Tottenham’s relegation fears deepen as Forest cruise to massive victory

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Tottenham Hotspur’s worst league run in 91 years continued in devastating fashion as Nottingham Forest secured a 3-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a result that plunges the north London club deeper into the Premier League relegation mire.

The defeat leaves Spurs in 17th place, now just one point above 18th-placed West Ham United, while Forest climbed to 16th. For a club that has not been relegated since 1977, the prospect of dropping out of England’s top flight has become alarmingly real.

The scale of Tottenham’s crisis was underscored before a ball was kicked. The hosts entered the match as the only side in the Premier League without a league victory in 2026, having recorded five draws and seven defeats from their 12 league matches this calendar year. Their winless run in the Premier League now stretches to 13 games, their longest such sequence since 1935.

Historical precedent offered little comfort. Only three Premier League sides have endured longer winless runs from the start of a calendar year: Sunderland in 2002-03, Derby County in 2007-08 and Middlesbrough in 2016-17. All three were relegated.

For interim manager Igor Tudor, who took over following Thomas Frank’s departure in February, the result represented a bitter setback after encouraging signs in recent outings. Tudor had overseen a battling 1-1 draw at Liverpool and secured his first win, a 3-2 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek. But those performances counted for nothing as his side produced a disjointed display in front of 61,519 spectators.

Nottingham Forest arrived in north London with their own compelling narrative. Vitor Pereira’s side had progressed to the Europa League quarter-finals just three days earlier, defeating Midtjylland in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after making nine changes to prioritise the league fixture.

The Portuguese manager had been explicit about his strategy, admitting days before that he would rotate his squad with the Tottenham match in mind.

That tactical gamble paid off handsomely. Forest’s players showed no signs of fatigue from their European exploits, producing a performance of discipline and clinical efficiency that has been absent from their league campaign for much of the season.

Igor Jesus opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, rising highest to head home from Neco Williams’ corner after Guglielmo Vicario had produced a brilliant save to deny him moments earlier. The Brazilian’s 12th goal of the season made him Forest’s top scorer, though 10 of those have come in European competition.

Morgan Gibbs-White doubled the lead in the 62nd minute, converting from close range after a scramble in the box following Callum Hudson-Odoi’s initial effort.

Taiwo Awoniyi, introduced as a substitute, completed the scoring three minutes from time with a precise finish from Williams’ cross.

For Forest, the victory provided a crucial buffer. Pereira’s side had not won in the league since January and had recorded just one victory in his seven Premier League matches in charge before Sunday. The three points lifted them to 16th place.