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Luis is a respected sports journalist with several national writing awards. He covers major leagues, global tournaments, and athlete profiles, blending analysis with captivating storytelling.
TOPIC
Write about: Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest: Premier League – live | Premier League
SOURCE
Key events
Half-time reading
Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
John McGinn has scored the only goal in the battle of David Cameron’s favourite team. This is the Premier League table as things stand.
Half time: Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest
Interesting, very interesting. Spurs played well for most of the first half, but Forest’s outstanding centre-back pairing of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic kept them at arm’s length.
Igor Jesus headed Forest ahead against the run of play just before half-time, and there was still time for Matz Sels to deny Mathys Tel with a stunning save.
45+2 min: Tel hits the bar!
What an effort from Mathys Tel, who has been bright all afternoon. He received a square pass 25 yards from goal, turned and whipped an extravagant curler that smacked off the crossbar.
In fact, replays show that Sels got a slight touch with his right hand as he leapt to his left. That’s a sensational save!
The ball rebounded towards Romero, who went down dramatically under challenge from Williams. There was a VAR check for a Spurs penalty but play continues.
45+1 min Two minutes of added time. The scoreline is a bit harsh on Spurs, even if they haven’t had a shot on target.
Williams, on the left curled a big inswinging corner into a crowd of players at the far post. Igor Jesus won it in the air and powered a terrific header back across Vicario. And now Spurs really are in the malodorous stuff.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest (Igor Jesus 45)
Forest land a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time!
45 min Williams’ corner is headed away by Romero. Anderson heads it back into the box and Igor Jesus hooks a speculative looping volley on the turn. Vicario has to backpedal sharply to leap and tip it over.
44 min Forest give themselves a bit of respite by passing the ball around in the middle third for a minute or two. Eventually Gibbs-White makes a good run in behind to win a corner on the left. It’s Forest’s first of the game; Spurs have had eight.
The longer it stays 0-0, the more important the first goal becomes. I mean, obviously.
40 min After a promising start, Forest have been surprisingly poor in possession. I doubt it’s a case of Midtjylland catching up with them; not in the first half of the game.
37 min For all that dominance, a little statbox reminds us that the only shot on target at either end came from Forest’s Omari Hutchinson in the 18th minute.
35 min A succession of corners for Spurs, four or five in as many minutes. No chances eventuaate but they are really on top at the moment.
32 min An inviting inswinging cross from Tel is just too heavy for Richarlison at the far post. Spurs are playing with a notable intensity.
30 min Spurs are having a good spell, with Gray impressive in midfield. Pedro Porro wins another corner with a cross that deflects off Neco Williams’ breadbasket. Okay, down a bit from the breadbasket.
29 min Richarlison flashes a ball right across the face of an open goal, just in front of Solanke. The flag goes up after the event, though it looked close.
27 min “Chances of World War 3 happening are about the same as Spurs getting relegated,” writes Bede Ehiogu. “It’s going to look close, dangerously close, but in the end there’ll be safety.”
That’d be a great follow-up to WarGames.
25 min Van de Ven surges into the area and stumbles over under pressure from Aina. Nothing doing. At worst it was an accidental tangle of legs, or at least that’s how it looked.
23 min Archie Gray needs treatment after being caught painfully on the knee by Sangare. It wasn’t a great challenge: they both made contact with the ball but Sangare caught Gray (who was sliding, with his knee at ground level) with his studs in his follow through.
21 min Aina didn’t get the ball but I’m not sure how much he touched Sarr either. It’s a hard one to read because Sarr went down but then bounced straight to his feet without appealing.
Meanwhile, in Scotland…
20 min Sarr goes over in the area after a risky challenge from Aina. He bounces straight to his feet, even though there are plenty of appeals elsewhere, and Michael Oliver waves play on.
18 min At the other end Hutchinson cuts inside Tel and cracks a low shot that is comfortably held by Vicario, well positioned at the near post.
17 min “I know you’re not covering Villa v West Ham today,” writes Benjamin G, “but could I put this on record, please, since there’s nowhere else yet to place it?
”Tielemans on the bench! He’s nearly back! Praise the effing Lord!”
16 min: Igor Jesus hits his own post!
Danso’s superman throw is headed up in the air by the backpedalling Igor Jesus. The ball loops over everybody, hits the inside of the far post and bounces to safety. Richarlison was sniffing with intent but couldn’t get a touch.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham (McGinn 15)
Good news from Villa Park for these two teams: John McGinn has put Villa ahead against West Ham with a classy curling shot.
14 min Tel drives a flat corner beyond the far post. Richarlison arrives late, with Gray trying to block Williams, and heads back across goal. The ball drifts a couple of yards wide. Not a bad chance that.
13 min Gray sprays a pass out to Tel on the left. He cuts into the area, sits Aina down nicely and hits a shot that deflects over the bar. A really nice bit of play.
Relegation six-pointers battles can be tense but this has been an encouragingly open start.
11 min “She’s 29 and tries to get her 68-year-old dad out of the house every once in a while,” says Joe Pearson. “Good kid.”
You’re 68?! From your use of language I’d have guessed you were in your mid-40s. I’ll let you decide whether that’s a compliment.
10 min A deep cross is headed behind by Aina to give Spurs their first corner. Nothing comes of it, and life goes on.
7 min “Apropos of nothing, my grown daughter and I are heading off to see Project Hail Mary in a few minutes,” says Joe Pearson. “Spurs fans can make of that what they will.”
I’m more intrigued by your use of the word ‘grown’. Is there something about Project Hail Mary that required that clarification? Or was it a twist on Royal Tenenbaum introducing his daughter Margot?
Tom Garry
WSL round-up
Brighton and Liverpool both went agonisingly close to snatching victory late on as they provided a tense finish to their goalless stalemate, but both sides had to settle for a draw that edges Liverpool slightly further away from the drop zone.
In a game that was low on final-third quality and one where the highlights reel would probably begin in the 89th minute, the closest both sides came to winning it came in the final moments of the contest.
4 min Good start from Forest, who are passing the ball with a crisp confidence.
Match report: Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland
Louise Taylor
As recently as Friday morning Eddie Howe talked about some results having “bigger consequences than others”. This was most definitely one of them.
In completing a Premier League double against Newcastle, Régis Le Bris’s promoted Sunderland surely consigned Howe and his players to one of their most chastening afternoon’s at St James’ Park.
Coming four days after their dissection in Barcelona and at the hands of a seriously under-strength Sunderland it is no exaggeration to say that one of Le Bris’s biggest triumphs of an outstanding season represented a disaster for Howe.
3 min Danso, running towards his own goal, does very well to beat Igor Jesus to Gibbs-White’s dangerous cross. He manages to head it safely up in the air for Vicario to claim.
3 min “There’s five minutes to go at Tannadice, Rob, where two second-half goals for Dundee United have them 2-0 up and cruising against reigning champions Celtic, just like we were against Dundee at Dens last week,” says Simon McMahon. “What could possibly go wrong?”
World War III? Oh, sorry, you meant the football.
2 min Spurs have indeed started in a 4-4-2 formation with Micky Van de Ven at left-back. Murdoch 1-0 Smyth.
1 min Peep peep! Spurs kick off from left to right as we watch.
West Ham have made a late change to their XI at Villa Park. Freddie Potts replaces Jean-Clair Todibo, who did himself a nasty in the warm-up. That may also mean a change of formation, I’m not sure.
The Spurs formation
I thought Spurs would line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation but Sky Sports reckon they are playing two up front. Who ya gonna believe? (Sky, obviously.)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2) Vicario; Spence, Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Tel; Richarlison, Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Enough about today’s game, I just want to know what Cloughie was up with this T-shirt.
Harvey Auzorst pointed out that Jim Ramsey was a producer on ITV Sport at the time, but I’ve no idea of the backstory. With a bit of luck Jim Ramsey will be reading this.
“Unless you’re a Friend Of Piers (as I’m sure NO Arsenal fans want to be known), it’s traditionally been fairly difficult to truly dislike Spurs,” writes Matt Dony. “They just naturally seemed to have a decent amount of goodwill about them. Generally trying to play good football, interesting signings, decent results without being too successful. Lots of people seemed to have a soft spot for them.
“It feels like they’ve burned an awful lot of that goodwill over the last few years, though. To the point where, previously, I think most of us would be sad to see the predicament they’re in now. In actuality, though, it is (and we have to be honest) really quite funny. I still hope they don’t go down, but I have the popcorn out either way. And a heartfelt apology to the many, many fine Spurs fans who are going through the wringer.”
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Erm, excuse me, I asked you a question.
“Not a six-pointer then,” begins Charles Antaki, “but – for Man City and Arsenal fans, maybe an amuse-bouche? Little about it suggests the tantalising delicacy that the term suggests. Hors-d’oeuvre, perhaps, but pronounced horses’ hooves for the thundering and galumphing likely to be on show.”
Morgan Gibbs-White could probably sue for slander.
Late drama in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. Luke McLaughlin has more.
Ben Fisher
The night before Nottingham Forest prevailed against Midtjylland, going the distance in central Denmark to tee up a first European quarter-final 30 years to the day since their last, Ryan Yates was doing a spot of homework. The Forest club captain found himself flicking through the Champions League offering at the team hotel in Silkeborg, half an hour east of Herning, but naturally lingered on Tottenham’s rematch with Atlético Madrid. A trip to Spurs, of course, is next and, like Forest, they find themselves in a perilous predicament near the bottom of the Premier League.
Vítor Pereira has done whatever the opposite of dressing up Sunday’s meeting as just another game is, stressing with eight games to go the Premier League must come first, even if they have rekindled fading hopes of European glory. It has been an unexpectedly satisfying week for both sides, Forest overturning a first-leg deficit to advance, and Spurs building on an encouraging display, and result, at Liverpool by registering a welcome first win under Igor Tudor, whose side exited on aggregate.
The oft-maligned Richarlison has quietly scored nine Premier League goals this season. Nothing to write home about, sure, but he could be a key man in the next two months.
Forest’s top league goalscorer, since you asked, is Morgan Gibbs-White with eight.
Igor Tudor said data shows his players are now in the “top four or five of all season for high-intensity runs”. Opta data reveals the players are winning the ball higher up the pitch more often and applying more high-intensity pressure – leading to more successful attacks – in Tudor’s four Premier League games compared to his predecessor Thomas Frank’s 26.
