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Nottingham Forest made it four wins on the bounce as they toppled Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on the banks of the Trent.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side went into the Boxing Day clash looking to maintain their winning run after seeing off Manchester United, Aston Villa and Brentford. A fast-paced start to the game saw chances at both ends of the pitch but it was the hosts who eventually made the breakthrough.

Matz Sels made a smart save to keep out ex-Forest man Brennan Johnson and a few minutes later the Reds took the lead. Morgan Gibbs-White played a delightful through-ball for Elanga, who finished superbly with 28 minutes gone.

Sels came up trumps with another brilliant stop to thwart Johnson just before the break, then he did the same again soon after the restart. It continued to be an open affair in the second half and Forest found themselves on the back foot for a significant spell.

Spurs finished the match with 10 men as Forest promotion hero Djed Spence was sent off for a second bookable offence against his former club. The final whistle went soon after, with the Reds moving up to third in the table. Here’s how Reds reporter Sarah Clapson rated the Forest players at the City Ground.

Read more, here

Forest trying to turn the screw, and the crowd are really doing their best to urge them on

Milenkovic just headed wide from a corner

MGW continues to be involved in some lovely link-up play. Anderson is working so hard. CHO and Elanga looking lively. Bit of patience needed as Forest are getting into some good positions

Eeeek

Somehow it is still 1-0 but that was close

Spurs cause problems at a corner and manage to keep the move alive. Sels with another excellent save, again to deny Johnson - this time from close range

Forest could really do with a second goal. Under the cosh a bit

Wood tries to lay it off for MGW after another quick Forest box. Just a little too much on the ball from the front man.

Not long until half-time. Wonder if Nuno will consider making a change at the break. Yates being on a booking might come into this thinking. Bring JWP on maybe?

Game has calmed down a little bit in the last few minutes after a fast-paced start. Fans getting a little frustrated with the inconsistency of the refereeing. Fair few free-kicks being given - and some of the fouls look more like yellow cards than the Yates one.

Home crowd gave Spence a bit of stick when he was on the ball, chanting 'you used to play for a big club'

Booking

Yates gets a very early yellow card for a foul. Doesn't just mean he will have to walk a tightrope for a long time in this game, it also means he is ruled out of the next match for picking up five bookings so far this season in the league.

Forest will have Dominguez back for the Everton game, though. He is not involved today due to picking up five bookings himself.

Meanwhile, CHO went on a very good run and had a go at goal, just couldn't get his effort on target

Almost time

Teams are out. Ryan Yates leads out the Reds, with the midfielder back in the XI after being on the bench last time out.

Kick-off is just a few minutes away now. Nuno gets a terrific reception as he follows the players out before the Premier League anthem receives loud boos.

Going to be an interesting game today. Good festive atmosphere at the City Ground - will we be calling this a cracker of a match??! Sorry!

Opposition view

Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is eager to make up for lost time ahead of his return for the Boxing Day trip to Nottingham Forest.

Bentancur has sat out Spurs’ last seven domestic matches due to a Football Association suspension for racist remarks about captain Son Heung-min earlier this year.

The absence of the 27-year-old Uruguay international has occurred at the worst time for head coach Postecoglou, who has been without a string of senior players for a jam-packed December and watched his depleted squad struggle for consistency.

“Even the injured guys, they are around the group all the time and they want to help, they want to contribute,” Postecoglou said.

Read more, here

The line-up

Wondered if Nuno might have stuck with a back three today but not too much of a surprise to see him revert to a four. No real need to make too many other changes after good performance last time out.

Can see there being gaols today. Spurs do concede a lot. They can score a lot, too, but Forest's defence has generally been superb so far this season so hopefully same again on that front.

Interesting that there was a huddle of Aina, Elanga, Awoniyi and Moreira in the centre circle when the players were having a walk around on the pitch just now. They spent quite a few minutes huddled together. Plenty of handshakes and hugs for Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence as they saw a few familiar faces among staff at the club and some of the players.

