Tottenham draw 0-0 at Nottingham Forest as goal drought extends to three matches
Tottenham Hotspur failed to register a shot on target in a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, while a second-half goal by Neco Williams was disallowed by VAR for handball.
Scoreless draw at the City Ground
Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur drew 0-0 at the City Ground on Saturday, leaving both clubs without a Premier League victory this season. The result earned Tottenham their first point of the campaign following consecutive defeats against Brentford (3-0) and Newcastle United (2-0). Tottenham did not manage a shot on target during the match, marking the first time the club failed to test an opposing goalkeeper in a league fixture since April 2022. Forest also generated few clear openings, with their only registered effort on target coming from a 30-yard shot by James McAtee.
- Omar Marmoush drags Tottenham's clearest opening wide from a Pedro Porro pass
- Peter Bankes overturns Neco Williams' goal following a VAR handball review
- Dominic Solanke heads onto the roof of the net for Tottenham
Disallowed goal creates VAR controversy
The most contentious moment of the match arrived midway through the second half. Morgan Gibbs-White attempted a chipped finish toward the net, which bounced near the line after Tottenham midfielder Sandro Tonali failed to clear. Forest defender Neco Williams stooped to force the ball across the line as Tonali raised his boot to challenge. Referee Craig Pawson initially awarded a goal, but video assistant referee Peter Bankes intervened and determined that Williams touched the ball with his arm while shielding his face.
Pawson overturned the decision and awarded Tottenham a free kick. Forest manager Oliver Glasner questioned the intervention during his post-match press conference, stating that replays were inconclusive.
VAR cannot intervene when he is guessing.
Attacking drought persists for Tottenham
Tottenham entered the fixture after a transfer window involving spending between £300 million and almost £400 million, including £92.5 million for Sandro Tonali and £75 million for Savio. Despite those additions, Tottenham have failed to score in their opening three league matches for the first time since the 1974-75 season. Across the three fixtures, Tottenham have accumulated 38 shots with an expected goals total of 3.3 without finding the net.
- Sandro Tonali
- 92.5 £m
- Savio
- 75 £m
- Liam Delap
- 50 £m
Omar Marmoush dragged Tottenham's best first-half opening wide of Matz Sels' goal after being sent through by Pedro Porro, and the forward hit another effort over the crossbar in the second half. Substitute Dominic Solanke headed onto the roof of the net in the 88th minute, while Mykhailo Mudryk made his first competitive appearance in 645 days after joining on loan from Chelsea. Last season's top scorer Richarlison remains omitted from the 25-man Premier League squad and is training separately after rejecting a transfer to Everton.
Managers assess squad development
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi defended his players while acknowledging that attacking cohesion will require time to develop.
We bought very, very good players but you can't just build the team with the names like in Football Manager.
De Zerbi stated that the squad had only trained together as a full group since Thursday, while expressing confidence that Marmoush and Solanke will deliver goals. Nottingham Forest handed a home debut to £50 million forward Liam Delap as Glasner adjusts his lineup following summer changes. Tottenham next face Everton at home, while Nottingham Forest travel to play Aston Villa.