“The squad is like one living thing, modulating the energy day by day, training by training, game by game,” said the 47-year-old. “The changes that happen are a result of the process. Sometimes you do better at one thing or another thing. It’s always about the level of problems there are to resolve, so you try to do your best and if you are good and the problems are not too big then you see the consequences. It’s all about that. Sometimes you need even more time. For sure, that’s an important thing. Now, it’s just to keep on. Don’t allow this to disappear. Keep them strong and continue in the same way.”
The relegation runners and riders
Nottingham Forest
Reasons for optimism: Nottingham Forest are 17th in the table, just above the relegation zone thanks to their superior goal difference to West Ham. They can pull further clear if they beat Tottenham on Sunday. They have won their last three matches against Spurs and are starting to show some signs of stability under Vítor Pereira. He is the club’s fourth manager this season, which is hardly ideal, but his focus on video analysis and one-to-one work have improved results. Forest came from behind twice to draw with Manchester City at the Etihad earlier this month and they have backed that up with another draw against Fulham and a win over Midtjylland in the Europa League. They are taking steps in the right direction at a pivotal point in the season.
Newcastle v Sunderland
Things are getting lively in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. You can follow the last quarter of that match with Luke McLaughlin.
“Merely a relegation six-pointer?” wonders Gary Naylor. “On this one, I think Spartacus Mills speaks for us all.”
Gary, I love you, but iT CAN’T BE A SIX-POINTER IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO PARTIES INVOLVED! Or am I just being a joyless, philosophically confused pedant?
For the avoidance of doubt, that was a rhetorical question.
Aston Villa v West Ham team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Mings, Tielemans, Buendia, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
West Ham (3-4-2-1) Hermansen; Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka,
Soucek, Fernandes, Diouf; Bowen, Pablo Felipe; Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Traore, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.
Referee Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Team news
Xavi Simons is omitted from the Spurs side despite scoring twice against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. He’s replaced by Richarlison, who was suspended for that game, while Kevin Danso and the fit-again Dominic Solanke come in for Radu Dragusin and Randal Kolo Muani.
Vitor Pereira used a number of his first-choice players from the bench in Denmark on Thursday, so there are eight changes to the XI that started against Midtjylland. Nikola Milenkovic and Omari Hutchinson are the survivors.
Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-2-1) Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Spence; Richarlison, Tel; Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Preamble
Cor, it’s a bit snug down there. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are separated by only one point, with Leeds United also involved in game of relegation Snakes and Ladders. Barring something unforseeable, one of those four big clubs will be playing Championship football next season. Forest, West Ham and Leeds are reasonably familiar with life in the second tier; Spurs haven’t experienced it since the 1970s.
There’s a fair way to go – seven games after today – but when the dust settles, the result of this afternoon’s match between Spurs and Forest may prove decisive. There’s not much else to say really: it’s a mustn’t-lose game for two teams who are waist-deep in the malodorous stuff.
Spurs will hope they turned a corner when Richarlison equalised in injury-time at Anfield, a result they followed with a losing victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek. Forest could have done without extra-time in Belgium on Thursday but they’ve won their last three matches against Spurs, including a 3-0 evisceration at the City Ground in December, and have probably played better than recent league results suggest.
Spurs and Forest would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for their pesky ex. But Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked by both clubs, has revived an apparently doomed West Ham. Their win at Spurs in January was the start of an excellent run of 15 points in nine games, and another victory at Aston Villa today would move them out of the relegation places for the first time in 2026.
We’ll have goal updates from that match as well, but our main focus is on events in north London.
Kick off 2.15pm
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Key events
Half-time reading
Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
John McGinn has scored the only goal in the battle of David Cameron’s favourite team. This is the Premier League table as things stand.
Half time: Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest
Interesting, very interesting. Spurs played well for most of the first half, but Forest’s outstanding centre-back pairing of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic kept them at arm’s length.
Igor Jesus headed Forest ahead against the run of play just before half-time, and there was still time for Matz Sels to deny Mathys Tel with a stunning save.
45+2 min: Tel hits the bar!
What an effort from Mathys Tel, who has been bright all afternoon. He received a square pass 25 yards from goal, turned and whipped an extravagant curler that smacked off the crossbar.
In fact, replays show that Sels got a slight touch with his right hand as he leapt to his left. That’s a sensational save!
The ball rebounded towards Romero, who went down dramatically under challenge from Williams. There was a VAR check for a Spurs penalty but play continues.
45+1 min Two minutes of added time. The scoreline is a bit harsh on Spurs, even if they haven’t had a shot on target.
Williams, on the left curled a big inswinging corner into a crowd of players at the far post. Igor Jesus won it in the air and powered a terrific header back across Vicario. And now Spurs really are in the malodorous stuff.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest (Igor Jesus 45)
Forest land a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time!
45 min Williams’ corner is headed away by Romero. Anderson heads it back into the box and Igor Jesus hooks a speculative looping volley on the turn. Vicario has to backpedal sharply to leap and tip it over.
44 min Forest give themselves a bit of respite by passing the ball around in the middle third for a minute or two. Eventually Gibbs-White makes a good run in behind to win a corner on the left. It’s Forest’s first of the game; Spurs have had eight.
The longer it stays 0-0, the more important the first goal becomes. I mean, obviously.
40 min After a promising start, Forest have been surprisingly poor in possession. I doubt it’s a case of Midtjylland catching up with them; not in the first half of the game.
37 min For all that dominance, a little statbox reminds us that the only shot on target at either end came from Forest’s Omari Hutchinson in the 18th minute.
35 min A succession of corners for Spurs, four or five in as many minutes. No chances eventuaate but they are really on top at the moment.
32 min An inviting inswinging cross from Tel is just too heavy for Richarlison at the far post. Spurs are playing with a notable intensity.
30 min Spurs are having a good spell, with Gray impressive in midfield. Pedro Porro wins another corner with a cross that deflects off Neco Williams’ breadbasket. Okay, down a bit from the breadbasket.
29 min Richarlison flashes a ball right across the face of an open goal, just in front of Solanke. The flag goes up after the event, though it looked close.
27 min “Chances of World War 3 happening are about the same as Spurs getting relegated,” writes Bede Ehiogu. “It’s going to look close, dangerously close, but in the end there’ll be safety.”
That’d be a great follow-up to WarGames.
25 min Van de Ven surges into the area and stumbles over under pressure from Aina. Nothing doing. At worst it was an accidental tangle of legs, or at least that’s how it looked.
23 min Archie Gray needs treatment after being caught painfully on the knee by Sangare. It wasn’t a great challenge: they both made contact with the ball but Sangare caught Gray (who was sliding, with his knee at ground level) with his studs in his follow through.
21 min Aina didn’t get the ball but I’m not sure how much he touched Sarr either. It’s a hard one to read because Sarr went down but then bounced straight to his feet without appealing.
Meanwhile, in Scotland…
20 min Sarr goes over in the area after a risky challenge from Aina. He bounces straight to his feet, even though there are plenty of appeals elsewhere, and Michael Oliver waves play on.
18 min At the other end Hutchinson cuts inside Tel and cracks a low shot that is comfortably held by Vicario, well positioned at the near post.
17 min “I know you’re not covering Villa v West Ham today,” writes Benjamin G, “but could I put this on record, please, since there’s nowhere else yet to place it?
”Tielemans on the bench! He’s nearly back! Praise the effing Lord!”
16 min: Igor Jesus hits his own post!
Danso’s superman throw is headed up in the air by the backpedalling Igor Jesus. The ball loops over everybody, hits the inside of the far post and bounces to safety. Richarlison was sniffing with intent but couldn’t get a touch.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham (McGinn 15)
Good news from Villa Park for these two teams: John McGinn has put Villa ahead against West Ham with a classy curling shot.
14 min Tel drives a flat corner beyond the far post. Richarlison arrives late, with Gray trying to block Williams, and heads back across goal. The ball drifts a couple of yards wide. Not a bad chance that.
13 min Gray sprays a pass out to Tel on the left. He cuts into the area, sits Aina down nicely and hits a shot that deflects over the bar. A really nice bit of play.
Relegation six-pointers battles can be tense but this has been an encouragingly open start.
11 min “She’s 29 and tries to get her 68-year-old dad out of the house every once in a while,” says Joe Pearson. “Good kid.”
You’re 68?! From your use of language I’d have guessed you were in your mid-40s. I’ll let you decide whether that’s a compliment.
10 min A deep cross is headed behind by Aina to give Spurs their first corner. Nothing comes of it, and life goes on.
7 min “Apropos of nothing, my grown daughter and I are heading off to see Project Hail Mary in a few minutes,” says Joe Pearson. “Spurs fans can make of that what they will.”
I’m more intrigued by your use of the word ‘grown’. Is there something about Project Hail Mary that required that clarification? Or was it a twist on Royal Tenenbaum introducing his daughter Margot?
Tom Garry
WSL round-up
Brighton and Liverpool both went agonisingly close to snatching victory late on as they provided a tense finish to their goalless stalemate, but both sides had to settle for a draw that edges Liverpool slightly further away from the drop zone.
In a game that was low on final-third quality and one where the highlights reel would probably begin in the 89th minute, the closest both sides came to winning it came in the final moments of the contest.
4 min Good start from Forest, who are passing the ball with a crisp confidence.
Match report: Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland
Louise Taylor
As recently as Friday morning Eddie Howe talked about some results having “bigger consequences than others”. This was most definitely one of them.
In completing a Premier League double against Newcastle, Régis Le Bris’s promoted Sunderland surely consigned Howe and his players to one of their most chastening afternoon’s at St James’ Park.
Coming four days after their dissection in Barcelona and at the hands of a seriously under-strength Sunderland it is no exaggeration to say that one of Le Bris’s biggest triumphs of an outstanding season represented a disaster for Howe.
3 min Danso, running towards his own goal, does very well to beat Igor Jesus to Gibbs-White’s dangerous cross. He manages to head it safely up in the air for Vicario to claim.
3 min “There’s five minutes to go at Tannadice, Rob, where two second-half goals for Dundee United have them 2-0 up and cruising against reigning champions Celtic, just like we were against Dundee at Dens last week,” says Simon McMahon. “What could possibly go wrong?”
World War III? Oh, sorry, you meant the football.
