Can Spurs see through the Trees? This is the challenge that awaits Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham Hotspur are set to take on Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this weekend.
The Australian tactician will be the first one to concede that his team were far from their best against West Ham United midweek and will be looking to bounce back from the draw. Worryingly though for Spurs, they have been blowing hot and cold for quite some time and will need to rediscover the consistency that seems to have deserted them since the early months of the season.
Although there is a chance that five teams from England could qualify for the Champions League next season, both Aston Villa and Spurs are chasing for the traditional top four berth just to assure themselves a place in the revamped competition. Aston Villa sit fourth while Tottenham sit fifth, separated by two points. That said, Postecoglou’s men have a game in hand.
Forest on the other hand are a whisker away from being in the relegation places. This hasn’t been a good season for Nuno Espirito Santos’ men but the former Tottenham coach would want to get one over his ex-employers when the two teams face off. Yes, Spurs fans, Nuno did manage our club for a short period.
When & Where?
Date: April 7, 2024
Time: 6:00pm UK time
Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Team News
There is no doubt that Tottenham go into this game as favourites, having won the reverse fixture thanks to goals from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski. However, the former will be missing the game due to a knee ailment. Brennan Johnson suffered a knock in the game against West Ham but Postecoglou seemed to assure the Welshman’s presence for the Forest game.
Manor Solomon, Ryan Sessegnon and Fraser Forster are all long-term absentees. James Maddison hasn’t seemed to be at his 100% in recent weeks and could be taken off at some point in the second half, should he start the game. If the Englishman is on the bench though, Kulusevski could do his role and be the creative fulcrum of the team.
Meanwhile, Taiwo Awoniyi is set to miss the game with a serious injury although Nuno expects him to be back before the end of the campaign. There are doubts over the availability of Willy Boly and Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares but Nottingham Forest have enough and more players to plug the gaps.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Tottenham Hotspur: (4-2-3-1): Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie; Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr; Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson; Son Heung-min.
Nottingham Forest: (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Omobamidele, Murillo, Aina; Danilo, Yates; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
