Tottenham suffered their ninth Premier League loss in 18 video games this season as Antony Elanga’s first-half purpose noticed Nottingham Forest climb as much as third within the Premier League desk.
Right here’s 5 issues we discovered from the sport, from Hayters TV’s Dan Bennett on the Metropolis Floor…
Magnificant Murillo so essential to Forest’s success
Not for the primary time this season, central defender Murillo put in a superb efficiency for Nottingham Forest. His mixture of tempo, energy and aggressiveness, in addition to a great understanding of the sport, definitely helps Forest to play the way in which they do. Their direct and fast counter assaults can go away them uncovered at instances if they offer it away when gamers are flooding ahead, and having Murillo on the again to chop out the hazard is essential for Nuno’s aspect. He stopped so a lot of Tottenham’s assaults in Forest’s 1-0 win and was an actual distinction maker in a carefully contested sport.
High quality on the again proves to be the distinction
It was not simply Murillo who made the distinction for Forest, nonetheless. The entire of the again 4 and the goalkeeper had been essential in serving to their aspect hold a clear sheet. Spurs had been all the time going to have moments of hazard given the way in which they play and the standard they’ve in assault, however Murillo and co had been bodily robust, received so many duels in and round their very own field and stopped Spurs getting their photographs off from harmful positions. And after they did break via, goalkeeper Mats Sels, who can be having a terrific season, was there to maintain the ball out of the online.
Tottenham, then again, had been punished from some poor defending which allowed Forest to take the lead, with Morgan Gibbs-White allowed an excessive amount of house to run into and Future Udogie’s determination to try to play Anthony Elanga offside punished, with the winger working via on purpose and slotting previous previous Fraser Forster.
Johnson fails to make his former membership pay
Sels’ greatest affect on the sport was to maintain out former Forest man Brennan Johnson not as soon as, not twice, however thrice. He made two good stops from the ahead within the first half, making a sensible low save and tipping one other one over the bar, earlier than his finest second of the sport within the second half, dashing out to disclaim Johnson after the ball had fallen to him within the field. Spurs’ greatest possibilities all fell to the Welshman, who endured a irritating afternoon in entrance of purpose.
Maddison dropped once more
James Maddison had 12 purpose involvements in 17 Premier League video games this season going into the sport, however has endured a irritating season having discovered himself out and in of the beginning 11 below Ange Postecoglou. He was neglected of the group once more towards Forest, approaching within the sixty fourth minute however was not in a position to make a significant distinction for his aspect. Postecoglou was maybe understandably cautious of Forest’s counter-attacking menace, with Maddison not in a position to supply a lot defensively, however they definitely missed his finish high quality within the last third.
Sensible Boxing Day leisure
The festive fixtures can typically be drab affairs with tiredness throughout a busy interval of the season an element, however this was something however. Each side confirmed an actual willingness to assault, with Spurs taking part in of their standard front-foot fashion and Forest taking the prospect to counter shortly after they received the ball again. It made for nice leisure and there actually ought to have been extra targets.