2 min Spurs have indeed started in a 4-4-2 formation with Micky Van de Ven at left-back. Murdoch 1-0 Smyth.
1 min Peep peep! Spurs kick off from left to right as we watch.
West Ham have made a late change to their XI at Villa Park. Freddie Potts replaces Jean-Clair Todibo, who did himself a nasty in the warm-up. That may also mean a change of formation, I’m not sure.
The Spurs formation
I thought Spurs would line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation but Sky Sports reckon they are playing two up front. Who ya gonna believe? (Sky, obviously.)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2) Vicario; Spence, Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Tel; Richarlison, Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Enough about today’s game, I just want to know what Cloughie was up with this T-shirt.
Harvey Auzorst pointed out that Jim Ramsey was a producer on ITV Sport at the time, but I’ve no idea of the backstory. With a bit of luck Jim Ramsey will be reading this.
“Unless you’re a Friend Of Piers (as I’m sure NO Arsenal fans want to be known), it’s traditionally been fairly difficult to truly dislike Spurs,” writes Matt Dony. “They just naturally seemed to have a decent amount of goodwill about them. Generally trying to play good football, interesting signings, decent results without being too successful. Lots of people seemed to have a soft spot for them.
“It feels like they’ve burned an awful lot of that goodwill over the last few years, though. To the point where, previously, I think most of us would be sad to see the predicament they’re in now. In actuality, though, it is (and we have to be honest) really quite funny. I still hope they don’t go down, but I have the popcorn out either way. And a heartfelt apology to the many, many fine Spurs fans who are going through the wringer.”
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Erm, excuse me, I asked you a question.
“Not a six-pointer then,” begins Charles Antaki, “but – for Man City and Arsenal fans, maybe an amuse-bouche? Little about it suggests the tantalising delicacy that the term suggests. Hors-d’oeuvre, perhaps, but pronounced horses’ hooves for the thundering and galumphing likely to be on show.”
Morgan Gibbs-White could probably sue for slander.
Late drama in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. Luke McLaughlin has more.
Ben Fisher
The night before Nottingham Forest prevailed against Midtjylland, going the distance in central Denmark to tee up a first European quarter-final 30 years to the day since their last, Ryan Yates was doing a spot of homework. The Forest club captain found himself flicking through the Champions League offering at the team hotel in Silkeborg, half an hour east of Herning, but naturally lingered on Tottenham’s rematch with Atlético Madrid. A trip to Spurs, of course, is next and, like Forest, they find themselves in a perilous predicament near the bottom of the Premier League.
Vítor Pereira has done whatever the opposite of dressing up Sunday’s meeting as just another game is, stressing with eight games to go the Premier League must come first, even if they have rekindled fading hopes of European glory. It has been an unexpectedly satisfying week for both sides, Forest overturning a first-leg deficit to advance, and Spurs building on an encouraging display, and result, at Liverpool by registering a welcome first win under Igor Tudor, whose side exited on aggregate.
The oft-maligned Richarlison has quietly scored nine Premier League goals this season. Nothing to write home about, sure, but he could be a key man in the next two months.
Forest’s top league goalscorer, since you asked, is Morgan Gibbs-White with eight.
Igor Tudor said data shows his players are now in the “top four or five of all season for high-intensity runs”. Opta data reveals the players are winning the ball higher up the pitch more often and applying more high-intensity pressure – leading to more successful attacks – in Tudor’s four Premier League games compared to his predecessor Thomas Frank’s 26.
“The squad is like one living thing, modulating the energy day by day, training by training, game by game,” said the 47-year-old. “The changes that happen are a result of the process. Sometimes you do better at one thing or another thing. It’s always about the level of problems there are to resolve, so you try to do your best and if you are good and the problems are not too big then you see the consequences. It’s all about that. Sometimes you need even more time. For sure, that’s an important thing. Now, it’s just to keep on. Don’t allow this to disappear. Keep them strong and continue in the same way.”
The relegation runners and riders
Nottingham Forest
Reasons for optimism: Nottingham Forest are 17th in the table, just above the relegation zone thanks to their superior goal difference to West Ham. They can pull further clear if they beat Tottenham on Sunday. They have won their last three matches against Spurs and are starting to show some signs of stability under Vítor Pereira. He is the club’s fourth manager this season, which is hardly ideal, but his focus on video analysis and one-to-one work have improved results. Forest came from behind twice to draw with Manchester City at the Etihad earlier this month and they have backed that up with another draw against Fulham and a win over Midtjylland in the Europa League. They are taking steps in the right direction at a pivotal point in the season.
Newcastle v Sunderland
Things are getting lively in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. You can follow the last quarter of that match with Luke McLaughlin.
“Merely a relegation six-pointer?” wonders Gary Naylor. “On this one, I think Spartacus Mills speaks for us all.”
Gary, I love you, but iT CAN’T BE A SIX-POINTER IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO PARTIES INVOLVED! Or am I just being a joyless, philosophically confused pedant?
For the avoidance of doubt, that was a rhetorical question.
Aston Villa v West Ham team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Mings, Tielemans, Buendia, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
West Ham (3-4-2-1) Hermansen; Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka,
Soucek, Fernandes, Diouf; Bowen, Pablo Felipe; Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Traore, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.
Referee Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Team news
Xavi Simons is omitted from the Spurs side despite scoring twice against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. He’s replaced by Richarlison, who was suspended for that game, while Kevin Danso and the fit-again Dominic Solanke come in for Radu Dragusin and Randal Kolo Muani.
Vitor Pereira used a number of his first-choice players from the bench in Denmark on Thursday, so there are eight changes to the XI that started against Midtjylland. Nikola Milenkovic and Omari Hutchinson are the survivors.
Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-2-1) Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Spence; Richarlison, Tel; Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Preamble
Cor, it’s a bit snug down there. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are separated by only one point, with Leeds United also involved in game of relegation Snakes and Ladders. Barring something unforseeable, one of those four big clubs will be playing Championship football next season. Forest, West Ham and Leeds are reasonably familiar with life in the second tier; Spurs haven’t experienced it since the 1970s.
There’s a fair way to go – seven games after today – but when the dust settles, the result of this afternoon’s match between Spurs and Forest may prove decisive. There’s not much else to say really: it’s a mustn’t-lose game for two teams who are waist-deep in the malodorous stuff.
Spurs will hope they turned a corner when Richarlison equalised in injury-time at Anfield, a result they followed with a losing victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek. Forest could have done without extra-time in Belgium on Thursday but they’ve won their last three matches against Spurs, including a 3-0 evisceration at the City Ground in December, and have probably played better than recent league results suggest.
Spurs and Forest would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for their pesky ex. But Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked by both clubs, has revived an apparently doomed West Ham. Their win at Spurs in January was the start of an excellent run of 15 points in nine games, and another victory at Aston Villa today would move them out of the relegation places for the first time in 2026.
We’ll have goal updates from that match as well, but our main focus is on events in north London.
Kick off 2.15pm
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Key events
Half-time reading
Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
John McGinn has scored the only goal in the battle of David Cameron’s favourite team. This is the Premier League table as things stand.
Half time: Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest
Interesting, very interesting. Spurs played well for most of the first half, but Forest’s outstanding centre-back pairing of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic kept them at arm’s length.
Igor Jesus headed Forest ahead against the run of play just before half-time, and there was still time for Matz Sels to deny Mathys Tel with a stunning save.
45+2 min: Tel hits the bar!
What an effort from Mathys Tel, who has been bright all afternoon. He received a square pass 25 yards from goal, turned and whipped an extravagant curler that smacked off the crossbar.
In fact, replays show that Sels got a slight touch with his right hand as he leapt to his left. That’s a sensational save!
The ball rebounded towards Romero, who went down dramatically under challenge from Williams. There was a VAR check for a Spurs penalty but play continues.
45+1 min Two minutes of added time. The scoreline is a bit harsh on Spurs, even if they haven’t had a shot on target.
Williams, on the left curled a big inswinging corner into a crowd of players at the far post. Igor Jesus won it in the air and powered a terrific header back across Vicario. And now Spurs really are in the malodorous stuff.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest (Igor Jesus 45)
Forest land a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time!
45 min Williams’ corner is headed away by Romero. Anderson heads it back into the box and Igor Jesus hooks a speculative looping volley on the turn. Vicario has to backpedal sharply to leap and tip it over.
44 min Forest give themselves a bit of respite by passing the ball around in the middle third for a minute or two. Eventually Gibbs-White makes a good run in behind to win a corner on the left. It’s Forest’s first of the game; Spurs have had eight.
The longer it stays 0-0, the more important the first goal becomes. I mean, obviously.
40 min After a promising start, Forest have been surprisingly poor in possession. I doubt it’s a case of Midtjylland catching up with them; not in the first half of the game.
37 min For all that dominance, a little statbox reminds us that the only shot on target at either end came from Forest’s Omari Hutchinson in the 18th minute.
35 min A succession of corners for Spurs, four or five in as many minutes. No chances eventuaate but they are really on top at the moment.
32 min An inviting inswinging cross from Tel is just too heavy for Richarlison at the far post. Spurs are playing with a notable intensity.
30 min Spurs are having a good spell, with Gray impressive in midfield. Pedro Porro wins another corner with a cross that deflects off Neco Williams’ breadbasket. Okay, down a bit from the breadbasket.
29 min Richarlison flashes a ball right across the face of an open goal, just in front of Solanke. The flag goes up after the event, though it looked close.
27 min “Chances of World War 3 happening are about the same as Spurs getting relegated,” writes Bede Ehiogu. “It’s going to look close, dangerously close, but in the end there’ll be safety.”
That’d be a great follow-up to WarGames.
25 min Van de Ven surges into the area and stumbles over under pressure from Aina. Nothing doing. At worst it was an accidental tangle of legs, or at least that’s how it looked.
23 min Archie Gray needs treatment after being caught painfully on the knee by Sangare. It wasn’t a great challenge: they both made contact with the ball but Sangare caught Gray (who was sliding, with his knee at ground level) with his studs in his follow through.
21 min Aina didn’t get the ball but I’m not sure how much he touched Sarr either. It’s a hard one to read because Sarr went down but then bounced straight to his feet without appealing.
