Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) missed his third consecutive game. Tottenham could not avoid humiliation at home.
On the 22nd (Korea time), Tottenham lost 1-2 to Nottingham Forest in the 33rd round of the 2024-2025 Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
This defeat left Tottenham with just 1 win (2 draws and 4 losses) in their last 7 league matches. Tottenham, stuck at 37 points (11 wins, 4 draws, and 18 losses), was pushed down to 16th place. They are only 1 point ahead of 17th-placed West Ham United (36 points), but they have already secured their retention regardless of the remaining match results. Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton have been confirmed relegated.
On the other hand, Nottingham rose to 3rd place with 60 points, surpassing Newcastle United (59 points). If this continues, a UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification, the first since 1981, is also possible. This would mark a first in the history since the Premier League's inception in 1992.
Nottingham is writing history alongside Nuno Espírito Santo, who was expelled from Tottenham four years ago. Nuno took charge of Tottenham in the summer of 2021 but was dismissed in November after a poor run. However, he has been boasting an impressive whirlwind with solid defense and efficient counterattacks at Nottingham.
Under the leadership of manager Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham started in a 4-3-3 formation. Mathis Tell, Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr, Dejan Kulusevski, Jed Spence, Mickey van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, and Guglielmo Vicario made up the starting lineup. Son Heung-min was excluded again due to a foot injury.
Nottingham, led by manager Nuno, faced off in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Chris Wood, Danilo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga, Elliott Anderson, Nicolás Domínguez, Harry Toffolo, Murillo, Nikola Milenković, Nico Williams, and Mats Sels were the first to take the field.
Tottenham was shaken from the start. They conceded the first goal just 5 minutes into the match. In a corner kick situation, the ball that was cleared went to Anderson, who connected with a powerful shot that deflected off Bentancur and, after hitting Vicario's hand, entered the goal.
Nottingham continued to press. In the 10th minute of the first half, Wood scored from Anderson's sharp early cross. However, Wood's shoulder was marginally ahead of the last defensive line, resulting in an offside declaration.
Wood ultimately shook the Tottenham net. In the 16th minute of the first half, after treating a free-kick quickly, Elanga curled in a cross from the left. Wood rose high to finish with a header, making it 2-0.
Tottenham swallowed their disappointment. In the 40th minute, Tell seized a decisive opportunity after an opponent's mistake in front of the goal. However, his shot missed the goal by a significant margin. Both manager Postecoglou and Tell could not hide their disappointment. The first half ended with Nottingham leading 2-0, and the home fans expressed their discontent with boos.
Manager Postecoglou utilized his substitutes immediately at the start of the second half. He brought in Kevin Danso and Ben Davies, replacing Romero and Van de Ven. Goals were hard to come by. Tottenham struggled to score due to poor decision-making and the opposing goalkeeper's saves. In the 28th minute of the second half, Kulusevski's well-placed header was also blocked by Toffolo's decisive defense.
Tottenham managed to pull one goal back. In the 42nd minute of the second half, Richarlison headed in a cross from the right. But that was as far as it went. Tottenham finished the match without equalizing.
Tottenham's lack of decisiveness was painful. On the day, Tottenham recorded a high possession rate of 70% and launched as many as 22 shots, overwhelming Nottingham, who managed just 3. The expected goals (xG) also showed a significant difference: Tottenham had 2.14, while Nottingham had 0.64.
However, Tottenham knelt down without seizing their chances. Tottenham's attack, missing Son Heung-min, recorded 4 major opportunities but failed to convert any, managing only 6 shots on target. It was a game that sorely missed Son Heung-min's sharp finishing. The Tottenham home fans also booed the players.
After the match, manager Postecoglou said, "It is disappointing. It was a match we absolutely should not have lost. We missed one goal. I am really disappointed with the goal we conceded. The most frustrating thing is that our football was outstanding. We could not have held a greater advantage than this. "
He also added, "We have seen this form throughout the season. We just gave away a poor goal and created a mountain we need to climb ourselves. It's not about repeating mistakes. It's a lack of concentration and focus throughout the match."
With this defeat, Tottenham suffered the embarrassment of recording two losses against Nottingham in the league for the first time since the 1996-1997 season. Allowing Nottingham to achieve a 'double' is their first humiliation in 28 years. Tottenham also lost 0-1 against Nottingham in an away match last December.
Furthermore, Tottenham wrote another humiliating history under manager Postecoglou. With 18 losses this season, they recorded the most defeats since the 1993-1994 season (19 losses). The problem is that there are still 5 matches left in the league. For Tottenham, who have essentially abandoned the league to win the UEFA Europa League, each game is a daunting challenge.
The remaining schedule includes Liverpool, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Arsenal. At this rate, there is a sufficient possibility of surpassing the record for the most losses under manager Postecoglou, which is 19 losses during the Osvaldo Ardiles era. If they lose two more matches, Tottenham could achieve 20 losses for the first time in their Premier League history.
Meanwhile, it is uncertain when Son Heung-min will return. He has been unable to play due to foot pain for several weeks. Tottenham is eagerly waiting for Son Heung-min to return in time for the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt on the 2nd of next month. Manager Postecoglou stated before the Nottingham match, "It needs time. Son will not be able to play in the Nottingham match either. The timing of his return is not certain. Rest is most important. We will give him time."
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