Team news

Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Tottenham Hotspur in today’s big Boxing Day clash.

The Reds go into today’s game looking to extend their winning streak in the Premier League. They made it three victories in a row by seeing off Brentford 2-0 last time out.

Goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga saw Forest become the first team to inflict defeat on the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium this season. And the three points meant they spent Christmas in fourth spot in the table.

Read more, here

Dream transfer window

Nottingham Forest have enough experience to know that transfer windows do not always go to plan.

But the Reds will be well aware how much of a difference the right deals could make as January looms large on the horizon. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been going well in the Premier League and the club will want to build on those foundations.

Forest shouldn’t need to do too much business next month. Below, NottinghamshireLive analyses what a dream transfer window would look like at the City Ground.

Read more, here.

Still time to get your copy

December’s issue of Women’s Football New is on sale now. It’s available to buy for only £3.50 at participating retailers and you can buy it online here.

Georgia Stanway knows what it's like to win a major trophy with England - and having done it once, she wants to do it again!

One of the heroes of the 2022 Euros, the Bayern Munich midfielder will be key to the Lionesses' chances of defending their trophy in Switzerland next summer.

But the midfielder knows it won't be easy and tells the December edition of Women's Football News that the squad knows they have a target on their back following their success two years ago.

As part of a Lionesses special, we look at the three key areas boss Sarina Wiegman needs to address ahead of next summer, and study what their recent friendlies show about their chances of going back-to-back.

We have an exclusive interview with Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor on what is driving their bid for glory this season, while Erin Cuthbert tells us how new manager Sonia Bompastor has done the impossible - replacing Emma Hayes at Chelsea.

Don’t miss this month’s Women’s Football News - buy your copy now!

Good afternoon

Hello all - and Happy Christmas! Hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday.

It's the traditional Boxing Day fare now! A big clash on the banks of the Trent as Forest host Spurs.

Nuno coming up against his old club and a return Trentside for Brennan Johnson.

A win like Boxing Day last year would be nice - that win away to Newcastle United was certainly a memorable one.

Team news is going to be interesting. Some big decisions for Nuno. We will bring you the starting line-up shortly

Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Tottenham Hotspur in today’s big Boxing Day clash.

The Reds go into today’s game looking to extend their winning streak in the Premier League. They made it three victories in a row by seeing off Brentford 2-0 last time out.

Goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga saw Forest become the first team to inflict defeat on the Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium this season. And the three points meant they spent Christmas in fourth spot in the table.

This afternoon Nuno will come up against his former club on the banks of the Trent. The Portuguese has made one change to his starting XI this afternoon with Ryan Yates replacing Morato in the line-up.

After switching to a back three last time out, Nuno has reverted to a four-man back line today. Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo and Neco Williams will make up the defence ahead of goalkeeper Matz Sels.

Yates will partner Elliot Anderson in midfield. Morgan Gibbs-White will revert to his more familiar No.10 role after operating in a deeper position in the capital, joining Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi in support of striker Chris Wood. The bench will be made up of Carlos Miguel, Morato, Taiwo Awoniyi, Harry Toffolo, James Ward-Prowse, Alex Moreno, Jota Silva, Ramon Sosa and Willy Boly.

Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood. Subs: Miguel, Morato, Awoniyi, Toffolo, Ward-Prowse, Moreno, Jota, Sosa, Boly.

Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is eager to make up for lost time ahead of his return for the Boxing Day trip to Nottingham Forest.

Bentancur has sat out Spurs’ last seven domestic matches due to a Football Association suspension for racist remarks about captain Son Heung-min earlier this year.

The absence of the 27-year-old Uruguay international has occurred at the worst time for head coach Postecoglou, who has been without a string of senior players for a jam-packed December and watched his depleted squad struggle for consistency.

“Even the injured guys, they are around the group all the time and they want to help, they want to contribute,” Postecoglou said.

“They know we’re in a tough moment and, for Rodrigo, it has been even more frustrating because it’s not an injury which has kept him out.