Meanwhile, in Scotland…
20 min Sarr goes over in the area after a risky challenge from Aina. He bounces straight to his feet, even though there are plenty of appeals elsewhere, and Michael Oliver waves play on.
18 min At the other end Hutchinson cuts inside Tel and cracks a low shot that is comfortably held by Vicario, well positioned at the near post.
17 min “I know you’re not covering Villa v West Ham today,” writes Benjamin G, “but could I put this on record, please, since there’s nowhere else yet to place it?
”Tielemans on the bench! He’s nearly back! Praise the effing Lord!”
16 min: Igor Jesus hits his own post!
Danso’s superman throw is headed up in the air by the backpedalling Igor Jesus. The ball loops over everybody, hits the inside of the far post and bounces to safety. Richarlison was sniffing with intent but couldn’t get a touch.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham (McGinn 15)
Good news from Villa Park for these two teams: John McGinn has put Villa ahead against West Ham with a classy curling shot.
14 min Tel drives a flat corner beyond the far post. Richarlison arrives late, with Gray trying to block Williams, and heads back across goal. The ball drifts a couple of yards wide. Not a bad chance that.
13 min Gray sprays a pass out to Tel on the left. He cuts into the area, sits Aina down nicely and hits a shot that deflects over the bar. A really nice bit of play.
Relegation six-pointers battles can be tense but this has been an encouragingly open start.
11 min “She’s 29 and tries to get her 68-year-old dad out of the house every once in a while,” says Joe Pearson. “Good kid.”
You’re 68?! From your use of language I’d have guessed you were in your mid-40s. I’ll let you decide whether that’s a compliment.
10 min A deep cross is headed behind by Aina to give Spurs their first corner. Nothing comes of it, and life goes on.
7 min “Apropos of nothing, my grown daughter and I are heading off to see Project Hail Mary in a few minutes,” says Joe Pearson. “Spurs fans can make of that what they will.”
I’m more intrigued by your use of the word ‘grown’. Is there something about Project Hail Mary that required that clarification? Or was it a twist on Royal Tenenbaum introducing his daughter Margot?
Tom Garry
WSL round-up
Brighton and Liverpool both went agonisingly close to snatching victory late on as they provided a tense finish to their goalless stalemate, but both sides had to settle for a draw that edges Liverpool slightly further away from the drop zone.
In a game that was low on final-third quality and one where the highlights reel would probably begin in the 89th minute, the closest both sides came to winning it came in the final moments of the contest.
4 min Good start from Forest, who are passing the ball with a crisp confidence.
Match report: Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland
Louise Taylor
As recently as Friday morning Eddie Howe talked about some results having “bigger consequences than others”. This was most definitely one of them.
In completing a Premier League double against Newcastle, Régis Le Bris’s promoted Sunderland surely consigned Howe and his players to one of their most chastening afternoon’s at St James’ Park.
Coming four days after their dissection in Barcelona and at the hands of a seriously under-strength Sunderland it is no exaggeration to say that one of Le Bris’s biggest triumphs of an outstanding season represented a disaster for Howe.
3 min Danso, running towards his own goal, does very well to beat Igor Jesus to Gibbs-White’s dangerous cross. He manages to head it safely up in the air for Vicario to claim.
3 min “There’s five minutes to go at Tannadice, Rob, where two second-half goals for Dundee United have them 2-0 up and cruising against reigning champions Celtic, just like we were against Dundee at Dens last week,” says Simon McMahon. “What could possibly go wrong?”
World War III? Oh, sorry, you meant the football.
2 min Spurs have indeed started in a 4-4-2 formation with Micky Van de Ven at left-back. Murdoch 1-0 Smyth.
1 min Peep peep! Spurs kick off from left to right as we watch.
West Ham have made a late change to their XI at Villa Park. Freddie Potts replaces Jean-Clair Todibo, who did himself a nasty in the warm-up. That may also mean a change of formation, I’m not sure.
The Spurs formation
I thought Spurs would line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation but Sky Sports reckon they are playing two up front. Who ya gonna believe? (Sky, obviously.)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2) Vicario; Spence, Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Tel; Richarlison, Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Enough about today’s game, I just want to know what Cloughie was up with this T-shirt.
Harvey Auzorst pointed out that Jim Ramsey was a producer on ITV Sport at the time, but I’ve no idea of the backstory. With a bit of luck Jim Ramsey will be reading this.
“Unless you’re a Friend Of Piers (as I’m sure NO Arsenal fans want to be known), it’s traditionally been fairly difficult to truly dislike Spurs,” writes Matt Dony. “They just naturally seemed to have a decent amount of goodwill about them. Generally trying to play good football, interesting signings, decent results without being too successful. Lots of people seemed to have a soft spot for them.
“It feels like they’ve burned an awful lot of that goodwill over the last few years, though. To the point where, previously, I think most of us would be sad to see the predicament they’re in now. In actuality, though, it is (and we have to be honest) really quite funny. I still hope they don’t go down, but I have the popcorn out either way. And a heartfelt apology to the many, many fine Spurs fans who are going through the wringer.”
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Erm, excuse me, I asked you a question.
“Not a six-pointer then,” begins Charles Antaki, “but – for Man City and Arsenal fans, maybe an amuse-bouche? Little about it suggests the tantalising delicacy that the term suggests. Hors-d’oeuvre, perhaps, but pronounced horses’ hooves for the thundering and galumphing likely to be on show.”
Morgan Gibbs-White could probably sue for slander.
Late drama in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. Luke McLaughlin has more.
Ben Fisher
The night before Nottingham Forest prevailed against Midtjylland, going the distance in central Denmark to tee up a first European quarter-final 30 years to the day since their last, Ryan Yates was doing a spot of homework. The Forest club captain found himself flicking through the Champions League offering at the team hotel in Silkeborg, half an hour east of Herning, but naturally lingered on Tottenham’s rematch with Atlético Madrid. A trip to Spurs, of course, is next and, like Forest, they find themselves in a perilous predicament near the bottom of the Premier League.
Vítor Pereira has done whatever the opposite of dressing up Sunday’s meeting as just another game is, stressing with eight games to go the Premier League must come first, even if they have rekindled fading hopes of European glory. It has been an unexpectedly satisfying week for both sides, Forest overturning a first-leg deficit to advance, and Spurs building on an encouraging display, and result, at Liverpool by registering a welcome first win under Igor Tudor, whose side exited on aggregate.
The oft-maligned Richarlison has quietly scored nine Premier League goals this season. Nothing to write home about, sure, but he could be a key man in the next two months.
Forest’s top league goalscorer, since you asked, is Morgan Gibbs-White with eight.
Igor Tudor said data shows his players are now in the “top four or five of all season for high-intensity runs”. Opta data reveals the players are winning the ball higher up the pitch more often and applying more high-intensity pressure – leading to more successful attacks – in Tudor’s four Premier League games compared to his predecessor Thomas Frank’s 26.
“The squad is like one living thing, modulating the energy day by day, training by training, game by game,” said the 47-year-old. “The changes that happen are a result of the process. Sometimes you do better at one thing or another thing. It’s always about the level of problems there are to resolve, so you try to do your best and if you are good and the problems are not too big then you see the consequences. It’s all about that. Sometimes you need even more time. For sure, that’s an important thing. Now, it’s just to keep on. Don’t allow this to disappear. Keep them strong and continue in the same way.”
The relegation runners and riders
Nottingham Forest
Reasons for optimism: Nottingham Forest are 17th in the table, just above the relegation zone thanks to their superior goal difference to West Ham. They can pull further clear if they beat Tottenham on Sunday. They have won their last three matches against Spurs and are starting to show some signs of stability under Vítor Pereira. He is the club’s fourth manager this season, which is hardly ideal, but his focus on video analysis and one-to-one work have improved results. Forest came from behind twice to draw with Manchester City at the Etihad earlier this month and they have backed that up with another draw against Fulham and a win over Midtjylland in the Europa League. They are taking steps in the right direction at a pivotal point in the season.
Newcastle v Sunderland
Things are getting lively in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. You can follow the last quarter of that match with Luke McLaughlin.
“Merely a relegation six-pointer?” wonders Gary Naylor. “On this one, I think Spartacus Mills speaks for us all.”
Gary, I love you, but iT CAN’T BE A SIX-POINTER IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO PARTIES INVOLVED! Or am I just being a joyless, philosophically confused pedant?
For the avoidance of doubt, that was a rhetorical question.
Aston Villa v West Ham team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Mings, Tielemans, Buendia, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
West Ham (3-4-2-1) Hermansen; Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka,
Soucek, Fernandes, Diouf; Bowen, Pablo Felipe; Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Traore, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.
Referee Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Team news
Xavi Simons is omitted from the Spurs side despite scoring twice against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. He’s replaced by Richarlison, who was suspended for that game, while Kevin Danso and the fit-again Dominic Solanke come in for Radu Dragusin and Randal Kolo Muani.
Vitor Pereira used a number of his first-choice players from the bench in Denmark on Thursday, so there are eight changes to the XI that started against Midtjylland. Nikola Milenkovic and Omari Hutchinson are the survivors.
Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-2-1) Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Spence; Richarlison, Tel; Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Preamble
Cor, it’s a bit snug down there. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are separated by only one point, with Leeds United also involved in game of relegation Snakes and Ladders. Barring something unforseeable, one of those four big clubs will be playing Championship football next season. Forest, West Ham and Leeds are reasonably familiar with life in the second tier; Spurs haven’t experienced it since the 1970s.
There’s a fair way to go – seven games after today – but when the dust settles, the result of this afternoon’s match between Spurs and Forest may prove decisive. There’s not much else to say really: it’s a mustn’t-lose game for two teams who are waist-deep in the malodorous stuff.
Spurs will hope they turned a corner when Richarlison equalised in injury-time at Anfield, a result they followed with a losing victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek. Forest could have done without extra-time in Belgium on Thursday but they’ve won their last three matches against Spurs, including a 3-0 evisceration at the City Ground in December, and have probably played better than recent league results suggest.
Spurs and Forest would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for their pesky ex. But Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked by both clubs, has revived an apparently doomed West Ham. Their win at Spurs in January was the start of an excellent run of 15 points in nine games, and another victory at Aston Villa today would move them out of the relegation places for the first time in 2026.
We’ll have goal updates from that match as well, but our main focus is on events in north London.
