Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood netted his 19th Premier League goal of the season in a crucial 2-1 victory away at Tottenham Hotspur, a result that lifted Forest three places to third in the table.

After suffering back-to-back league defeats, Forest’s push for Champions League qualification had stalled, leaving them in sixth position at the start of the day. However, a commanding early display in North London saw them get their campaign firmly back on track.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side opened the scoring just five minutes in when a corner broke to Elliot Anderson on the edge of the area, and his powerful deflected strike found its way past Guglielmo Vicario.

Forest thought they had doubled their advantage moments later, only for Chris Wood’s effort to be ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside. The New Zealand international, however, was not to be denied for long, glancing home a well-delivered cross from Anthony Elanga in the 16th minute to give Forest a two-goal cushion.

Tottenham, shaken by their poor start, improved as the match progressed and were eventually rewarded for their persistence when Richarlison powered a header beyond Matz Sels in the 87th minute, setting up a tense conclusion.

Forest, however, held firm to secure all three points, climbing above Chelsea, Manchester City, and Newcastle United in the race for a top-five finish, moving onto 60 points. Meanwhile, Tottenham — now beaten 18 times in the league this season — sit 16th on 37 points, as their disappointing domestic campaign continues.

The North London side could yet rescue their season by securing the Europa League title, which would end their long trophy drought stretching back to 2008.

However, this defeat — Forest’s first league win at Tottenham since 1997, and masterminded by Nuno, the very manager Spurs dismissed after just four months in 2021 — has intensified the pressure on current boss Ange Postecoglou. The Australian now faces the prospect of overseeing Tottenham’s lowest Premier League points total since they registered just 44 in the 1997-98 campaign.

Forest’s season could yet reach greater heights, as they prepare to face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals next weekend.