Spurs Need More Than Just Son's Spark Against Forest
It’s Sunday night football, and for Tottenham, that often means a chance to put a stamp on the weekend. This time, it’s Nottingham Forest rolling into North London for an 8 PM BST kick-off. You can catch it on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with streaming available through the Sky Go app. Stuart Attwell is the man in the middle, and while VAR has been a talking point all season, let's hope it stays out of the headlines for a change.
Spurs are coming off a wild 1-1 draw against West Ham, a game where they probably should’ve taken all three points. Brennan Johnson got the early opener in the fifth minute, but they just couldn't kill the game off. That’s been a recurring theme. Forest, meanwhile, snagged a massive 3-1 win over Fulham, a result that felt like a proper statement. Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood, and Morgan Gibbs-White all found the net in the first half – a rare explosion of offense for a team that’s often struggled for goals, netting only 39 in 31 league matches this season.
**Picking Up the Pieces: Injury Fronts**
Ange Postecoglou's injury list isn't getting any shorter, which is a real problem for a side that's supposed to be pushing for the top four. Richarlison is still out with a knee issue, a blow considering he'd finally started to find some form with nine goals in the league this term. Fraser Forster (foot), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), and Manor Solomon (knee) are all long-term absentees. Young defender Ashley Phillips (ankle) is also sidelined. The good news? Micky van de Ven should be fit to start after shaking off a knock, which is crucial given his pace at the back.
Forest has their own worries, though Nuno Espírito Santo will be hoping for a clean bill of health after that Fulham win. Taiwo Awoniyi remains a doubt with a thigh problem, and while Wood has stepped up admirably with 11 goals, Awoniyi's presence is missed. Willy Boly (muscle) and Nuno Tavares (muscle) are also expected to miss out, thinning out their defensive options. It means Murillo and Andrew Omobamidele likely partner at center-back, a pairing that will face a real test against Son Heung-min.
**Tottenham's Midfield Conundrum**
Here’s the thing: Spurs need to dictate play more effectively, especially at home. Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr have been a decent pairing, but they sometimes lack that killer pass. James Maddison has been a bit hit-or-miss since returning from injury; he hasn't scored since October 27th against Crystal Palace, a worrying drought for their primary creative force. I reckon Postecoglou needs to be brave and start Pierre-Emile Højbjerg alongside Bissouma to add some steel and distribution, allowing Maddison to play higher up. It’s a risk, but their current setup isn't consistently dominating.
Forest will sit deep, no doubt. They’ll try to frustrate Spurs, absorb pressure, and hit on the counter with Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga’s speed. Remember their last meeting in December? Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski got the goals in a 2-0 Spurs win, but Forest made them work for it. They won't roll over. They've already pulled off upsets this season, like their 1-0 victory over Manchester United in December. This isn’t a guaranteed three points for Tottenham, not by a long shot.
Tottenham will win this one, but it won't be pretty. They'll edge it 2-1, with Son getting the winner late in the second half, reminding everyone why he's still the main man.