Kick off 2.15pm
into a {compelling|engaging|clear|high-utility}, SEO-optimized, human-sounding news article for archyde.com about Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest: Premier League – live | Premier League.
– Preserve the core meaning and verified facts.
– Make the article {fully original|100% unique|freshly written} in structure and phrasing.
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Key events
Half-time reading
Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
John McGinn has scored the only goal in the battle of David Cameron’s favourite team. This is the Premier League table as things stand.
Half time: Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest
Interesting, very interesting. Spurs played well for most of the first half, but Forest’s outstanding centre-back pairing of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic kept them at arm’s length.
Igor Jesus headed Forest ahead against the run of play just before half-time, and there was still time for Matz Sels to deny Mathys Tel with a stunning save.
45+2 min: Tel hits the bar!
What an effort from Mathys Tel, who has been bright all afternoon. He received a square pass 25 yards from goal, turned and whipped an extravagant curler that smacked off the crossbar.
In fact, replays show that Sels got a slight touch with his right hand as he leapt to his left. That’s a sensational save!
The ball rebounded towards Romero, who went down dramatically under challenge from Williams. There was a VAR check for a Spurs penalty but play continues.
45+1 min Two minutes of added time. The scoreline is a bit harsh on Spurs, even if they haven’t had a shot on target.
Williams, on the left curled a big inswinging corner into a crowd of players at the far post. Igor Jesus won it in the air and powered a terrific header back across Vicario. And now Spurs really are in the malodorous stuff.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest (Igor Jesus 45)
Forest land a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time!
45 min Williams’ corner is headed away by Romero. Anderson heads it back into the box and Igor Jesus hooks a speculative looping volley on the turn. Vicario has to backpedal sharply to leap and tip it over.
44 min Forest give themselves a bit of respite by passing the ball around in the middle third for a minute or two. Eventually Gibbs-White makes a good run in behind to win a corner on the left. It’s Forest’s first of the game; Spurs have had eight.
The longer it stays 0-0, the more important the first goal becomes. I mean, obviously.
40 min After a promising start, Forest have been surprisingly poor in possession. I doubt it’s a case of Midtjylland catching up with them; not in the first half of the game.
37 min For all that dominance, a little statbox reminds us that the only shot on target at either end came from Forest’s Omari Hutchinson in the 18th minute.
35 min A succession of corners for Spurs, four or five in as many minutes. No chances eventuaate but they are really on top at the moment.
32 min An inviting inswinging cross from Tel is just too heavy for Richarlison at the far post. Spurs are playing with a notable intensity.
30 min Spurs are having a good spell, with Gray impressive in midfield. Pedro Porro wins another corner with a cross that deflects off Neco Williams’ breadbasket. Okay, down a bit from the breadbasket.
29 min Richarlison flashes a ball right across the face of an open goal, just in front of Solanke. The flag goes up after the event, though it looked close.
27 min “Chances of World War 3 happening are about the same as Spurs getting relegated,” writes Bede Ehiogu. “It’s going to look close, dangerously close, but in the end there’ll be safety.”
That’d be a great follow-up to WarGames.
25 min Van de Ven surges into the area and stumbles over under pressure from Aina. Nothing doing. At worst it was an accidental tangle of legs, or at least that’s how it looked.
23 min Archie Gray needs treatment after being caught painfully on the knee by Sangare. It wasn’t a great challenge: they both made contact with the ball but Sangare caught Gray (who was sliding, with his knee at ground level) with his studs in his follow through.
21 min Aina didn’t get the ball but I’m not sure how much he touched Sarr either. It’s a hard one to read because Sarr went down but then bounced straight to his feet without appealing.
Meanwhile, in Scotland…
20 min Sarr goes over in the area after a risky challenge from Aina. He bounces straight to his feet, even though there are plenty of appeals elsewhere, and Michael Oliver waves play on.
18 min At the other end Hutchinson cuts inside Tel and cracks a low shot that is comfortably held by Vicario, well positioned at the near post.
17 min “I know you’re not covering Villa v West Ham today,” writes Benjamin G, “but could I put this on record, please, since there’s nowhere else yet to place it?
”Tielemans on the bench! He’s nearly back! Praise the effing Lord!”
16 min: Igor Jesus hits his own post!
Danso’s superman throw is headed up in the air by the backpedalling Igor Jesus. The ball loops over everybody, hits the inside of the far post and bounces to safety. Richarlison was sniffing with intent but couldn’t get a touch.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham (McGinn 15)
Good news from Villa Park for these two teams: John McGinn has put Villa ahead against West Ham with a classy curling shot.
14 min Tel drives a flat corner beyond the far post. Richarlison arrives late, with Gray trying to block Williams, and heads back across goal. The ball drifts a couple of yards wide. Not a bad chance that.
13 min Gray sprays a pass out to Tel on the left. He cuts into the area, sits Aina down nicely and hits a shot that deflects over the bar. A really nice bit of play.
Relegation six-pointers battles can be tense but this has been an encouragingly open start.
11 min “She’s 29 and tries to get her 68-year-old dad out of the house every once in a while,” says Joe Pearson. “Good kid.”
You’re 68?! From your use of language I’d have guessed you were in your mid-40s. I’ll let you decide whether that’s a compliment.
10 min A deep cross is headed behind by Aina to give Spurs their first corner. Nothing comes of it, and life goes on.
7 min “Apropos of nothing, my grown daughter and I are heading off to see Project Hail Mary in a few minutes,” says Joe Pearson. “Spurs fans can make of that what they will.”
I’m more intrigued by your use of the word ‘grown’. Is there something about Project Hail Mary that required that clarification? Or was it a twist on Royal Tenenbaum introducing his daughter Margot?
Tom Garry
WSL round-up
Brighton and Liverpool both went agonisingly close to snatching victory late on as they provided a tense finish to their goalless stalemate, but both sides had to settle for a draw that edges Liverpool slightly further away from the drop zone.
In a game that was low on final-third quality and one where the highlights reel would probably begin in the 89th minute, the closest both sides came to winning it came in the final moments of the contest.
4 min Good start from Forest, who are passing the ball with a crisp confidence.
Match report: Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland
Louise Taylor
As recently as Friday morning Eddie Howe talked about some results having “bigger consequences than others”. This was most definitely one of them.
In completing a Premier League double against Newcastle, Régis Le Bris’s promoted Sunderland surely consigned Howe and his players to one of their most chastening afternoon’s at St James’ Park.
Coming four days after their dissection in Barcelona and at the hands of a seriously under-strength Sunderland it is no exaggeration to say that one of Le Bris’s biggest triumphs of an outstanding season represented a disaster for Howe.
3 min Danso, running towards his own goal, does very well to beat Igor Jesus to Gibbs-White’s dangerous cross. He manages to head it safely up in the air for Vicario to claim.
3 min “There’s five minutes to go at Tannadice, Rob, where two second-half goals for Dundee United have them 2-0 up and cruising against reigning champions Celtic, just like we were against Dundee at Dens last week,” says Simon McMahon. “What could possibly go wrong?”
World War III? Oh, sorry, you meant the football.
2 min Spurs have indeed started in a 4-4-2 formation with Micky Van de Ven at left-back. Murdoch 1-0 Smyth.
1 min Peep peep! Spurs kick off from left to right as we watch.
West Ham have made a late change to their XI at Villa Park. Freddie Potts replaces Jean-Clair Todibo, who did himself a nasty in the warm-up. That may also mean a change of formation, I’m not sure.
The Spurs formation
I thought Spurs would line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation but Sky Sports reckon they are playing two up front. Who ya gonna believe? (Sky, obviously.)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2) Vicario; Spence, Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Tel; Richarlison, Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Enough about today’s game, I just want to know what Cloughie was up with this T-shirt.
Harvey Auzorst pointed out that Jim Ramsey was a producer on ITV Sport at the time, but I’ve no idea of the backstory. With a bit of luck Jim Ramsey will be reading this.
“Unless you’re a Friend Of Piers (as I’m sure NO Arsenal fans want to be known), it’s traditionally been fairly difficult to truly dislike Spurs,” writes Matt Dony. “They just naturally seemed to have a decent amount of goodwill about them. Generally trying to play good football, interesting signings, decent results without being too successful. Lots of people seemed to have a soft spot for them.
“It feels like they’ve burned an awful lot of that goodwill over the last few years, though. To the point where, previously, I think most of us would be sad to see the predicament they’re in now. In actuality, though, it is (and we have to be honest) really quite funny. I still hope they don’t go down, but I have the popcorn out either way. And a heartfelt apology to the many, many fine Spurs fans who are going through the wringer.”
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Erm, excuse me, I asked you a question.
“Not a six-pointer then,” begins Charles Antaki, “but – for Man City and Arsenal fans, maybe an amuse-bouche? Little about it suggests the tantalising delicacy that the term suggests. Hors-d’oeuvre, perhaps, but pronounced horses’ hooves for the thundering and galumphing likely to be on show.”
Morgan Gibbs-White could probably sue for slander.
Late drama in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. Luke McLaughlin has more.
Ben Fisher
The night before Nottingham Forest prevailed against Midtjylland, going the distance in central Denmark to tee up a first European quarter-final 30 years to the day since their last, Ryan Yates was doing a spot of homework. The Forest club captain found himself flicking through the Champions League offering at the team hotel in Silkeborg, half an hour east of Herning, but naturally lingered on Tottenham’s rematch with Atlético Madrid. A trip to Spurs, of course, is next and, like Forest, they find themselves in a perilous predicament near the bottom of the Premier League.
Vítor Pereira has done whatever the opposite of dressing up Sunday’s meeting as just another game is, stressing with eight games to go the Premier League must come first, even if they have rekindled fading hopes of European glory. It has been an unexpectedly satisfying week for both sides, Forest overturning a first-leg deficit to advance, and Spurs building on an encouraging display, and result, at Liverpool by registering a welcome first win under Igor Tudor, whose side exited on aggregate.
The oft-maligned Richarlison has quietly scored nine Premier League goals this season. Nothing to write home about, sure, but he could be a key man in the next two months.
Forest’s top league goalscorer, since you asked, is Morgan Gibbs-White with eight.
Igor Tudor said data shows his players are now in the “top four or five of all season for high-intensity runs”. Opta data reveals the players are winning the ball higher up the pitch more often and applying more high-intensity pressure – leading to more successful attacks – in Tudor’s four Premier League games compared to his predecessor Thomas Frank’s 26.