“As I’ve said, he made a mistake, served his punishment now and wants to help the team.

“It’s good to have him back. He’s been working hard at training. In terms of Boxing Day, we’ll see, but certainly (a boost) just to have an extra body.

“I think what the players have had to deal with, the core group of players over the last sort of three weeks or so, has been very, very demanding on them.

“Most of them have got through it pretty well, in terms of not getting any more injuries, thankfully for us, but it’ll be nice to have just some ability to rotate some players and even make substitutions in games that hopefully will help us.”

Spurs’ joint-leading scorer this season is Brennan Johnson with 10 goals, but he has been restricted to a place on the bench in the last three matches with the in-form Dejan Kulusevski preferred at right forward.

Postecoglou insisted there is “nothing more” the Wales international needs to do to force his way into the team ahead of a return to old club Forest.

However, two logical solutions for Postecoglou to freshen up his starting line-up at the City Ground would be to recall Bentancur and Johnson – potentially in place of Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr.

Asked what more Johnson needed to do, Postecoglou replied: “Nothing more. He has to just keep doing what he is doing.

“Obviously we have the balance of the team and we’ve had Deki there and Deki has done really well, scored in the last five games.

“It is just the balance of the team. Part of it is again, we don’t have a lot of options up there and it is about managing that load.

“We’re already overburdening a couple of players in that area, so it is good to have Brennan, who we are managing through this period and he’ll play significant minutes.”

Tottenham are in need a positive result in Nottingham, but will come up against old boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who has turned Forest from relegation candidates into Champions League hopefuls during his 12 months in charge.

“He obviously came here and it didn’t work out for him, which just happens, but he’s shown he’s a top manager and he’s doing a fantastic job at Forest,” Postecoglou said.

“They’ve got some quality players in there and they’re having a really good season. Particularly at their place, it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

The price of James Maddison's mansion in Nottinghamshire has been slashed as the England midfielder looks to sell the property after his move to London. The Spurs playmaker, who lived in Ruddington while playing for Leicester City, put his whopping house on the market for £2.5m in July.

However after failing to sell the property, the asking price was cut in November, meaning it is now available for £2,395,000. Situated in a gated complex off Old Road, not far from the Nottingham Knight Roundabout, the grand mansion features four bedrooms, two bathrooms and spans 4,000 square feet in total.

Maddison, who was born in Coventry, moved to the capital to join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023 - and relocated in the process. Estate agents FHP Living have taken his previous living quarters on and are making their best attempts to flog it to a new owner.

Built in 2012, the fascinating modern property also contains a games room, a snug, a gym and a walk-in wardrobe. A bar area currently features a wall adorned with framed shirts from some of the Premier League's best current and former players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Mo Salah.

Called 'The Spinney', the property is protected by large electric gates at its entrance and contains a CCTV system and security fencing. The entire plot stretches 0.8 acres in size.

Nottingham Forest promotion-winner Djed Spence has opened up on his Tottenham career to date, saying: "It hasn't been easy.”

Spence joined Spurs in July 2022 having played a key role in Forest’s promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs two months earlier during a loan from Middlesbrough. But he has been loaned out three times during the last two seasons, to Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa.

There were question marks over his future at Tottenham during the summer, but after impressing manager Ange Postecoglou during pre-season he has been given a new contract at the club and has made four appearances so far this season.

With his career at Spurs looking back on track, he told Tottenham's official matchday programme: "It was a good pre-season, I felt good and I felt sharp. I wanted to come back (from Genoa) and just be the best I could be, the best version of myself.

“That's all you can do, put in your best effort and try to be the best player on the pitch.

"I'm a determined player. I'd probably say I had a point to prove here and also a point to prove to myself.

“I wanted to show everyone what I know I'm capable of and how good a player l am. I had the same mentality going into this one, I knew what I needed to do to try to give my best and keep moving forward."

