With manager Antonio Conte’s future up in the air, Tottenham Hotspurs at least have a three-game winning run at home in the Premier League to saviour as four-game winless Nottingham Forest visits them.
TOT vs FOR Match Details
Date: Saturday, 11 March 2023
Time: 15:00 (BST) / 20:30 (IST)
Venue: Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium, London
TOT vs FOR Match Preview
Tottenham
Even with the manager back fit from his gallbladder surgery, Spurs simply could not find a way to recover from their 1-0 first-leg deficit after playing out a goalless draw against Milan at home in the second leg of the last 16 tie. The elimination from the Champions League means Tottenham will once again face the burnt of going another season without a trophy in the cabinet. The disappointment was evident after Conte said post-game that he could be sacked before even thinking of extending his contract that runs out this summer. Reports have started linking Mauricio Pochettino back to the club pointing at another failed manager appointment.
Spurs are now in a position of dropping out of the top four managing to reach it only weeks ago. Their inconsistent form and Liverpool gaining ground for the Champions League spot on the back of a stunning unbeaten run have put Tottenham in a do-or-die situation. They must win this weekend to keep their three points lead from the Reds now in fifth position on the table. Their record at home has been decent recently with three wins out of three in the Premier League, keeping a clean sheet in each, since beating Manchester City at the start of last month. The only positive thing to look forward to this weekend.
Nottingham Forest
Steve Cooper’s men had to twice come back from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against relegation battler Everton last weekend and to maintain their remarkable nine games unbeaten run at home in the Premier League. Brennan Johnson scored the double in the game to keep Nottingham Forest four points clear off the drop zone. While the form at the City Ground has been emphatic, the away form could trouble Forest as they are yet to win on the travel since a 1-0 win over Southampton in early January which is also their only away win in the season so far.
In fact, they are the worst visiting side in the division with three draws, eight defeats and only three scored. Forest also conceded aplenty on the road with 29 in 12 games with only Bournemouth conceding more (35). The late capitulation in the 4-0 loss to West Ham in the last Premier League away trip is still fresh in the memories. A major concern for the 14th-placed side as hosts Tottenham only failed to score or even conceded since the 2-0 loss in the North-London derby against Arsenal in January. The Tricky Trees also suffered a 3-1 loss in a league cup tie in their last visit to London for this fixture, played in the previous ground of White Hart Lane.
Recent Form (all competitions)
TOT: DLLWW
Recent Form (Premier League)
TOT: LWWLW
FOR: DLDLW
TOT vs FOR Team News
Tottenham
Antonio Conte will make late calls on the fitness of Emerson Royal and Ivan Perisic ahead of the weekend clash. Both players are struggling with a knock and while the right wing-back did not train, the Croatia international could be available at least from the bench after completing his session with the team. Arnaut Danjuma could make his start for Tottenham since joining the club in January on loan from Villarreal.
Nottingham Forest
Cheikhou Kouyate is back in training after the 33-year-old was sidelined with a hamstring injury during his duties at the World Cup for Senegal. However, he will not feature against Spurs. There are no fresh injuries for Steve Cooper’s men from their exciting 2-2 draw with Everton last weekend. Dean Henderson, Willy Boly, Moussa Niakhate, Scott McKenna, Omar Richards and Giulian Biancone are all ruled out for the long-term.
TOT vs FOR Predicted Lineups
TOT: Fraser Forster; Clement Lenglet, Eric Dier, Christian Romero; Pedro Porro, Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp, Ben Davies; Dejan Kulusevski, Harry Kane, Arnaut Danjuma
FOR: Keylor Navas; Serge Aurier, Joe Worrall, Felipe, Renan Lodi; Ryan Yates, Remo Freuler, Jonjo Shelvey; Ben Johnson, Chris Wood, Gibbs-White
TOT vs FOR Head to Head
Tottenham won - 56
Drawn - 29
Nottingham Forest won - 37
(In all competitions)
TOT vs FOR Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Forster (8)
DEF: Aurier (7.5), Romero (7.5), Felipe (8), Davies (8.5)
MID: Kulusevski (8.5), Hojbjerg (9), Gibbs-White (8)
FW: Johnson (9), Kane (9), Danjuma (8)
Vice-captain: Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg
Captain: Harry Kane
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