“The squad is like one living thing, modulating the energy day by day, training by training, game by game,” said the 47-year-old. “The changes that happen are a result of the process. Sometimes you do better at one thing or another thing. It’s always about the level of problems there are to resolve, so you try to do your best and if you are good and the problems are not too big then you see the consequences. It’s all about that. Sometimes you need even more time. For sure, that’s an important thing. Now, it’s just to keep on. Don’t allow this to disappear. Keep them strong and continue in the same way.”
The relegation runners and riders
Nottingham Forest
Reasons for optimism: Nottingham Forest are 17th in the table, just above the relegation zone thanks to their superior goal difference to West Ham. They can pull further clear if they beat Tottenham on Sunday. They have won their last three matches against Spurs and are starting to show some signs of stability under Vítor Pereira. He is the club’s fourth manager this season, which is hardly ideal, but his focus on video analysis and one-to-one work have improved results. Forest came from behind twice to draw with Manchester City at the Etihad earlier this month and they have backed that up with another draw against Fulham and a win over Midtjylland in the Europa League. They are taking steps in the right direction at a pivotal point in the season.
Newcastle v Sunderland
Things are getting lively in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. You can follow the last quarter of that match with Luke McLaughlin.
“Merely a relegation six-pointer?” wonders Gary Naylor. “On this one, I think Spartacus Mills speaks for us all.”
Gary, I love you, but iT CAN’T BE A SIX-POINTER IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO PARTIES INVOLVED! Or am I just being a joyless, philosophically confused pedant?
For the avoidance of doubt, that was a rhetorical question.
Aston Villa v West Ham team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Mings, Tielemans, Buendia, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
West Ham (3-4-2-1) Hermansen; Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka,
Soucek, Fernandes, Diouf; Bowen, Pablo Felipe; Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Traore, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.
Referee Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Team news
Xavi Simons is omitted from the Spurs side despite scoring twice against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. He’s replaced by Richarlison, who was suspended for that game, while Kevin Danso and the fit-again Dominic Solanke come in for Radu Dragusin and Randal Kolo Muani.
Vitor Pereira used a number of his first-choice players from the bench in Denmark on Thursday, so there are eight changes to the XI that started against Midtjylland. Nikola Milenkovic and Omari Hutchinson are the survivors.
Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-2-1) Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Spence; Richarlison, Tel; Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Preamble
Cor, it’s a bit snug down there. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are separated by only one point, with Leeds United also involved in game of relegation Snakes and Ladders. Barring something unforseeable, one of those four big clubs will be playing Championship football next season. Forest, West Ham and Leeds are reasonably familiar with life in the second tier; Spurs haven’t experienced it since the 1970s.
There’s a fair way to go – seven games after today – but when the dust settles, the result of this afternoon’s match between Spurs and Forest may prove decisive. There’s not much else to say really: it’s a mustn’t-lose game for two teams who are waist-deep in the malodorous stuff.
Spurs will hope they turned a corner when Richarlison equalised in injury-time at Anfield, a result they followed with a losing victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek. Forest could have done without extra-time in Belgium on Thursday but they’ve won their last three matches against Spurs, including a 3-0 evisceration at the City Ground in December, and have probably played better than recent league results suggest.
Spurs and Forest would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for their pesky ex. But Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked by both clubs, has revived an apparently doomed West Ham. Their win at Spurs in January was the start of an excellent run of 15 points in nine games, and another victory at Aston Villa today would move them out of the relegation places for the first time in 2026.
We’ll have goal updates from that match as well, but our main focus is on events in north London.
Kick off 2.15pm
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Key events
Half-time reading
Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
John McGinn has scored the only goal in the battle of David Cameron’s favourite team. This is the Premier League table as things stand.
Half time: Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest
Interesting, very interesting. Spurs played well for most of the first half, but Forest’s outstanding centre-back pairing of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic kept them at arm’s length.
Igor Jesus headed Forest ahead against the run of play just before half-time, and there was still time for Matz Sels to deny Mathys Tel with a stunning save.
45+2 min: Tel hits the bar!
What an effort from Mathys Tel, who has been bright all afternoon. He received a square pass 25 yards from goal, turned and whipped an extravagant curler that smacked off the crossbar.
In fact, replays show that Sels got a slight touch with his right hand as he leapt to his left. That’s a sensational save!
The ball rebounded towards Romero, who went down dramatically under challenge from Williams. There was a VAR check for a Spurs penalty but play continues.
45+1 min Two minutes of added time. The scoreline is a bit harsh on Spurs, even if they haven’t had a shot on target.
Williams, on the left curled a big inswinging corner into a crowd of players at the far post. Igor Jesus won it in the air and powered a terrific header back across Vicario. And now Spurs really are in the malodorous stuff.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest (Igor Jesus 45)
Forest land a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time!
45 min Williams’ corner is headed away by Romero. Anderson heads it back into the box and Igor Jesus hooks a speculative looping volley on the turn. Vicario has to backpedal sharply to leap and tip it over.
44 min Forest give themselves a bit of respite by passing the ball around in the middle third for a minute or two. Eventually Gibbs-White makes a good run in behind to win a corner on the left. It’s Forest’s first of the game; Spurs have had eight.
The longer it stays 0-0, the more important the first goal becomes. I mean, obviously.
40 min After a promising start, Forest have been surprisingly poor in possession. I doubt it’s a case of Midtjylland catching up with them; not in the first half of the game.
37 min For all that dominance, a little statbox reminds us that the only shot on target at either end came from Forest’s Omari Hutchinson in the 18th minute.
35 min A succession of corners for Spurs, four or five in as many minutes. No chances eventuaate but they are really on top at the moment.
32 min An inviting inswinging cross from Tel is just too heavy for Richarlison at the far post. Spurs are playing with a notable intensity.
30 min Spurs are having a good spell, with Gray impressive in midfield. Pedro Porro wins another corner with a cross that deflects off Neco Williams’ breadbasket. Okay, down a bit from the breadbasket.
29 min Richarlison flashes a ball right across the face of an open goal, just in front of Solanke. The flag goes up after the event, though it looked close.
27 min “Chances of World War 3 happening are about the same as Spurs getting relegated,” writes Bede Ehiogu. “It’s going to look close, dangerously close, but in the end there’ll be safety.”
That’d be a great follow-up to WarGames.
25 min Van de Ven surges into the area and stumbles over under pressure from Aina. Nothing doing. At worst it was an accidental tangle of legs, or at least that’s how it looked.
23 min Archie Gray needs treatment after being caught painfully on the knee by Sangare. It wasn’t a great challenge: they both made contact with the ball but Sangare caught Gray (who was sliding, with his knee at ground level) with his studs in his follow through.
21 min Aina didn’t get the ball but I’m not sure how much he touched Sarr either. It’s a hard one to read because Sarr went down but then bounced straight to his feet without appealing.
Meanwhile, in Scotland…
20 min Sarr goes over in the area after a risky challenge from Aina. He bounces straight to his feet, even though there are plenty of appeals elsewhere, and Michael Oliver waves play on.
18 min At the other end Hutchinson cuts inside Tel and cracks a low shot that is comfortably held by Vicario, well positioned at the near post.
17 min “I know you’re not covering Villa v West Ham today,” writes Benjamin G, “but could I put this on record, please, since there’s nowhere else yet to place it?
”Tielemans on the bench! He’s nearly back! Praise the effing Lord!”
16 min: Igor Jesus hits his own post!
Danso’s superman throw is headed up in the air by the backpedalling Igor Jesus. The ball loops over everybody, hits the inside of the far post and bounces to safety. Richarlison was sniffing with intent but couldn’t get a touch.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham (McGinn 15)
Good news from Villa Park for these two teams: John McGinn has put Villa ahead against West Ham with a classy curling shot.
14 min Tel drives a flat corner beyond the far post. Richarlison arrives late, with Gray trying to block Williams, and heads back across goal. The ball drifts a couple of yards wide. Not a bad chance that.
13 min Gray sprays a pass out to Tel on the left. He cuts into the area, sits Aina down nicely and hits a shot that deflects over the bar. A really nice bit of play.
Relegation six-pointers battles can be tense but this has been an encouragingly open start.
11 min “She’s 29 and tries to get her 68-year-old dad out of the house every once in a while,” says Joe Pearson. “Good kid.”
You’re 68?! From your use of language I’d have guessed you were in your mid-40s. I’ll let you decide whether that’s a compliment.
10 min A deep cross is headed behind by Aina to give Spurs their first corner. Nothing comes of it, and life goes on.
7 min “Apropos of nothing, my grown daughter and I are heading off to see Project Hail Mary in a few minutes,” says Joe Pearson. “Spurs fans can make of that what they will.”
I’m more intrigued by your use of the word ‘grown’. Is there something about Project Hail Mary that required that clarification? Or was it a twist on Royal Tenenbaum introducing his daughter Margot?
Tom Garry
WSL round-up
Brighton and Liverpool both went agonisingly close to snatching victory late on as they provided a tense finish to their goalless stalemate, but both sides had to settle for a draw that edges Liverpool slightly further away from the drop zone.
In a game that was low on final-third quality and one where the highlights reel would probably begin in the 89th minute, the closest both sides came to winning it came in the final moments of the contest.
4 min Good start from Forest, who are passing the ball with a crisp confidence.
Match report: Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland
Louise Taylor
As recently as Friday morning Eddie Howe talked about some results having “bigger consequences than others”. This was most definitely one of them.
In completing a Premier League double against Newcastle, Régis Le Bris’s promoted Sunderland surely consigned Howe and his players to one of their most chastening afternoon’s at St James’ Park.
Coming four days after their dissection in Barcelona and at the hands of a seriously under-strength Sunderland it is no exaggeration to say that one of Le Bris’s biggest triumphs of an outstanding season represented a disaster for Howe.
3 min Danso, running towards his own goal, does very well to beat Igor Jesus to Gibbs-White’s dangerous cross. He manages to head it safely up in the air for Vicario to claim.
3 min “There’s five minutes to go at Tannadice, Rob, where two second-half goals for Dundee United have them 2-0 up and cruising against reigning champions Celtic, just like we were against Dundee at Dens last week,” says Simon McMahon. “What could possibly go wrong?”
