Tottenham Hotspur's winless start to the Premier League season continued after a controversial VAR decision denied Nottingham Forest a late winner in a 0-0 draw at the City Ground.
The game's major flashpoint arrived midway through the second half. Morgan Gibbs-White saw a deflected effort bobble towards the Tottenham goal, where Neco Williams headed the ball over the line from close range. Celebrations were cut short when video assistant referee Peter Bankes advised on-field official Craig Pawson to review the incident for a potential handball. After consulting the pitchside monitor, Pawson overturned the goal and awarded a free-kick to Spurs. Williams, who signed a new four-year contract this week, was adamant the ball struck his head. "I headed it in between my arms," the defender told The Guardian. "If you’re going to pause it, it’s going to look like it hit my arm but it didn't."
Forest head coach Oliver Glasner was furious with the intervention, claiming the technology was being misused. "I don’t think VAR can intervene when he’s guessing," Glasner said. "It was not clear and obvious." The disallowed effort was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in a match of few clear chances. James McAtee had Forest's only other shot on target with a low drive, while Tottenham's best opportunity saw Dominic Solanke head onto the roof of the net with two minutes remaining.
Spurs' attacking struggles were stark. They have now failed to score in any of their three league matches this season, conceding five times for a -5 goal difference. Their only notable victory in 2026/27 remains a 5-1 Carabao Cup win against Charlton Athletic's B team. Manager Roberto De Zerbi has been vocal about the team's issues, stating they lack quality in the final third. This comes after a summer where the club, led by chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, spent over £300 million on transfers with a focus on sharpening the attack.
That spending included the £75 million acquisition of Sávio from Manchester City, who made his league debut here before being withdrawn on medical advice after an hour. Destiny Udogie was also taken off for the same reason. The failure to sell Richarlison reportedly halted moves for Cody Gakpo and Iliman Ndiaye, leading instead to the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk, who came off the bench for his first competitive minutes in 645 days following a doping suspension.
The point does little to improve a concerning early league position. Tottenham sit 18th, already eight points behind leaders Manchester City. The squad is also dealing with injuries to key attackers, with Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons currently sidelined. The team's next opportunity to find a league win comes at home against Everton, who are 10th, on September 12. Fans can track the team's progress in the standings as the season develops.
Attention now turns to preparing for the visit of Everton. It represents a critical chance to kickstart the campaign in front of their own supporters. The club's significant investment has yet to translate to results, and pressure will mount if the goal drought continues. Before that match, supporters can review the team's upcoming schedule on our fixtures page. Tottenham's next home match is against Everton on 12 September 2026.