"It hasn't been easy.” he added, on his Tottenham career to date. "But you learn from everything. Whether that's being abroad, being away from your family or the change of culture - whatever you may face - you learn from them all so it's made me stronger mentally and they've all been great life experiences.

"I've also had a few injuries that have set me back so you just have to be strong mentally, stay focused, train hard, be around good people and there is always a way back to greatness and to be the player you know you can become.

"It's been a difficult couple of years for me personally, but I think this year will be a good one for me. The manager has been great.”

Former Nottingham Forest defender Djed Spence is looking for an alternative summer transfer after the collapse of his switch to Italian side Genoa.

BBC Sport report that his parent club, Tottenham Hotspur, and the side the 23-year-old played 16 matches for whilst on loan during the second half of the 2023/24 campaign had been in negotiations over a permanent deal. Genoa were seeking to find an agreement for less than the £8.5m option to buy included in his initial loan, though no accord could be reached.

Spence was open to the foreign move, however looks destined to find an alternative - rather than stay with Genoa or even Tottenham, where he has never been truly utilised.

The full-back's talents were first spotted when flying up and down the wing for Steve Cooper's promotion-winning side of the 2021/22 campaign. He made 46 Forest appearances whilst on loan from then-Championship rivals Middlesbrough, including a full 90 minutes in the play-off final at Wembley, and was named in both the EFL and PFA's team of the season.

As he impressed so much, it was later a shock to see the club not take Spence on permanently amongst the signings made upon promotion. The Guardian reported that to be Cooper's decision, Spurs capitalised, and sealed a deal worth £20m in total.

But his North London transfer turned out to be a nightmare, as it was the board that green-lit the deal and not then-manager Antonio Conte. In the two years since he has only been allowed to turn out six times for the club, being loaned out to Rennes, Leeds United and lastly Genoa just to find game time.

At present there is no suggestion that Forest would go back in for their former loan star, but his contributions more than two years ago are fondly remembered amid his search for a new club.

Nottingham Forest have missed out on the signing of talented 16-year-old Glentoran striker George Feeney after Spurs saw off competition from across the Premier League to sign the youngster.

Forest were interested in the teenager who became the Northern Irish side's youngest ever goalscorer in their history in October last year when, as a 15-year-old, he netted with an excellent effort in the second half of Glentoran's BetMcLean Cup first round victory against Dollingstown.

Feeney has been the subject of an international tug of war between the football associations of Northern Ireland and Wales, who both want him in their international pathway.

Feeney became a regular around the Glentoran first squad last season and played senior league football despite his age having scored plenty of goals for the East Belfast club's young reserve team across the campaign.

football.london reports that Tottenham saw off interest from Brighton, Brentford, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Forest to sign the teenager for a fee that is expected to include add-ons to benefit Glentoran in the future. The forward will arrive at the north London club next week and will be announced in the coming intake of new academy scholars, which is normally released to the public early in July each year by the club.

The talented young forward, who turned 16 in January, comes from a long line of international football heritage and is the son of former Notts County assistant manager and Northern Ireland striker Warren Feeney, who managed him at Glentoran. George was born in Newport which meant the teenager has played for both Northern Ireland and Wales at U16 level international as well as at U17s for the former and both countries are believed to be keen on taking the pacey, clinical young striker into their fold.

If Feeney was to become a senior international one day then he would become the fourth generation of his family to do so, following his father Warren, grandfather Warren Snr and great grandfather Jim.

There is set to be a certain symmetry in the teenager's career as he will go initially into Spurs' successful U18s side, which is coached by Stuart Lewis along with Bradley Allen and Jermain Defoe, who Feeney's father Warren played alongside at Bournemouth in 2001, while on loan from Leeds United.

That was later in a season in which a teenage Defoe, on loan himself from West Ham, had already scored in a record-equalling ten consecutive matches, so the England international should be able to impart plenty of knowledge to the younger Feeney looking to make his mark in the game in the months and years ahead.

Nottingham Forest promotion hero Djed Spence’s future remains up in the air amid the suggestion he “would be happy” to extend his stay with Genoa.

