Tottenham Hotspur's search for a first goal of the Premier League season continues after a frustrating 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest. Roberto De Zerbi's side, with a strike force assembled for £165 million, could not find a way past Oliver Glasner's team at the City Ground, extending their barren start to three matches.
This result leaves Spurs in a concerning 18th position in the Premier League table, having taken just one point from their opening three fixtures. Their form reads DLL, with zero goals scored and five conceded, giving them a -5 goal difference. They are already eight points adrift of early leaders Manchester City.
The game's major flashpoint arrived midway through the second half. Neco Williams thought he had given Forest the lead when he turned in a loose ball, with referee Craig Pawson awarding the goal. However, a lengthy VAR review intervened. Officials determined that Sandro Tonali's attempted clearance had struck Williams on the arm before he scored, and the goal was subsequently disallowed for handball.
Tottenham created few clear chances of their own. Omar Marmoush fired one effort over the bar, while Mathys Tel and debutant Savio both sent crosses sailing beyond the far post. Mohammed Kudus was often stationed at the far post but received little quality service. At the other end, Andy Robertson provided consistent overlapping runs for the hosts.
Roberto De Zerbi was openly critical of his team's attacking play. "In the last third we have to improve," the Tottenham manager told reporters. "We have to improve and take better decisions, make keep calmer when we are close to doing something important in the final third." He explained his decision to substitute Savio after 60 minutes and Destiny Udogie on medical advice, stating the new signing lacks the physical condition for a full 90 minutes and he wanted to avoid risks.
Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner was left aggrieved by the VAR decision that chalked off Williams's goal. "I have watched it back to see all the angles, five or six different ones," Glasner said. "From one angle, you can guess that the ball touched the arm as the shirt sleeve moves, but it’s not clear why." He argued the threshold for VAR intervention should be very high, a sentiment echoed by Williams who claimed he headed the ball and did not handle it.
The statistics are stark. Tottenham have now failed to score in their first three league games of a season for the first time since 1974. The expensive attacking trio, including the £75 million arrival Savio from Manchester City who made his debut here, has yet to fire. De Zerbi did offer some praise, singling out Marmoush and Robertson for their performances, but admitted it is difficult for players to adapt immediately when coming off the bench.
The club's injury list adds to the concerns, with creative talents Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons currently sidelined. Fans can check the latest availability on the club's injuries page. The pressure is mounting ahead of their next fixture, a home game against 10th-placed Everton on September 12.
The immediate focus turns to solving the goal-scoring crisis before Everton's visit. De Zerbi must find a way to sharpen his team's decision-making and composure in attacking areas. The draw at Forest means Tottenham have taken only one point from a possible nine, a start that has quickly heightened the importance of their next match at home. The team's current league position and goal difference can be tracked on our standings page throughout the season. Tottenham Hotspur host Everton at their stadium on September 12.
