MANCHESTER, England (AP):
Tottenham’s English Premier League survival fight was plunged deeper into crisis yesterday with a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
The relegation six-pointer left Spurs one place and one point above the drop zone and raised further questions about the future of coach Igor Tudor.
“The season is tough, especially in this moment. Another very bad (result) for us,” said Tottenham captain Cristian Romero. “The situation is tough, but the most important thing is play (every game) like a final now.”
Fellow relegation-fighting Forest climbed above Spurs to 16th in the standings. The only positive on another miserable day for Tottenham was defeat for West Ham at Aston Villa to keep them in the bottom three.
Tottenham – one of English football’s most iconic teams and a founding member of the English Premier League – are still without a win in the top flight in 2026. Their last win was December 28 and they have lost six of their last seven games.
Igor Jesus’ header just before half-time gave Forest the lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Morgan Gibbs-White added a second just after the hour mark.
LEAD
Taiwo Awoniyi completed Forest’s first league win under coach Vitor Pereira in the 87th to leave the fans fearing the end of their ever-present stay in England’s top division since the inception of the Premier League in 1992.
Tudor was appointed last month to try to turn Spurs’ season around, but have lost five of his seven games in charge in all competitions and seen his team eliminated from the Champions League.
Tottenham remain one point above 18th-placed West Ham, who lost 2-0 to Aston Villa.
Villa boosted their chances of Champions League qualification and took advantage of all of their immediate rivals dropping points.
John McGinn and Ollie Watkins were on target at Villa Park. Villa are fourth and five points above fifth-placed Liverpool, who were beaten by Brighton on Saturday.
Chelsea, who lost at Everton, are a point further back.
Victory also saw Villa close the gap on third-placed Manchester United, who drew with Bournemouth on Friday.
STUNNED
Brian Brobbey struck in the 90th minute to give Sunderland bragging rights in the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle.
Brobbey’s close-range effort sealed a 2-1 comeback win at St James’ Park and saw Sunderland complete a league double over their fiercest rivals.
Sunderland also moved above Newcastle into 11th in the standings.
Anthony Gordon had given the home team the lead after capitalising on sloppy passing at the back and firing low past Melker Ellborg after 10 minutes.
Chemsdine Talbi levelled shortly before the hour mark and Brobbey stunned the home fans when scoring at the second time of asking late on.
