Alious
In a prediction that feels more like hedging than insight, Chris Sutton has forecasted a 1-1 draw between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest on Monday night—despite the North London side coming off a euphoric Europa League triumph and clearly riding a wave of momentum.
Tottenham, still buzzing after dispatching Eintracht Frankfurt and securing a place in the Europa League semi-finals, look poised for another dominant performance at home. Yet Sutton insists that Spurs will fall short against a Forest side that has hit a noticeable dip in form. His reasoning? Forest might just catch Spurs on the counter—something they managed once in December under very different circumstances.
“Forest are the counter-attack kings,” Sutton said in his BBC column, citing their ability to frustrate possession-heavy teams. But the reality paints a different picture: Forest are struggling to recapture the spark they showed earlier this season, while Tottenham—despite some injury concerns—are grinding out results with a confidence rarely seen in recent campaigns.
Spurs will be without talisman Heung-min Son and midfield orchestrator James Maddison, but Ange Postecoglou has built a deep enough squad to handle such setbacks. With stars like Kulusevski, Richarlison, and a resurgent Bentancur ready to step up, it’s hard to see a home draw as the likely outcome. The Australian manager is expected to rotate heavily, keeping his big guns fresh for European glory, but even a “second-string” Spurs XI has shown enough quality to handle Forest.
Sutton’s nostalgic nod to Forest’s win at the City Ground in December feels like a stretch. That narrow 1-0 win came at a time when Spurs were grappling with inconsistency and a growing injury list. Fast forward to now, and Tottenham have rediscovered their edge—with a European semi-final run proving they can win under pressure.
As for Nuno Espirito Santo’s “revenge mission” against the club that cut ties with him in 2021? It’s a nice narrative—but the Portuguese coach is hardly overseeing a side in form. And make no mistake, Spurs haven’t forgotten that December defeat. Monday’s clash will be personal, and Spurs will want to set the record straight—with goals, not grudges.
So while Sutton might see this as a banana skin, the reality is Tottenham are primed to prove why they’re a genuine threat—both in Europe and domestically. Forest might have the pace, but Spurs have the power, purpose, and a point to prove. A draw? Don’t bet on it.
Alious
