Tottenham’s Goal-Scoring Struggles Continue
Tottenham played to a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest, extending their winless start to the league season. This marks the third consecutive league match in which Tottenham has failed to score, and they did not register a single shot on target during the game. Their season record, excluding a Carabao Cup victory against a Charlton B team, shows five goals conceded and none scored.
The match saw Mykhailo Mudryk make his first competitive appearance for Tottenham in 645 days, coming on as a late substitute. Despite a significant recruitment drive, Tottenham’s attack struggled to create clear opportunities. Richarlison, last season’s top goalscorer, was not part of the 25-man squad and is training separately from the first team after reportedly rejecting an offer from Everton. This situation has reportedly affected moves for other potential targets like Cody Gakpo and Iliman Ndiaye.
New signing Savio, a £75m arrival from Manchester City, showed glimpses of quality on his debut. Another new acquisition, Sandro Tonali, who joined from Newcastle for £92.5m, was noted more for his defensive contributions.
Disallowed Goal Dominates Discussion
A key moment in the match involved a disallowed goal for Nottingham Forest. Neco Williams appeared to head the ball in after Morgan Gibbs-White’s deflected shot, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review. Referee Craig Pawson announced that the ball had touched Williams’ hand before the goal was scored, leading to a Tottenham free-kick and protests from the home crowd.
The incident began when Liam Delap, making his first start for Forest, passed to Gibbs-White. Although Gibbs-White couldn’t control the ball, he managed to get a shot away. Tonali attempted to clear the ball on the goal line but missed, and Williams was in position to head it in before the VAR intervention.
Both teams employed stubborn three-man defences, which largely neutralised each other’s attacks. Opportunities were scarce, with Forest’s only other shot on target being a long-range effort from James McAtee. Forest defender Murillo also attempted an overhead-kick in the first half, which went over the bar.
Looking Ahead for Both Clubs
The draw leaves both Nottingham Forest and Tottenham still searching for their first win of the season. The pressure is building on both sides as they look to turn their fortunes around. Tottenham’s chief executive, Vinai Venkatesham, was in attendance and may be reflecting on the effectiveness of the club’s substantial recruitment drive, which has exceeded £300m.
The upcoming fixtures hold increased significance for both clubs. Tottenham is scheduled to play a home game against Everton next weekend. Similarly, Nottingham Forest will travel to face Aston Villa in their next fixture.
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, speaking after his team’s match, expressed satisfaction with their win, highlighting the difficulty of playing against teams that employ a low block. He also commented on player injuries, noting that Nico O’Reilly felt something in his back during the warm-up, though it was not serious. Enzo Fernandez made his first home appearance, and Bouaddi also came on in the final moments of their game.
Source: bbc.co.uk