Son and Udogie struggle before Spence red card

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Tottenham fell to a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in a Boxing Day Premier League clash at the City Ground and here are our Spurs player ratings from the match.

Postecoglou had midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and left-back Destiny Udogie back in his starting XI and the Spurs boss handed Djed Spence his fourth consecutive start with Pedro Porro getting a rest. Yves Bissouma and James Maddison stepped down to the bench and Brennan Johnson was back in the line-up against the club he spent his formative years at.

Johnson forced Matz Sels into a save before Forest took the lead just before the half hour mark when Anthony Elanga was played through by Morgan Gibbs-White's pinpoint pass and got beyond Udogie to poke a shot past Fraser Forster.

Johnson had two further shots saved by Sels after that but Tottenham could not find a way past the organised Forest side put out by their old manager Nuno Espirito Santo, with Spence picking up a late red card after landing a second booking.

Here are our Tottenham player ratings:

Fraser Forster

Was beaten by a cute finish from Elanga in the first half. Made a double save about seven minutes into the second period. Looked to have taken the ball out of his box in the second half but perhaps got away with it. Used the ball better with his feet. 5

Djed Spence

A late second yellow card and subsequent red for stopping a Forest break knocks a point off another otherwise solid display, filling in on both sides. 6

Radu Dragusin

Battled away with Wood for much of the game. Came off late in the game with what looked like another injury for Spurs. His passing was mixed but he did well mostly with the physical challenge. 7

Archie Gray

Another solid display as a centre-back and it looks like he's going to have to stay in the role for a while after Dragusin's injury. 7

Destiny Udogie

Left trailing in Elanga's wake for the Forest man's first half goal. Managed 80 minutes and he tired in the second half. Not a great return to the team. 4

Pape Matar Sarr

Plenty of ground covered but without much quality or penetration. 5

Rodrigo Bentancur

Back in a Premier League game and he set up Johnson for a chance in the first period. Battled away but it might take him a while to get back in his groove. 5

Dejan Kulusevski

Playing in the number 10 role, he set up Johnson for a chance towards the end of the first half. Looked tired as the game wore on. 5

Brennan Johnson

Forced Sels into a save midway through the first half and another towards the end of that period. Sels denied him again before the hour mark after a scramble in the Forest box. Got into good positions but marked down because he needed to put away at least one of his chances. 4

Dominic Solanke

Works hard with little reward and very little service. 5

Son Heung-min

Hit an early tame effort at the keeper and sent a free-kick into the side-netting at the end of the first half. Came off with 10 minutes to go after a mostly hesitant and ineffective display. Spurs need more impetus from him and less hesitancy. Not getting into good positions either, which could be down to Postecoglou as much as the skipper. 3

Subs

Lucas Bergvall

Another neat cameo from the bench and he helped Spurs get more control of the ball in the midfield. 6

James Maddison

Plenty of twists and turns but nothing to penetrate the Forest defence. 5

Pedro Porro

Replaced Udogie late on with little effect. N/A

Timo Werner

Came on for Son but didn't add much more than the captain did. N/A

Yves Bissouma

Made it two central midfielders in central defence when he joined Gray in the backline late on for the injured Dragusin. N/A

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