'Latest trick' - national media rave about Nottingham Forest ace as Nuno plan pays off against Spurs
Nottingham Forest made it four Premier League wins on the spin for the first time since 1995 as they saw off Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day.
Anthony Elanga bagged the only goal of the game at the City Ground to clinch the three points. At the other end of the pitch, some excellent defending and a hat-trick of big saves from Matz Sels to deny ex-Red Brennan Johnson kept the visitors at bay.
As the halfway point of the season approaches, the belief that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can push for European football is strengthening. Below is a look at what the national media had to say about Forest’s 1-0 victory over Spurs.
The Telegraph
As the mist rolled in from the River Trent, Nottingham Forest’s magical season continues but the gloom is gathering around Ange Postecoglou.
Forest are up to third in the Premier League, temporarily moving above Arsenal, and supporters are chanting about future European excursions after a fourth victory in a row.
Anthony Elanga’s third goal in three games was enough to settle an absorbing, tight contest and Forest are proving the feelgood story of the season so far.
It was an afternoon to savour for Nuno Espirito Santo, who lasted just 17 matches as Tottenham’s manager in 2021 before he was ruthlessly sacked by chairman Daniel Levy.
Exciting times at the City Ground, and Nuno is running out of ways to play it all down.
Daily Mail
Mist rolled in from the River Trent, just like in Nottingham Forest's terrace anthem but the songs that filled the air after a fourth victory in a row were all about scaling the Premier League and returning to Europe.
Nearly 30 years have passed since the last of their famous adventures overseas, but Forest are third after beating Tottenham at the City Ground and starting to dream of digging out their passports and roaming once more under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Forest look increasingly sure of themselves. Comfortable in a system that suits their best players, happy to play on the break with a nice habit of toppling the big clubs that way.
They won at Liverpool and their latest trick is to condemn Tottenham to a fourth defeat in five Premier League games, a sequence which piles a pressure on Ange Postecoglou.
The Times
Nottingham Forest and their fans are dreaming about a return to European football after this win against Tottenham Hotspur sent them up to third in the Premier League.
A year ago, when Nuno Espírito Santo took over a struggling side that had won only one of their previous 13 games, many Forest fans’ Christmas wish would have been purely to stay in the top flight. Now, 12 months on they are chanting about the possibility of a Champions League adventure for the two-times European champions after Anthony Elanga’s first-half goal gave them all three points at the City Ground.
The Independent
Nottingham Forest strengthened their European ambitions with a 1-0 win over Tottenham, whose miserable season took a turn for the worse.
Anthony Elanga’s first-half goal was enough for Forest to consolidate their position in the top four as the mist gathered at City Ground and the outlook keeps getting gloomier for under-pressure Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou.
While Spurs, who had Djed Spence sent off at the death, ponder a season of mediocrity, Forest are daring to dream after posting a fourth successive Premier League win for the first time since 1995.
They have already surpassed their points total from last season and are looking like genuine contenders for European qualification, which outlines the impressive job Nuno Espirito Santo has done at the City Ground.
Spurs pushed for an equaliser, but Forest put in a defensive performance Spurs could only dream of as central pairing Murillo and Milenkovic won all of their headers and made all of their tackles.
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Sky Sports
Forest secured all three points and the clean sheet to go alongside it against Tottenham - but they could not have done it without Murillo.
As Postecoglou rightly pointed out, his side possessed a threat in the final third but ultimately could not capitalise on it. And that is because of Forest's man mountain at the back.
When there was space, he would close it. When there was a ball to be won, there was no contest.
The home crowd serenaded him throughout the entirety of the game. He is a fan favourite and it is clear to see why, the partnership forming with Nikola Milenkovic is the foundation that this historic season for the club is being built upon.
