Match Report Nottingham Forest and Preview Newcastle United (away)

Match Report Nottingham Forest and Preview Newcastle United (away)

With the bumpy road we’ve been on with Spurs, you just don’t know what to predict sometimes. Only twice this season have I predicted the right score; the second time was against Forest at the weekend. But the match didn't start off in a way that gave me confidence. We scored first (good), then they quickly scored 12 minutes later (our hearts sank). At the Luton game, they scored first, but we did come back to win … against the Spammers a few days later, all looked good when we scored first, then the inevitable happened, they equalised, and it stayed that way for the rest of the game; Mel and I walked to our car in the pouring rain… finally getting home at 1 am in the morning… Mel an hour later.

Amidst all the ups and downs, we can attribute some of our success to Villa’s misfortunes. On Wednesday, the 3^rd, City thrashed them 4-1, and on Saturday just gone Brentford held them to a 3-3 draw at Villa Park. Thanks to our victory over Forest, we now find ourselves in 4th spot with a game in hand. However, the real test lies ahead. We are set to face the top three teams in our last seven games; tricky but doable. Nevertheless, and saying that, if we get a fifth spot in the Champions League, then it won’t be all doom and gloom. The only teams breathing down our necks are Villa, beyond them is United, 11 points behind. On their coattails are the Spammers and Newcastle, who we face on Saturday.

Let us have a closer look at our victory over Robin Hood’s men… not so merry, though…

Yes, as I said, we beat Nottingham Forest to return to the Premier League's top four for the first time since February. We opened the scoring inside 15 minutes when Forest defender Murillo diverted Timo Werner's cross into his own net. Didn’t we jump for joy when that goal went in… and we don’t give a shit who scored it… but thanks, Murillo, we owe you one. And, of course, to Timo for assisting that own goal.

But back to the old script, Forest levelled 12 minutes later as Chris Wood finished off Anthony Elanga's cross, and our hearts sank.

Then, in the 52nd minute, the fastest man on the planet, Micky van de Ven (okay, in the Premier League), restored our lead with a thunderous shot from the edge of the penalty area that found the top corner and, again, we leapt to our feet. Back slapping, hugging, kissing… and that was just with the men!!!!!!!!!

Janette, who came to the match with me, sat a couple of rows back and was also on her feet, she was delighted, like everybody else, that we came out for the second half with more fighting spirit.

But that wasn’t the end of our joy; six minutes later, Pedro Porro netted a third for us, hammering in James Maddison's pass across goal.

Victory is so sweet, and that victory meant we moved above ‘Dick’ Emery’s maroon-shirted players or is that marooned team! We now have a better goal difference and have played one game fewer.

Forest’s defeat means that they stay in 17^th position, just outside of the relegation zone.

Thoughts…

Spurs 'had a bit of everything,' said Ange Postecoglou after the game.

We dropped out of the top four on 17 February and had passed up chances to go back above rivals Aston Villa in recent weeks. We lost to Fulham and then drew with the Spamming Wondering Munchers… munching while blowing bubbles at their Meccano-built stadium. They love their bubbles… and if I were them, I’d be thinking, at least I’ve got something to blow about other than moaning about David Moyes.

Sunday's result puts us in a brilliant position to finish fourth and guarantee Champions League qualification after a one-year absence from the competition. As I said above, if we do miss out on fourth place, fifth may be enough to qualify for the Champions League. All looking rosy and good so long as we can keep the momentum up… and those below us keep colliding with each other to try to pick up the spoils.

English teams are in a strong position to claim one of UEFA’s 'Performance Slots', allowing an extra Premier League side to enter Europe's premier club competition.

The first half of our game against Forest was a sorry sight, we were matched by our opponents in the first half but restored our lead in a dominant second period through an unlikely source. Yes, Van de Ven has been a revelation in defence this season. We have now won 13 and lost just two of the 20 Premier League matches he's played in.

With us pressing, de Ven regularly found himself pushing into midfield. Picking the ball up on the edge of the box, he took his chance superbly for his goal, his second in the Premier League.

As for Son, well, he also had an effort tipped onto the post by Forest keeper Matz Sels in the closing stages.

But it isn’t all over until the fat lady sings, as we continue our push to cement a top-four spot when we visit Newcastle next Saturday.

The Forest game was the first visit of their manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, as he faced his former employers for the first time since leaving our stadium (that is, at home).

Now for my match preview of our game this Saturday against Newcastle United.

We make the trip up north to take on Newcastle in a game which will have an important say in the race for the European places.

Date: 13/04/24

Kick-off time: 12:30

Venue: St James’ Park

Newcastle’s hopes of a second consecutive season of Champions League football are over, but they are still well in the hunt to secure European qualification for next year. They currently occupy eighth but are just two points behind United and one behind the wet Spammers, who are sixth and seventh, respectively. Victory against us would give them important momentum heading into the final stretch and would cut the deficit between themselves and us to 10 points. Defeat, however, which we hope, could see them fall further behind and open up the door for the likes of Chelsea, Brighton and Wolves to gain ground.

As for us, we are in control of our own destiny. We sit in fourth place, above Aston Villa on goal difference.

Our backline could be in for a long afternoon, as the magpies have scored 14 goals in their last five at St James’ Park.

As for previous games against Newcastle, we have won three to Newcastle’s two with one draw. Overall, there have been 30 goals between us, with some resounding victories for each. Last season, Newcastle beat us 6-1, with three goals coming in the opening 10 minutes and five after 21. The reverse fixture earlier this season ended 4-1 in our favour, as Destiny Udogie, Richarlison (x2) and Son got on the scoresheet before a late Joelinton consolation.

TEAM NEWS

Newcastle

Eddie Howe has several long-term injuries, with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles ruled out for the season. Joelinton and Callum Wilson also remain out. Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento, and Miguel Almiron hope to return soon. Joe Willock was substituted last weekend with an injury.

Spurs

We can rule out Manor Solomon for the rest of the season. However, Richarlison could return from a knock to his knee.

My possible lineup for Spurs…

Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Bissouma, Sarr, Johnson, Maddison, Werner, Son.

My prediction…

This will not be an easy game at St James Park, so I will go for a 3-2 win for us.

Great memories and a bit of nostalgia for you…

The day after the Newcastle United game, April 14th, but 33 years ago (1991), was a day Spurs fans will always remember… more so, if like me, they were there!

First of all, it was the first time the FA Cup semi-final was ever played at Wembley (that is, the old Wembley), not the piece of shit they erected in its place… the old stadium had class and a special feel to it… anyway… moving swiftly on… yes, and the two teams that participated in that first Wembley semi-final were us against Arsenic and Old Lace.

Paul Gascoigne returned from injury to inspire us to a 3-1 FA Cup semi-final victory over our London neighbours so that we would meet Nottingham Forest in the Final. Gascoigne, being Gascoigne and unpredictable, set up the tone early on by smashing home a 35-yard free kick to give us the lead, then Gary Lineker doubled our advantage as we went on to complete what was seen as an unlikely victory, as Champions elect Arsenic and Old lace… yes, the Gooners, lost just once previously in the league all season. The Gooners Alan Smith half the deficit moments before the break, but Lineker added a third in the 78th minute to send half of the 80,000-crowd home delirious and confident that we had a place in the FA Cup final. We went on to beat Forest in the final… but that is another story.

I remember that game well; what a brilliant day out, memories to cherish.

Up the Spurs!

COYS!

Glenn

The two Glenn's together... one a Spurs legend,
the other a legend in his own mind...