Nottingham Forest 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur (EFL Cup Round Three) 09.11.22

Nottingham Forest put in a superb performance to beat Tottenham Hotspur and reach the fourth round of the League Cup for only the second time in eighteen seasons.

The Reds were magnificent in front of a packed crowd at the City Ground, Steve Cooper making nine changes to his line up from Saturday’s draw with Brentford and all nine should now be knocking on the Managers door for inclusion this weekend against Crystal Palace.

A stalemate first half had Nottingham Forest themselves knocking on the door, a deflected attempt by Awoniyi hitting a post before Lingard failed to turn it home, Worrall shooting straight at the goalkeeper saved by Fraser Forster in the Tottenham goal.

It wasn’t a full strength Spurs side who made three changes from their weekend defeat against Liverpool but it did include Harry Kane up front, he was well marshalled by stand in centre half pairing Joe Worrall and Willy Boly, although it was another defender, in Brazilian International Renan Lodi who opened the scoring.

Forest were  quick out of the blocks after the half time break and within five minutes of the second period had the lead, a slick passing move resulted in Lingard feeding Lodi who cut inside and curled a beauty from the edge of the area to send the home fans into raptures.

The Reds were really at it and might have furthered there lead before netting again, on 57 as a cross by Aurier found Surridge who headed back to Lingard who grabbed his first Forest goal from close range, the former Manchester United midfielder superb on the night for Forest.

Thereafter it was game management, Spurs subbed their skipper Harry Kane as Antonio Conte made four changes, amongst them Richarlison came on to hear large boos, whilst Djed Spence came on to wide appreciation, the Reds faithful ever thankful for his efforts last season.

A foul by Oriel Mangala, another Forest player who was superb on the night, on Richarlison, earned the Belgium international a second booking and he was sent off by Referee Bankes, but the Reds made changes themselves late on and ended with their clean sheet in tact, and are in the hat for the fourth round draw where they’ll hope to progress in a competition they’ve previously won four times.

Nottingham Forest: Hennessey, Aurier (Williams 62), Worrall, Boly, Lodi, Yates, Mangala, O’Brien (Gibbs-White 79), Lingard (Cook 78), Awoniyi (Johnson 62), Surridge (Colback 79).

Tottenham Hotspur: Forster, Sanchez, Dier, Lenglet, Doherty (Spence 65), Skipp (Kulusevski 59), Bissouma, Hojbjerg (Bentancur 46), Sessegnon, Perisic (Richarlison 59), Kane (Gil 59).

Venue: City Ground

*Main image @NFFC Jesse Lingard celebrates his first Forest goal.