou's men after struggling to fashion a number of meaningful chances in the first 45 minutes.
Forest have had a couple of openings of their own but nothing to really test Guglielmo Vicario in the Spurs goal.
20:51Alasdair Gold
Guglielmo Vicario 6
Pedro Porro 6
Cristian Romero 7
Ben Davies 7
Destiny Udogie 5
Pape Matar Sarr 5
Yves Bissouma 6
Dejan Kulusevski 7
Brennan Johnson 5
Richarlison 7
Son Heung-min 6
Subs
Oliver Skipp 5
20:48KEY EVENT
Richarlison scores in added time in the first half for Spurs. Kulusevski crosses in from the right and the Brazilian heads in his third goal in two games. They needed that in a tricky first half.
20:34Alasdair Gold
Brennan Johnson won't be playing any further part in this game after taking a big whack to his head in the Spurs box. Oliver Skipp coming on and Postecoglou telling Kulusevski to head over to the right. Johnson walks off to an ovation from the crowd, holding something to his head.
20:25Alasdair Gold
Brennan Johnson forces Turner into a flying save from his prodded shot and Ben Davies heads over from the resulting corner.
That came after Romero bailed out Sarr with a big challenge as Yates ran through on goal on to the young midfielder's sloppy pass. Second iffy pass of the night from the 21-year-old.
20:21Rob Guest
Forest have their first real opening of the game as Gibbs-White plays Elanga in on goal.
The ex-Manchester United attacker races past Romero and gets a shot away but it proves no trouble at all for Vicario.
However, it wouldn't have counted anyway had it gone in as the linesman raised his flag for offside seconds later.
That quick move from the hosts has certainly lifted the home crowd.
20:04Alasdair Gold
Cristian Romero plays a quick ball through the middle to Dejan Kulusevski and he picks out Son Heung-min with a clever reverse ball. The Spurs captain takes a touch but is denied by Matt Turner.
20:00Rob Guest
We're up and running at the City Ground.
Can Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham team make it back-to-back wins and up the pressure on the top four?
We'll find out across the next 90 minutes.
19:37Rob Guest
Destiny Udogie signed a bumper new contract at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this week.
The Italian left-back's new deal means he is now tied to the club until the summer of 2030.
Following Udogie putting pen-to-paper on fresh terms, we've taken a look at the next seven players who Ange Postecoglou and Spurs have to make a decision on their contracts and you can find them by heading right here.
19:16Rob Guest
You can now cast your vote for this year's Tottenham Hotspur Fans' Footballer of the Year for 2023.
Four players are in contention for the coveted prize and you can vote for your favourite by using the widget below.
So will it be Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, James Maddison or Guglielmo Vicario who triumphs as Spurs' best player over the past 12 months?
It's down to you decide.
19:09Rob Guest
Steve Cooper has also kept faith with the same starting XI from last weekend after recording a point at Wolves.
It is a huge game for Forest as they look to move away from the relegation zone and ensure Cooper remains in the hotseat following so much speculation of late regarding his future.
Here is the Nottingham Forest team to take on Spurs:
Nottingham Forest XI: Turner; Niakhate, Murillo, Boly; Williams, Mangala, Kouyate, Yates, Toffolo; Elanga, Gibbs-White
Subs: Odysseas, Wood, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Origi, Danilo, Montiel, Omobamidele, Aina
19:00KEY EVENT
Here is the Tottenham XI Ange Postecoglou has named for tonight's game against Nottingham Forest.
Having performed so well in the 4-1 drubbing of Newcastle United last Sunday, the team picks itself with all 11 players very much making their case to the head coach.
There is a change on the substitutes' bench, however, as Eric Dier replaces Giovani Lo Celso in the matchday squad as the Argentina international misses out at the City Ground through injury.
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18:29Rob Guest
Tottenham Hotspur Women are playing Arsenal at midday on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
We spoke to the remarkable Molly Bartrip about her battles in recent years and how she wants to change the game for the better before and after she's hung up her boots.
You can find that by heading right here.
18:11Rob Guest
Ange Postecoglou has joked that he has sent a letter to Santa Claus to get Tottenham's transfer business done early in January because of the club's current injury situation and the players he will lose next month to international competitions.
Already without a host of key players at present, the start of January will see Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr take part in the Africa Cup of Nations and Son Heung-min head off to the Asian Cup.
Knowing what they need in the January transfer market for quite some time now, all connected with Spurs will be hoping that the club can get some early deals over the line.
Read here.
17:52Rob Guest
Richarlison hitting the Tottenham goal trail really could have come at the perfect time for Ange Postecoglou.
Just unable to get going in a Spurs shirt following his switch from Everton, the Brazilian looked much better in terms of his play after undergoing groin surgery last month.
Given Son Heung-min will be heading off to the Asian Cup in January, Richarlison could well be the man to step up in his absence.
Read here.
17:25Rob Guest
Have some time ahead of this evening's 8pm kick-off? Well, why not have a listen to the latest episode of Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham.
There's plenty on the agenda in this week's podcast following Spurs' 4-1 hammering of Newcastle.
Richarlison's double, Pape Matar Sarr's performance, Pedro Porro thriving and Cristian Romero's tackle on Callum Wilson are just some of the topics up for discussion.
You can either listen to the latest episode of the podcast by clicking here or you can watch the show right here on YouTube.
17:04Rob Guest
Pedro Porro has enjoyed quite the season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Not in the starting XI for the first game of the campaign away at Brentford, the Spaniard has been a regular for Ange Postecoglou ever since the 2-2 draw in west London.
Last Sunday against Newcastle United was certainly one of his best displays in a Tottenham shirt as he wowed in defence and also going forward.
Right here we take a look at Porro's incredible development over the course of 2023 and what promises to be a very bright 2024.
16:52Rob Guest
So will Ange Postecoglou stick or twist with his Tottenham team against Nottingham Forest on Friday evening?
The head coach certainly has no reason to change his XI after last weekend's brilliant win over Newcastle United but he could possibly decide to spring a surprise.
Ahead of the game at the City Ground, our Tottenham Hotspur reporters at football.london have selected the team they would plump for to take on Steve Cooper's men.
Click here.
16:45Rob Guest
Ange Postecoglou was in front of the media at Hotspur Way on Thursday afternoon to speak about Tottenham's Premier League encounter against Nottingham Forest.
Asked about the latest on the injury front, Brennan Johnson's Forest return and Cristian Romero's challenge on Callum Wilson, there was plenty to discuss when previewing the game.
football.london were in attendance and asked the boss about Pedro Porro's fine form as well as when exactly Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma will head off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
You can find every word of what Postecoglou had to say in his press conference by clicking here.
16:18Rob Guest
Tottenham fans not attending this evening's game in Nottingham will be able to watch all the action unfold on Sky Sports main event and Premier League, with coverage commencing at 7pm.
Alternatively, you can keep with us right here in our live blog for updates from the game at the City Ground.
It promises to be a brilliant occasion under the lights and it's one you don't want to miss.
Rob Guest
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Tottenham's Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest.
It is another big game for Ange Postecoglou and his Spurs team as they look to build on last weekend's fantastic 4-1 demolition of Newcastle United.
Keep with us over the next few hours as we bring you all the latest ahead of the 8pm kick-off at the City Ground.