The former Reds right-back spent the second half of last season on loan with the Italian outfit from Tottenham Hotspur. He notched up 16 Serie A appearances during his spell there, with half of those as part of the starting XI.

Reports that Spence could be on the move again this summer emerged earlier this year. Spurs are expected to let several players leave during the transfer window, and the defender has long been mooted as among those likely to depart.

Earlier this month, it was claimed Genoa had approached Tottenham about the possibility of a permanent move for the 23-year-old. But although it seems the player might be keen on the switch, there are obstacles to overcome.

Genoa CEO Andres Blazquez appears to have put the ball in Spurs’ court. On social media, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano quoted him as saying (via Telenord): “I’d be happy to keep Djed Spence at the club, he was doing great here on loan… but it doesn’t depend on us.

“Spence would be happy to stay at Genoa. But Tottenham are a rich club.”

Spence secured a big money move to the capital on the back of his sparkling season on loan at Forest from Middlesbrough. He played an integral part in promotion to the Premier League being secured in 2021/22.

Since then, however, he has had a succession of loan spells and has barely featured for Spurs. According to Give Me Sport, Tottenham are asking for £8.5 million for Spence this summer.

Nottingham Forest promotion hero Djed Spence’s future remains up in the air amid the suggestion he “would be happy” to extend his stay with Genoa.

The former Reds right-back spent the second half of last season on loan with the Italian outfit from Tottenham Hotspur. He notched up 16 Serie A appearances during his spell there, with half of those as part of the starting XI.

Reports that Spence could be on the move again this summer emerged earlier this year. Spurs are expected to let several players leave during the transfer window, and the defender has long been mooted as among those likely to depart.

Earlier this month, it was claimed Genoa had approached Tottenham about the possibility of a permanent move for the 23-year-old. But although it seems the player might be keen on the switch, there are obstacles to overcome.

Genoa CEO Andres Blazquez appears to have put the ball in Spurs’ court. On social media, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano quoted him as saying (via Telenord): “I’d be happy to keep Djed Spence at the club, he was doing great here on loan… but it doesn’t depend on us.

“Spence would be happy to stay at Genoa. But Tottenham are a rich club.”

Spence secured a big money move to the capital on the back of his sparkling season on loan at Forest from Middlesbrough. He played an integral part in promotion to the Premier League being secured in 2021/22.

Since then, however, he has had a succession of loan spells and has barely featured for Spurs. According to Give Me Sport, Tottenham are asking for £8.5 million for Spence this summer.

Tottenham are ‘showing interest’ in Monaco defender Vanderson, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The 22-year-old has been the subject of intense speculation regarding his future in recent weeks, some of it from Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte suggesting Nottingham Forest are also keen on a player who has won two international caps.

The link first emerged last week when the press in his homeland claimed his club were braced for an enquiry from Napoli suggesting the Serie A outfit would pay €9million but that Monaco want €15m.

That report added that Forest and Sevilla are also interested and that his agent, Giuliano Bertolucci 'will listen' to offers from both clubs.

However, Romano claims the Ligue 1 side want a whopping €40m – which would surely take him beyond Forest who are mindful of their Profitability & Sustainability Rules calculations. Romano writes: “Tottenham are showing interest in AS Monaco right back Vanderson, one of the options only if Emerson Royal leaves the club. Not an easy one as Monaco want more than €40m fee, but Spurs appreciate him. Emerson, expected to leave #THFC with AC Milan being his priority.”

Despite having a couple of spells out with injury, Vanderson started 20 Ligue 1 games last season, split between right back and right midfield – and has played 84 times in total for the Principality club. Vanderson moved to France in January 2022 for a reported fee of €11m, having made the breakthrough at Gremio. He made his Brazil debut last summer.

As things stand the Reds have Neco Williams and Ola Aina as options at right back, though the latter spent much of last season operating on the left. Gonzalo Montiel also spent last season on loan.

Do Forest need to sign a right back? Have your say here