Football Features

    Richarlison draws level with Bale: Six key stats as Tottenham win 2-0 at Nottingham Forest

    By Squawka News

    Richarlison draws level with Bale: Six key stats as Tottenham win 2-0 at Nottingham Forest

    Published: 22:36, 15 December 2023

    Tottenham closed the gap on the top four to mere goal difference with a 2-0 win away at Nottingham Forest on Friday evening. 

    Goals from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski either side of half-time did the business for Ange Postecoglou’s side, who managed to hold out against some heavy Forest pressure in the final 20 minutes, despite going down to 10 men with Yves Bissouma sent off for a poor challenge on Ryan Yates.

    While Spurs remain well in Champions League contention, things are looking desperate for Steve Cooper, whose Forest side have taken just one point from their last six Premier League matches, while winning just one of their last 13. The Reds are just five points off the bottom three and could end the week 17th if results go against them.

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    Here are the key stats from Friday night’s entertaining match:

    1. Back-to-back to business

    After a wonderful start, Tottenham endured an incredibly tough November and beginning of December, with a run of just one point from five Premier League matches, despite taking a 1-0 lead in each of them.

    Spurs have now remembered how to hold on to such a lead, backing up their 4-1 win over Newcastle last weekend — with the Magpies only breaking through for a consolation in second-half stoppage time — with this victory.

    It’s the first time Spurs have won back-to-back matches since October, when they enjoyed a four-match winning streak against Liverpool, Luton, Fulham and Crystal Palace.

    2. Forest’s goalkeeper woes continue as Cooper plunges further into trouble

    It’s looking pretty bleak for Forest, who are now only 16th thanks to Everton’s 10-point deduction and some pretty woeful stuff from the newly-promoted three.

    Nothing exemplifies their struggles more than Matt Turner’s role in Spurs’ second, with the United States international — only brought back into the starting line-up against Wolves last time out — first kicking the ball straight to Dejan Kulusevski before parrying the Swede’s shot into his net.

    It’s Turner’s third error leading to a shot and second error leading to a goal in the Premier League this season, with no player managing more in either regard.

    By contrast for Spurs:

    3. Ange’s away day aces

    For all their ups and downs, Spurs have done a great job of consistently scoring goals so far this season, which is an achievement in itself given they lost Harry Kane over the summer.

    They’ve been especially impressive on the road in the final third dating back to last season, with Tottenham now extending their scoring run away from home in the Premier League to 15 straight games. It’s the first time in competition history they’ve managed that feat.

    Furthermore, the Lilywhites have taken more points on the road (18 from nine games) than any other team.

    4. Richarlison draws level with some Premier League greats

    Is Richarlison finally finding his feet at Tottenham? The Brazilian opened the scoring in the first half on Friday to take his Premier League tally for the season to four, three of which have come in his last two appearances. Incidentally, that is more than Manchester United quartet Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund have managed combined this season (3).

    What’s more, including his much more impressive form for Everton and Watford, Richarlison now has 53 Premier League goals all-time. That’s enough to draw him level with the likes of Diego Costa, Chicharito and Spurs great Gareth Bale.

    5. Kulusevski’s productive night sees him catch former Spurs striker

    Setting up Richarlison’s goal and finishing the tie, Dejan Kulusevski enjoyed a very productive Friday night at the City Ground. And just like Richarlison, the Sweden international found himself drawing level with another former Tottenham player, netting his 12th Premier League goal for the club; the same amount achieved by one Peter Crouch.

    6. Bissouma sees red again as Spurs’ disciplinary issues continue

    It wasn’t all fun and games for Spurs on Friday, though, with Postecoglou now having to plan without Bissouma for their upcoming clash with Everton. The Mali international was dismissed after the break for a reckless challenge on Forest midfielder Ryan Yates, this being Bissouma’s second red card of the season and Spurs’ fourth. Both player and club currently hold the league-high in that regard.

    With injuries seriously hurting Spurs this season, this is one area Postecoglou will look to improve to avoid any further needless absences.

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