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Spurs crisis deepens with caning by relegation rivals
George Sessions • March 23rd, 2026 7:22 am
Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus celebrates a goal in their crucial win at Spurs | Photo: EPA
Tottenham have collapsed amid a white-hot atmosphere to lose 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest and increase fears of a seismic relegation from the Premier League.
After a rare positive week for Spurs with a spirited point at Anfield followed by a morale-boosting 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid to ease the pressure on Igor Tudor, the interim boss was firmly back under the microscope after a potentially pivotal defeat on Sunday (Monday NZT).
After the team bus was greeted with extraordinary partisan backing by 10,000 fans outside the ground, Tottenham started on the front foot in the clash between two struggling outfits who have ditched Ange Postecoglou as manager in the past year.
More than 10,000 Spurs fans greeted the team bus on the way to the ground | Photo: EPA
But after Spurs hit the crossbar twice during a largely dominant first half, only for Igor Jesus's 45th-minute header to give Vitor Pereira's team a precious halftime lead.
It was a sucker-punch and further blows followed, with Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White able to finish off a slick move after 62 minutes before substitute Taiwo Awoniyi sent Spurs supporters heading for the exits when he tapped in with three minutes left.
Boos followed at full-time following another abject home loss, with Tottenham winless in 13 Premier League matches and down to 17th, only a point above West Ham.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium emptied quickly as fans streamed out when they were 3-0 down | Photo: EPA
But Forest backed up Thursday's (Friday NZT) Europa League progression with a crucial victory in their fight for survival, leapfrogging Spurs by two points into 16th.
After losing 2-1 at home to local rivals Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby, Newcastle vowed to track down those responsible for discriminatory abuse aimed at Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida.
Referee Anthony Taylor briefly paused the game and spoke to both managers and club officials during the second half at St James' Park after an incident had been reported to him.
Newcastle later said in a statement: "We will work with the authorities to fully investigate and will ensure any individuals are identified and held accountable."
Sunderland's Brian Brobbey celebrates his late, late winner at Newcastle | Photo: AP
Dutchman Brian Brobbey's last-gasp winner fired Sunderland to a famous derby double.
Trailing to Anthony Gordon's early opener, the Black Cats levelled through Chemsdine Talbi 12 minutes after the restart, then snatched victory at the death as Brobbey's 90th-minute strike earned him his sixth goal of the season.
In the day's other league match, Ollie Watkins ended a six-match goal drought as Aston Villa beat relegation-threatened West Ham 2-0, the England striker finishing the job in the 68th minute after captain John McGinn had opened the scoring with a left-footed shot after 15 minutes.
- Press Association
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