Ange Postecoglou left facing bleak reality as Nottingham Forest march past Spurs

Tottenham's 18th Premier League defeat in 33 games briefly carried on without VAR after a fire alarm at the Stockley Park ministry of interference. Sadly, no equipment was damaged - but as a mark of solidarity, Ange Postecoglou’s defence vacated the premises to allow Forest a two-goal head start.

And that, in a nutshell, is why Nuno Espirito Santo and Forest are heading for the Champions League - and why Big Ange is heading for the North Pole.

Let’s hear it for Nuno, hustled out of the door by Spurs after just 17 games four years ago. Forest’s gatecrash of the usual suspects in the top four has been a breath of fresh air, and they turned just 32 per cent possession into gold dust.

But as for Spurs: Draw the curtain, nurse, this is going to hurt. Postecoglou’s soft touches were booed off at the interval, and the kitchen sink arrived too late to rescue a point. If Spurs wanted to keep their powder dry for Europe, they sank to the occasion expertly.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

The next big game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium is Conor Benn and Chris Eubank junior’s grudge match on Saturday night. If only Spurs had come out swinging from the first bell here, they would not have been down in 16th place, dreaming of devalued glory against Bodo/Glimt in the Thursday Night Smorgasbord League semi-finals.

Pining for the fjords was once the preserve of a deceased Norwegian blue parrot in a Monty Python sketch, but for 45 minutes Spurs’ slovenly work gave cowboy builders a good name.

Tottenham could form a guard of honour for Liverpool on Sunday if they pitch up at Anfield to find Arne Slot’s men have already won the title. And in an admirable dress rehearsal, they stepped aside to grant Forest free passage back into the top three with a dereliction of defending in the opening quarter of an hour.

Forest were ahead inside five minutes when Elliot Anderson’s fierce, first-time shot took a nick off Rodrigo Bentancur, and the deflection was enough to confound Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Chris Wood was only denied making it 2-0 by a tight semi-automated VAR call, but Spurs’ reprieve lasted only another six minutes. The Kiwi striker rose to meet Anthony Elanga’s cross, with Vicario flapping like Mrs Doubtfire with the oven gloves on fire, to plunder his 19th goal of the season.

Better late than never, Spurs summoned the appetite for a fightback, but Richarlison’s glancing header from Pedro Porro’s cross was not enough.

Back in 1983, this fixture was the first live televised League game, with parachutists dropping in for the pre-match entertainment along with the obligatory appearance of Spurs cheerleaders Chas and Dave. The 1991 FA Cup final, with Brian Clough and Terry Venables holding hands, Paul Gascoigne’s trail of self-destruction and Mark Crossley saving Gary Lineker’s spot-kick - the most forgotten penalty save in Wembley history - was more conventional pomp. But seldom, in the last 34 years, have Forest enjoyed such an enriched campaign.

Nuno goes back to Wembley for a semi-final on Sunday - he lost his last one, with Wolves, despite being 2-0 up with 12 minutes to go - and the Champions League beckons the Tricky Trees like a golfer’s putt teasing the cup.

The danger, for Forest, was settling for European football of any description next season when they could be rubbing shoulders with the elite. But their defensive resolve left nobody in any doubt: Forest want to take their place among the big guns.

and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our