World War III? Oh, sorry, you meant the football.
2 min Spurs have indeed started in a 4-4-2 formation with Micky Van de Ven at left-back. Murdoch 1-0 Smyth.
1 min Peep peep! Spurs kick off from left to right as we watch.
West Ham have made a late change to their XI at Villa Park. Freddie Potts replaces Jean-Clair Todibo, who did himself a nasty in the warm-up. That may also mean a change of formation, I’m not sure.
The Spurs formation
I thought Spurs would line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation but Sky Sports reckon they are playing two up front. Who ya gonna believe? (Sky, obviously.)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2) Vicario; Spence, Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Tel; Richarlison, Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Enough about today’s game, I just want to know what Cloughie was up with this T-shirt.
Harvey Auzorst pointed out that Jim Ramsey was a producer on ITV Sport at the time, but I’ve no idea of the backstory. With a bit of luck Jim Ramsey will be reading this.
“Unless you’re a Friend Of Piers (as I’m sure NO Arsenal fans want to be known), it’s traditionally been fairly difficult to truly dislike Spurs,” writes Matt Dony. “They just naturally seemed to have a decent amount of goodwill about them. Generally trying to play good football, interesting signings, decent results without being too successful. Lots of people seemed to have a soft spot for them.
“It feels like they’ve burned an awful lot of that goodwill over the last few years, though. To the point where, previously, I think most of us would be sad to see the predicament they’re in now. In actuality, though, it is (and we have to be honest) really quite funny. I still hope they don’t go down, but I have the popcorn out either way. And a heartfelt apology to the many, many fine Spurs fans who are going through the wringer.”
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Erm, excuse me, I asked you a question.
“Not a six-pointer then,” begins Charles Antaki, “but – for Man City and Arsenal fans, maybe an amuse-bouche? Little about it suggests the tantalising delicacy that the term suggests. Hors-d’oeuvre, perhaps, but pronounced horses’ hooves for the thundering and galumphing likely to be on show.”
Morgan Gibbs-White could probably sue for slander.
Late drama in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. Luke McLaughlin has more.
Ben Fisher
The night before Nottingham Forest prevailed against Midtjylland, going the distance in central Denmark to tee up a first European quarter-final 30 years to the day since their last, Ryan Yates was doing a spot of homework. The Forest club captain found himself flicking through the Champions League offering at the team hotel in Silkeborg, half an hour east of Herning, but naturally lingered on Tottenham’s rematch with Atlético Madrid. A trip to Spurs, of course, is next and, like Forest, they find themselves in a perilous predicament near the bottom of the Premier League.
Vítor Pereira has done whatever the opposite of dressing up Sunday’s meeting as just another game is, stressing with eight games to go the Premier League must come first, even if they have rekindled fading hopes of European glory. It has been an unexpectedly satisfying week for both sides, Forest overturning a first-leg deficit to advance, and Spurs building on an encouraging display, and result, at Liverpool by registering a welcome first win under Igor Tudor, whose side exited on aggregate.
The oft-maligned Richarlison has quietly scored nine Premier League goals this season. Nothing to write home about, sure, but he could be a key man in the next two months.
Forest’s top league goalscorer, since you asked, is Morgan Gibbs-White with eight.
Igor Tudor said data shows his players are now in the “top four or five of all season for high-intensity runs”. Opta data reveals the players are winning the ball higher up the pitch more often and applying more high-intensity pressure – leading to more successful attacks – in Tudor’s four Premier League games compared to his predecessor Thomas Frank’s 26.
“The squad is like one living thing, modulating the energy day by day, training by training, game by game,” said the 47-year-old. “The changes that happen are a result of the process. Sometimes you do better at one thing or another thing. It’s always about the level of problems there are to resolve, so you try to do your best and if you are good and the problems are not too big then you see the consequences. It’s all about that. Sometimes you need even more time. For sure, that’s an important thing. Now, it’s just to keep on. Don’t allow this to disappear. Keep them strong and continue in the same way.”
The relegation runners and riders
Nottingham Forest
Reasons for optimism: Nottingham Forest are 17th in the table, just above the relegation zone thanks to their superior goal difference to West Ham. They can pull further clear if they beat Tottenham on Sunday. They have won their last three matches against Spurs and are starting to show some signs of stability under Vítor Pereira. He is the club’s fourth manager this season, which is hardly ideal, but his focus on video analysis and one-to-one work have improved results. Forest came from behind twice to draw with Manchester City at the Etihad earlier this month and they have backed that up with another draw against Fulham and a win over Midtjylland in the Europa League. They are taking steps in the right direction at a pivotal point in the season.
Newcastle v Sunderland
Things are getting lively in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. You can follow the last quarter of that match with Luke McLaughlin.
“Merely a relegation six-pointer?” wonders Gary Naylor. “On this one, I think Spartacus Mills speaks for us all.”
Gary, I love you, but iT CAN’T BE A SIX-POINTER IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO PARTIES INVOLVED! Or am I just being a joyless, philosophically confused pedant?
For the avoidance of doubt, that was a rhetorical question.
Aston Villa v West Ham team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Mings, Tielemans, Buendia, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
West Ham (3-4-2-1) Hermansen; Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka,
Soucek, Fernandes, Diouf; Bowen, Pablo Felipe; Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Traore, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.
Referee Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Team news
Xavi Simons is omitted from the Spurs side despite scoring twice against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. He’s replaced by Richarlison, who was suspended for that game, while Kevin Danso and the fit-again Dominic Solanke come in for Radu Dragusin and Randal Kolo Muani.
Vitor Pereira used a number of his first-choice players from the bench in Denmark on Thursday, so there are eight changes to the XI that started against Midtjylland. Nikola Milenkovic and Omari Hutchinson are the survivors.
Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-2-1) Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Spence; Richarlison, Tel; Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Preamble
Cor, it’s a bit snug down there. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are separated by only one point, with Leeds United also involved in game of relegation Snakes and Ladders. Barring something unforseeable, one of those four big clubs will be playing Championship football next season. Forest, West Ham and Leeds are reasonably familiar with life in the second tier; Spurs haven’t experienced it since the 1970s.
There’s a fair way to go – seven games after today – but when the dust settles, the result of this afternoon’s match between Spurs and Forest may prove decisive. There’s not much else to say really: it’s a mustn’t-lose game for two teams who are waist-deep in the malodorous stuff.
Spurs will hope they turned a corner when Richarlison equalised in injury-time at Anfield, a result they followed with a losing victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek. Forest could have done without extra-time in Belgium on Thursday but they’ve won their last three matches against Spurs, including a 3-0 evisceration at the City Ground in December, and have probably played better than recent league results suggest.
Spurs and Forest would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for their pesky ex. But Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked by both clubs, has revived an apparently doomed West Ham. Their win at Spurs in January was the start of an excellent run of 15 points in nine games, and another victory at Aston Villa today would move them out of the relegation places for the first time in 2026.
We’ll have goal updates from that match as well, but our main focus is on events in north London.
Kick off 2.15pm
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Key events
Half-time reading
Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
John McGinn has scored the only goal in the battle of David Cameron’s favourite team. This is the Premier League table as things stand.
Half time: Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest
Interesting, very interesting. Spurs played well for most of the first half, but Forest’s outstanding centre-back pairing of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic kept them at arm’s length.
Igor Jesus headed Forest ahead against the run of play just before half-time, and there was still time for Matz Sels to deny Mathys Tel with a stunning save.
45+2 min: Tel hits the bar!
What an effort from Mathys Tel, who has been bright all afternoon. He received a square pass 25 yards from goal, turned and whipped an extravagant curler that smacked off the crossbar.
In fact, replays show that Sels got a slight touch with his right hand as he leapt to his left. That’s a sensational save!
The ball rebounded towards Romero, who went down dramatically under challenge from Williams. There was a VAR check for a Spurs penalty but play continues.
45+1 min Two minutes of added time. The scoreline is a bit harsh on Spurs, even if they haven’t had a shot on target.
Williams, on the left curled a big inswinging corner into a crowd of players at the far post. Igor Jesus won it in the air and powered a terrific header back across Vicario. And now Spurs really are in the malodorous stuff.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Nottm Forest (Igor Jesus 45)
Forest land a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time!
45 min Williams’ corner is headed away by Romero. Anderson heads it back into the box and Igor Jesus hooks a speculative looping volley on the turn. Vicario has to backpedal sharply to leap and tip it over.
44 min Forest give themselves a bit of respite by passing the ball around in the middle third for a minute or two. Eventually Gibbs-White makes a good run in behind to win a corner on the left. It’s Forest’s first of the game; Spurs have had eight.
The longer it stays 0-0, the more important the first goal becomes. I mean, obviously.
40 min After a promising start, Forest have been surprisingly poor in possession. I doubt it’s a case of Midtjylland catching up with them; not in the first half of the game.
37 min For all that dominance, a little statbox reminds us that the only shot on target at either end came from Forest’s Omari Hutchinson in the 18th minute.
35 min A succession of corners for Spurs, four or five in as many minutes. No chances eventuaate but they are really on top at the moment.
32 min An inviting inswinging cross from Tel is just too heavy for Richarlison at the far post. Spurs are playing with a notable intensity.
30 min Spurs are having a good spell, with Gray impressive in midfield. Pedro Porro wins another corner with a cross that deflects off Neco Williams’ breadbasket. Okay, down a bit from the breadbasket.
29 min Richarlison flashes a ball right across the face of an open goal, just in front of Solanke. The flag goes up after the event, though it looked close.
27 min “Chances of World War 3 happening are about the same as Spurs getting relegated,” writes Bede Ehiogu. “It’s going to look close, dangerously close, but in the end there’ll be safety.”
That’d be a great follow-up to WarGames.
25 min Van de Ven surges into the area and stumbles over under pressure from Aina. Nothing doing. At worst it was an accidental tangle of legs, or at least that’s how it looked.
23 min Archie Gray needs treatment after being caught painfully on the knee by Sangare. It wasn’t a great challenge: they both made contact with the ball but Sangare caught Gray (who was sliding, with his knee at ground level) with his studs in his follow through.
21 min Aina didn’t get the ball but I’m not sure how much he touched Sarr either. It’s a hard one to read because Sarr went down but then bounced straight to his feet without appealing.
