Forest relishing unexpected Champions League chase: Santo

Nuno Espirito Santo said his Nottingham Forest side were embracing being in the race for Champions League football and in an FA Cup semi-final after they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 away on Monday.

Forest jumped back up to third in the table and are in pole position out of the five clubs slugging it out for the Champions League spots behind Liverpool and Arsenal.

“We are in a fight that nobody expected, us included,” Espirito Santo said.

“We are in the mix against big teams and that only can make us proud. And we embrace the challenge,” the former Spurs manager added.

Forest took a two-goal lead within the first 16 minutes with goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood and then soaked up Tottenham’s pressure. They cracked in the 87th minute when Richarlison headed home, but held on to emerge victorious.

Forest’s fine season could become even better at the weekend when they face Manchester City in an FA Cup semi-final.

“We are ahead of a big week for us. We’re going to Wembley to compete against a big team and there are a lot of games ahead of us. As long as we keep this approach, competing well, you never know.”

Tottenham had the bulk of possession and 22 shots to Forest’s four but Espirito Santo has built his team on counter-attacks and intensity.

He praised defender Harry Toffolo, who enjoyed a rare appearance in the side and made a spectacular clearance off the line, and Chris Wood, who bagged his 19th league goal of the season.

“Even though a player doesn’t start (regularly), I still believe that he’s going to play a part,” he said. “And Harry did it.”

Forest midfielder Anderson is desperate to be back in Champions League: Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson says he is desperate to be back in the UEFA Champions League and believes his club have a great chance to qualify for next season’s competition.

“I’m desperate to be there again. It was a really proud moment playing in the Champions League and to be honest I never thought I’d be playing in my first season away from Newcastle, but I think if we keep going the way we’re going and do what we’ve done all season then I think we’ve got a good chance,” Anderson was quoted by Premier League website.

“It was really important to get back on track and do what we’ve been doing all season. Everyone in there is buzzing to get the three points.

“It was really important to come out fast, to try and get that first goal. It set us in good stead for the game and obviously [Chris] Wood’s second one was brilliant. It was just about holding on to the lead, really,” added Anderson.

Joy short-lived for Postecoglou as league woes continue: The rare smile Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou wore four days ago in Frankfurt was replaced by the more familiar frown as a home defeat by Forest made it 18 Enflish Premier League losses for the London club this season.

Tottenham found themselves 2-0 down after 16 minutes and although they dominated the game thereafter and got a late lifeline through Richarlison, it proved another tale of woe in a season that could become Tottenham’s worst in terms of points gained since they managed only 44 in 1997-98.

With a tough run-in to come, including a trip to champions-elect Liverpool next weekend, they are down in 16th place with 37 points. Only the bottom three clubs have lost more games.

Tottenham’s 1-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt which put them in the Europa League semi-finals kept their season alive and Postecoglou could yet deliver on his claim that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club.

But another damaging league defeat, their eighth at home in the league this season, increases the pressure on the 59-year-old former Celtic manager.

“It’s another game we have lost where we shouldn’t lose and it’s been a big part of our season in that we are just making things really difficult for ourselves in key moments,” Australian Postecoglou told reporters.

“Giving away poor goals. It’s a shame because our football was outstanding and we totally dominated the game. Even with the two goals we conceded I still feel like we deserved to win the game. At the same time it’s another loss and another unacceptable loss.

Agencies