Premier League

TOTTENHAM 3 (Kane 19, 35 pen, Son 62)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 (Worrall 81)

WITH nothing left to play for but the weekly drudge of gaining enough points to scrape into the Champions League next season, today’s (Saturday) visit of Nottingham Forest felt like the beginning of the final stretch.

This is a campaign that has disappointment written through it like a stick of rock, the two cup eliminations inside a week against supposedly inferior opponents leaving Tottenham with a task at least they are not strangers too – possibly appointing a new manager come the summer.

But this 3-1 win, featuring two goals from Harry Kane and a very welcome strike from the struggling Heung-Min Son, has lifted the gloom around the big shiny stadium in N17.

Speaking after a game in which Antonio Conte saw his team dominate, the manager said: “For us to finish in the top four is like to win the Premier League.

“It happened last season and I spoke about miracles – I continue to say maybe this season it would be much more difficult, because Liverpool is a competitor in this race, Newcastle is a competitor and I don’t consider Chelsea outsiders because Chelsea has the possibility to win the last 11 or 12 games in a row because their squad is really, really strong.”

The victory over Forest – which was at a canter, with Oliver Skipp and Richarlison shining – lifted the depression caused by the FA Cup shock against Sheffield United and the limp Champions League capitulation against AC Milan.

Across the pitch, Tottenham played with determination and flair, countering the accusations that this Spurs side serve up dire performances even when they get a result.

Conte added: “Today it was vital to get three points, especially because after the game against Milan. We know we only have the league now, with 11 games to go, and we needed today to bounce back and show that we are strong mentally. In this type of situation, morale can be really down but instead I see the right spirit, the right fight and the right desire to get the three points.”

The welcome performance saw two first half goals for Kane and then Son getting one under his belt. Stand-in keeper Fraser Forster had an encouragingly error-free game, crowned by a penalty save in added time.

After Wednesday night’s Champions League surrender, the importance of a bright beginning could not be underestimated. Begin badly and the crowd, already bubbling with frustration, would make their displeasure known. The players knew this and got off quickly.

Spurs thought they had made the dream start when Richarlison broke through, chasing down a wonderful defence-splitter from Skipp. His triumphant thump of a shot was gleefully celebrated – but the VAR team believed he had gone a smidgen too early and the goal was chalked off.

On 19 minutes, a clever move saw the ball fall to Pedro Porro inside the Forest box. His stabbed cross was the perfect height, and with just the right amount of pace on it for Kane to rise and send his header back across the goal and into the far corner, beating Keylor Navas in the Forest goal easily.

It was 2-0 on 34. A move starting from deep saw Skipp spray the ball out wide and then the increasingly impressive Porro found Kane. His gentle pass into Richarlison’s path drew a sliding challenge from Joe Worrall, leaving the forward in a heap. The penalty was given, and Kane made no mistake from 12-yards.

Son had the home fans on their feet again just after the hour mark when he increased Spurs’ advantage, steering Richarlison’s cross into the bottom corner.

A scramble late on saw Forest skipper Worrall reduce the deficit with a back post header. Spurs then looked like they wanted to make it squeaky for their suffering fans when substitute Dejan Kulusevski was judged to have handled in the area.

Andre Ayew stepped up to take the kick with the chance of making the final minutes a tad more exciting. But his well-struck penalty was hit to the keepers right – and that was the way Forster had chosen to go. It was a nice moment for the stand-in keeper, who has not had a wholly enjoyable time of covering for Hugo Lloris since the start of 2023.

Three more points, and for all the moans this season, Conte’s strugglers are in a decent league position for whoever is at the helm come next term.

Tottenham: Forster, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Porro, Davies, Skipp (Sarr, 90+7), Hojbjerg, Richarlison (Kulusevski, 83), Son (Moura, 84), Kane
Substitutes not used: Austin, Sanchez, Perisic, Danjuma, Tanganga, Mundle

Nottingham Forest: Navas, Aurier, Worrall, Felipe, Lodi, Freuler (Yates, 66), Shelvey, Mangala (Ayew, 45), Gibbs-White, Lingard, Johnson (Wood, 67), Wood (Williams, 72)
Substitutes not used: Hennessey,Williams, Colback, Niakhate, Dennis, Danilo