Callum Hudson-Odoi scored twice and set up another as Nottingham Forest got back to winning ways in the Premier League in emphatic fashion by dispatching Tottenham Hotspur 3-0.
Forest slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Everton last weekend, but Sean Dyche’s team got back on track by making light work of a lacklustre Spurs side at the City Ground.
Hudson-Odoi put Forest in control, opening the scoring midway through the first half before doubling his tally when Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misjudged a wicked cross-shot in the 50th minute.
Ibrahim Sangare, who assisted both of Hudson-Odoi’s goals, then capped off a magnificent midfield performance with a wonderful first-time effort from distance.
Forest are now five points clear of the relegation zone in 16th, while Spurs sit 11th, having missed a chance to move into the top half.
How the match unfolded
The hosts almost went ahead inside five minutes as Sangare headed against the inside of a post after strong work down the right from Nicolo Savona, with Neco Williams seeing his follow-up saved by Vicario.
A deserved Forest opener arrived in the 28th minute as Sangare pinched the ball off Archie Gray just yards from the Spurs goal after an ill-judged pass from Vicario, with the midfielder rolling it across for Hudson-Odoi to score.
Gray nearly made amends as he swivelled and struck a low effort from just outside the area for Spurs’ first effort on goal, but John Victor, in for his Premier League debut, kept it out with a strong stop.
But Forest nosed themselves further ahead five minutes into the second half as Hudson-Odoi’s excellent, bending delivery sailed over the head of a befuddled Vicario and into the back of the net.
Omari Hutchinson dragged a shot wide for the hosts, but Forest got the third goal their performance merited when Sangare, from Hudson-Odoi’s tee up, arrowed home off the right-hand upright in the 79th minute.
Hudson-Odoi and Sangare steal the show
Despite competing in the Europa League on Thursday, there was little sign of fatigue from Dyche’s team from the off, and they were so close to going ahead when Sangare’s header smacked against a post. It was a chance that set the tone for a complete performance from the hosts.
Sangare – who will now head off to join up with Ivory Coast’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations – continued to cause Spurs problems with his surging runs from midfield, and he was integral to Forest’s first goal as he robbed Gray of the ball before squaring it across for Hudson-Odoi.
Sangare got his second assist when he found Hudson-Odoi out wide, and a stunning goal of his own then topped off one of his best displays in a Forest shirt.
It was also a fabulous performance from Hudson-Odoi, who was a livewire down the left, having been preferred to Dan Ndoye on that flank.
Dyche, meanwhile, now has seven wins from his 12 matches in all competitions since taking over from Ange Postecoglou in October, and Forest may well be beginning to look up, rather than down.
Forest have more than a week to prepare for their next match, with a trip to Fulham coming up on 22 December.
More defensive errors beset Frank’s men
After a difficult period for head coach Thomas Frank, Spurs had seemed to have progressed in the right direction in their last few games, having gone on a three-match unbeaten run before this capitulation.
However, they made a poor start here as Sangare found space in the box, and Forest’s intense approach ensured the visitors could never settle.
Frank may also feel he was let down by one of his regulars in the form of Vicario. The Italian played Gray into trouble in the lead-up to Forest’s opener, and misjudged the flight of the ball when Hudson-Odoi made it 2-0.
Spurs’ attack was also found wanting, though – they managed just one shot on target throughout. Xavi Simons, who was excellent against Brentford last week, was unable to wield much influence, while Richarlison cut a frustrated figure up top. Indeed, Gray’s chance was the visitors’ only opportunity of note.
A home game against reigning champions Liverpool comes next for Spurs, who will have to turn in a much better display to get anything against the Reds.
Club reports
What the managers said
Sean Dyche: "I thought the lads were outstanding from start to finish. Our shape was good, the pressing was good. So much we see as coaches. We want to give the players a base to work from. I trust their judgement. If it's a bad ball, go press, if it's a bad ball, sit back. We were fantastic at that.
"The players are looking fitter, sharper and also the quality. I know we have quality here, it was on show today. It's often about building the basics. The players are doing it brilliantly, all of them. We're building that squad mentality."
Thomas Frank: "It was hugely disappointing. It's burning, annoying. That was a bad performance. Especially the first half. Overall we looked disjointed. We didn't win enough duels. And then we couldn't hit each other. It seems like we gave the ball away every time we won it back.
"Of course the first two goals are two mistakes, that happens. We need to work to be more consistent. It's two steps forward and a step back today.
"That's down to individuals. We are in it together, we win together and lose together. It's hugely irritating that we perform like this today. Simple passing, I think we lost the ball 20 times, simple passes."
Next PL fixtures
Key facts
With his two assists in this match for Hudson-Odoi, Sangare became the first midfielder from the Ivory Coast to record 2+ assists in the same Premier League match.
Gibbs-White started his 118th Premier League game for Nottingham Forest, the fifth-most for the club in the competition, overtaking Steve Stone. Only Steve Chettle (171), Mark Crossley (162), Ian Woan (124) and Stuart Pearce (123) have started more times for Forest.
Spurs have recorded five errors leading to opposition goals so far in the Premier League this season, with only Wolves (seven) recording more. Spurs also lead the league for most errors made leading to opposition shots, with 20.
Spurs have picked up just 22 points across their opening 16 Premier League games this season (W6 D4 L6), last recording fewer at this stage of a league campaign in 2008/09 (18).