Meanwhile, in Scotland…
20 min Sarr goes over in the area after a risky challenge from Aina. He bounces straight to his feet, even though there are plenty of appeals elsewhere, and Michael Oliver waves play on.
18 min At the other end Hutchinson cuts inside Tel and cracks a low shot that is comfortably held by Vicario, well positioned at the near post.
17 min “I know you’re not covering Villa v West Ham today,” writes Benjamin G, “but could I put this on record, please, since there’s nowhere else yet to place it?
”Tielemans on the bench! He’s nearly back! Praise the effing Lord!”
16 min: Igor Jesus hits his own post!
Danso’s superman throw is headed up in the air by the backpedalling Igor Jesus. The ball loops over everybody, hits the inside of the far post and bounces to safety. Richarlison was sniffing with intent but couldn’t get a touch.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham (McGinn 15)
Good news from Villa Park for these two teams: John McGinn has put Villa ahead against West Ham with a classy curling shot.
14 min Tel drives a flat corner beyond the far post. Richarlison arrives late, with Gray trying to block Williams, and heads back across goal. The ball drifts a couple of yards wide. Not a bad chance that.
13 min Gray sprays a pass out to Tel on the left. He cuts into the area, sits Aina down nicely and hits a shot that deflects over the bar. A really nice bit of play.
Relegation six-pointers battles can be tense but this has been an encouragingly open start.
11 min “She’s 29 and tries to get her 68-year-old dad out of the house every once in a while,” says Joe Pearson. “Good kid.”
You’re 68?! From your use of language I’d have guessed you were in your mid-40s. I’ll let you decide whether that’s a compliment.
10 min A deep cross is headed behind by Aina to give Spurs their first corner. Nothing comes of it, and life goes on.
7 min “Apropos of nothing, my grown daughter and I are heading off to see Project Hail Mary in a few minutes,” says Joe Pearson. “Spurs fans can make of that what they will.”
I’m more intrigued by your use of the word ‘grown’. Is there something about Project Hail Mary that required that clarification? Or was it a twist on Royal Tenenbaum introducing his daughter Margot?
Tom Garry
WSL round-up
Brighton and Liverpool both went agonisingly close to snatching victory late on as they provided a tense finish to their goalless stalemate, but both sides had to settle for a draw that edges Liverpool slightly further away from the drop zone.
In a game that was low on final-third quality and one where the highlights reel would probably begin in the 89th minute, the closest both sides came to winning it came in the final moments of the contest.
4 min Good start from Forest, who are passing the ball with a crisp confidence.
Match report: Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland
Louise Taylor
As recently as Friday morning Eddie Howe talked about some results having “bigger consequences than others”. This was most definitely one of them.
In completing a Premier League double against Newcastle, Régis Le Bris’s promoted Sunderland surely consigned Howe and his players to one of their most chastening afternoon’s at St James’ Park.
Coming four days after their dissection in Barcelona and at the hands of a seriously under-strength Sunderland it is no exaggeration to say that one of Le Bris’s biggest triumphs of an outstanding season represented a disaster for Howe.
3 min Danso, running towards his own goal, does very well to beat Igor Jesus to Gibbs-White’s dangerous cross. He manages to head it safely up in the air for Vicario to claim.
3 min “There’s five minutes to go at Tannadice, Rob, where two second-half goals for Dundee United have them 2-0 up and cruising against reigning champions Celtic, just like we were against Dundee at Dens last week,” says Simon McMahon. “What could possibly go wrong?”
World War III? Oh, sorry, you meant the football.
2 min Spurs have indeed started in a 4-4-2 formation with Micky Van de Ven at left-back. Murdoch 1-0 Smyth.
1 min Peep peep! Spurs kick off from left to right as we watch.
West Ham have made a late change to their XI at Villa Park. Freddie Potts replaces Jean-Clair Todibo, who did himself a nasty in the warm-up. That may also mean a change of formation, I’m not sure.
The Spurs formation
I thought Spurs would line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation but Sky Sports reckon they are playing two up front. Who ya gonna believe? (Sky, obviously.)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2) Vicario; Spence, Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Tel; Richarlison, Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Enough about today’s game, I just want to know what Cloughie was up with this T-shirt.
Harvey Auzorst pointed out that Jim Ramsey was a producer on ITV Sport at the time, but I’ve no idea of the backstory. With a bit of luck Jim Ramsey will be reading this.
“Unless you’re a Friend Of Piers (as I’m sure NO Arsenal fans want to be known), it’s traditionally been fairly difficult to truly dislike Spurs,” writes Matt Dony. “They just naturally seemed to have a decent amount of goodwill about them. Generally trying to play good football, interesting signings, decent results without being too successful. Lots of people seemed to have a soft spot for them.
“It feels like they’ve burned an awful lot of that goodwill over the last few years, though. To the point where, previously, I think most of us would be sad to see the predicament they’re in now. In actuality, though, it is (and we have to be honest) really quite funny. I still hope they don’t go down, but I have the popcorn out either way. And a heartfelt apology to the many, many fine Spurs fans who are going through the wringer.”
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Erm, excuse me, I asked you a question.
“Not a six-pointer then,” begins Charles Antaki, “but – for Man City and Arsenal fans, maybe an amuse-bouche? Little about it suggests the tantalising delicacy that the term suggests. Hors-d’oeuvre, perhaps, but pronounced horses’ hooves for the thundering and galumphing likely to be on show.”
Morgan Gibbs-White could probably sue for slander.
Late drama in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. Luke McLaughlin has more.
Ben Fisher
The night before Nottingham Forest prevailed against Midtjylland, going the distance in central Denmark to tee up a first European quarter-final 30 years to the day since their last, Ryan Yates was doing a spot of homework. The Forest club captain found himself flicking through the Champions League offering at the team hotel in Silkeborg, half an hour east of Herning, but naturally lingered on Tottenham’s rematch with Atlético Madrid. A trip to Spurs, of course, is next and, like Forest, they find themselves in a perilous predicament near the bottom of the Premier League.
Vítor Pereira has done whatever the opposite of dressing up Sunday’s meeting as just another game is, stressing with eight games to go the Premier League must come first, even if they have rekindled fading hopes of European glory. It has been an unexpectedly satisfying week for both sides, Forest overturning a first-leg deficit to advance, and Spurs building on an encouraging display, and result, at Liverpool by registering a welcome first win under Igor Tudor, whose side exited on aggregate.
The oft-maligned Richarlison has quietly scored nine Premier League goals this season. Nothing to write home about, sure, but he could be a key man in the next two months.
Forest’s top league goalscorer, since you asked, is Morgan Gibbs-White with eight.
Igor Tudor said data shows his players are now in the “top four or five of all season for high-intensity runs”. Opta data reveals the players are winning the ball higher up the pitch more often and applying more high-intensity pressure – leading to more successful attacks – in Tudor’s four Premier League games compared to his predecessor Thomas Frank’s 26.
“The squad is like one living thing, modulating the energy day by day, training by training, game by game,” said the 47-year-old. “The changes that happen are a result of the process. Sometimes you do better at one thing or another thing. It’s always about the level of problems there are to resolve, so you try to do your best and if you are good and the problems are not too big then you see the consequences. It’s all about that. Sometimes you need even more time. For sure, that’s an important thing. Now, it’s just to keep on. Don’t allow this to disappear. Keep them strong and continue in the same way.”
The relegation runners and riders
Nottingham Forest
Reasons for optimism: Nottingham Forest are 17th in the table, just above the relegation zone thanks to their superior goal difference to West Ham. They can pull further clear if they beat Tottenham on Sunday. They have won their last three matches against Spurs and are starting to show some signs of stability under Vítor Pereira. He is the club’s fourth manager this season, which is hardly ideal, but his focus on video analysis and one-to-one work have improved results. Forest came from behind twice to draw with Manchester City at the Etihad earlier this month and they have backed that up with another draw against Fulham and a win over Midtjylland in the Europa League. They are taking steps in the right direction at a pivotal point in the season.
Newcastle v Sunderland
Things are getting lively in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. You can follow the last quarter of that match with Luke McLaughlin.
“Merely a relegation six-pointer?” wonders Gary Naylor. “On this one, I think Spartacus Mills speaks for us all.”
Gary, I love you, but iT CAN’T BE A SIX-POINTER IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO PARTIES INVOLVED! Or am I just being a joyless, philosophically confused pedant?
For the avoidance of doubt, that was a rhetorical question.
Aston Villa v West Ham team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Mings, Tielemans, Buendia, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
West Ham (3-4-2-1) Hermansen; Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka,
Soucek, Fernandes, Diouf; Bowen, Pablo Felipe; Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Traore, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.
Referee Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Team news
Xavi Simons is omitted from the Spurs side despite scoring twice against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. He’s replaced by Richarlison, who was suspended for that game, while Kevin Danso and the fit-again Dominic Solanke come in for Radu Dragusin and Randal Kolo Muani.
Vitor Pereira used a number of his first-choice players from the bench in Denmark on Thursday, so there are eight changes to the XI that started against Midtjylland. Nikola Milenkovic and Omari Hutchinson are the survivors.
Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-2-1) Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Spence; Richarlison, Tel; Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Preamble
Cor, it’s a bit snug down there. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are separated by only one point, with Leeds United also involved in game of relegation Snakes and Ladders. Barring something unforseeable, one of those four big clubs will be playing Championship football next season. Forest, West Ham and Leeds are reasonably familiar with life in the second tier; Spurs haven’t experienced it since the 1970s.
There’s a fair way to go – seven games after today – but when the dust settles, the result of this afternoon’s match between Spurs and Forest may prove decisive. There’s not much else to say really: it’s a mustn’t-lose game for two teams who are waist-deep in the malodorous stuff.
Spurs will hope they turned a corner when Richarlison equalised in injury-time at Anfield, a result they followed with a losing victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek. Forest could have done without extra-time in Belgium on Thursday but they’ve won their last three matches against Spurs, including a 3-0 evisceration at the City Ground in December, and have probably played better than recent league results suggest.
Spurs and Forest would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for their pesky ex. But Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked by both clubs, has revived an apparently doomed West Ham. Their win at Spurs in January was the start of an excellent run of 15 points in nine games, and another victory at Aston Villa today would move them out of the relegation places for the first time in 2026.
We’ll have goal updates from that match as well, but our main focus is on events in north London.
Kick off 2.15pm
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