Nottingham Forest secured a hard-fought Premier League point in a 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, a result that extended the visitors' remarkable goal drought. Spurs have now failed to score in any of their opening three league matches for the first time in over fifty years, a statistic that left their manager Roberto De Zerbi furious with his expensive forward line.
This stalemate at the City Ground on Saturday leaves Forest 16th in the Premier League table with 2 points from three games, their recent form reading DDL. They have scored just twice this season while conceding three, giving them a -1 goal difference as they sit seven points behind early leaders Manchester City.
The major talking point came in the second half when Neco Williams thought he had broken the deadlock. The Forest defender bundled the ball home from close range after a goalmouth scramble, and referee Craig Pawson initially awarded the goal. However, the Video Assistant Referee intervened, reviewing the incident and determining that the ball had struck Williams on the arm via a clearance attempt from Sandro Tonali before going in. The goal was subsequently chalked off.
Forest boss Oliver Glasner became the latest manager to voice his frustration with the technology. "I have watched it back to see all the angles, five or six different ones," Glasner told reporters. "From one angle, you can guess that the ball touched the arm as the shirt sleeve moves, but it’s not clear why." Williams himself argued the decision was not a clear and obvious error, stating he headed the ball between his arms.
While Forest felt aggrieved, Tottenham's problems were entirely of their own making. Their new-look £165 million strike force, featuring big-money signings, has yet to register a single goal this campaign. De Zerbi's team did not manage a single shot on target against Oliver Glasner's organised defence. The Italian manager pinpointed poor decision-making in the final third as the core issue.
Roberto De Zerbi said: "In the last third we have to improve." He referenced specific moments, like a shot from Omar Marmoush that sailed over and crosses from Mathys Tel and Savio that missed their targets, noting that Tel has big potential but currently makes wrong choices.
Both managers made tactical and precautionary changes during the match. Savio, making his Premier League debut following a £75 million move from Manchester City, was substituted on the hour mark. Destiny Udogie was also taken off early on the advice of Spurs' medical staff. De Zerbi explained there was a plan not to take risks with either player due to their physical condition, acknowledging Savio is an important player for the team. He added that substitutes like Mohammed Kudus and Andy Robertson played well but adapting immediately from the bench is challenging.
The point provides a platform for Forest as they prepare for their next challenge. They travel to face Aston Villa, who are currently 17th in the table, on Saturday, September 12th. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page. With only two goals scored so far, improving the attack will be a priority for Glasner, whose squad options are detailed on the squad list. The team's current league position can be tracked in the live standings.
Forest will hope to build on a defensive performance that completely nullified a costly attacking unit, turning a controversial afternoon into a positive step in their season.
