Top-four chasing Tottenham Hotspur host relegation battling Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a crunch clash.
Victory would see Spurs stay fourth but move to within one point of third-placed Manchester United, whilst Forest can go 12th with a win.
Team News
Eric Dier returns for Tottenham after he was suspended for their Champions League exit against AC Milan in midweek.
Hugo Lloris (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), Rodrigo Bentancur (ACL) and Yves Bissouma (ankle) remain absent.
Forest have no fresh injury or suspension concerns to report after their 2-2 draw at home to Everton last weekend.
Dean Henderson (muscle), Giulian Biancone (knee), Omar Richards (leg), Moussa Niakhate (thigh), Willy Boly, Scott McKenna, Cheikhou Kouyate (all hamstring) and Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Tottenham take on Forest in a 3pm GMT kick-off on Saturday 11 March at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, albeit untelevised in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Tottenham have won three of their last five league meetings against Forest (W3, L2).
- Forest are visiting Tottenham at their current home for the very first time, but won two of their last five league visits to Spurs’ former home ground – White Hart Lane (W2, L3).
- Spurs have kept clean sheets in each of their last three league meetings against Forest (W3).
- Tottenham have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four home matches in all competitions (W3, D1), during which they scored five goals across three of those four games.
- Forest have conceded 11 goals in three league visits to London-based clubs this season without scoring (L3).
Prediction
Having crashed out of the FA Cup and Champions League in the last week-and-a-half either side of a lacklustre defeat at Wolves, Tottenham now need to refocus quickly because a top-four finish is currently in their hands.
Spurs’ biggest issue though seems to be wasting chances yet somehow it is less of an issue on home turf, although I do expect a serious response here to three lacklustre performances especially with Antonio Conte now back in the dugout and already under immediate pressure.
Forest meanwhile did incredibly well to fight back twice to snatch a draw against Everton with fantastic intensity and movement in their attacking press plus end product, amidst small defensive errors which twice allowed Everton to lead.
Tottenham though will be favourites but with the hosts out of form and wasteful up front, this could be Forest’s opportunity to end their winless rut in the capital if they play like they did last weekend and can take their chances.
I though do feel that Spurs should have enough quality to snatch the win given their better home form, although I do expect Forest to give them a tough fight with Keylor Navas in goal and possibly snatch a goal to give themselves belief for two further trips to London before season’s end.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Result: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Nottingham Forest
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