Mist came from the River Trent, just like in the Nottingham Forest terrace song, but the songs that filled the air after a fourth straight win were all about scaling up the Premier League and returning to Europe.
Almost 30 years have passed since the last of their famous adventures abroad, but Forest are third after beating Tottenham at the City Ground and have begun to dream of digging up their passports and walking around again under Nuno Espirito Santo.
“The fans should enjoy this together and enjoy it,” Nuno said after Anthony Elanga’s first-half goal clinched the victory, moving them into third place and going beyond last season’s total of 32 points before the new year.
‘The table means nothing. The great thing is to see the City Ground like this. Faith is here. What can I say about the fans? It’s very special and now we’re starting to see this bond that makes us stronger.”
Bos looks increasingly sure of himself. Comfortable in a system that suits their best players, happy to play on the break with the nice habit of toppling the big clubs that way.
They won at Liverpool and their latest trick is to condemn Tottenham to a fourth defeat in five Premier League games, a run that increases the pressure on Ange Postecoglou.
Anthony Elanga (right) scored the only goal of the match as Nottingham Forest defeated Spurs
Elanga provided a cool finish after being played through on goal in the first half
Ange Postecoglou’s struggling side suffered their ninth Premier League defeat of the season
This had the hallmarks of those away at Crystal Palace and Bournemouth this season, conceding in the first half and failing to conjure up a goal against teams set up to defend deep and in numbers.
Spurs have been decimated by injuries and have picked up a new one in central defence. Radu Dragusin injured an ankle and limped off in the 87th minute, leaving Archie Gray and Yves Bissouma in central defense.
This was followed by a red card for Djed Spence, who was shown a second yellow card after taking down Jota Silva to stop a late counter-attack in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Spence will receive a suspension against Wolves on Sunday. Dragusin will join a long list of victims.
“Apparently disappointing,” said the dejected Postecoglou. ‘It was never going to be a match with many chances. That said, I still thought we created some good moments and couldn’t capitalize on them.
‘The goalkeeper made some good saves to keep them in the game. We needed a goal to break them open and we didn’t seem to be able to do that.’
Elanga’s goal in the 28th minute summed up the pattern of the game. Spurs dominated the ball. They passed and probed without any space behind Forest, who were not only difficult to penetrate but also menacingly quick and direct in turnovers.
Neco Williams won the ball from Spence, and Morgan Gibbs-White collected his pass and drove out the center of the field before sliding a pass down the right to Elanga, who applied a confident finish, his third goal in consecutive games.
Tottenham regretted a number of early chances they squandered. The first for Heung-min Son within five minutes after a rare mistake by Murillo, who gave the ball to Dejan Kulusevski. Son could not find a way past Matz Sels.
Elanga watched as his strike found its way into the bottom corner of the Spurs goal
Djed Spence was sent off against the club he played for before joining Spurs
Postecoglou’s struggling side are currently in the midst of a miserable run of form
“We can’t ignore the fact that Matz made huge saves to keep us in the game,” said Nuno, whose goalkeeper frustrated Brennan Johnson on his latest return to the City Ground with three excellent saves, the best of which with his right boot from close range. early in the second half.
Johnson and Spence combined on the right at Forest in the season they won promotion to the Premier League. Here, in Tottenham colours, they combined again, but with little success, and Spence was serenaded with a chorus about how he ‘used to play for a big club’ as he trudged down the tunnel after his red card.
Forest were probably even stronger at the back in the second half and no less dangerous at half-time. They were close to a second when Fraser Forster crossed for Gibbs-White and made up for it with a crucial block in the worrying battle.
Postecoglou made changes in search of inspiration, using the creativity he had on the bench, but his options are very limited. Nuno responded by taking out Elanga and switching to a back five and Forest closed it out to take the points without too much of a scare.