Tottenham’s search for their first Premier League goal of the 2026-27 campaign continued as they were held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest.
Match Report
Neither team managed to produce many clear chances, although Forest appeared to have taken the lead when Williams bravely attempted to force the ball over the line. However, the goal was ruled out after the ball struck his hand.
Omar Marmoush had Tottenham’s clearest opportunities, with chances in both halves, but Roberto De Zerbi’s team remain without a league goal this season.
Following a cautious start, Murillo sent a volley well over the crossbar from a corner that had been cleared, while James McAtee failed to trouble Antonin Kinsky after a rapid Forest counter-attack.
Marmoush then came close to opening the scoring after getting beyond Williams, but his effort went narrowly wide while he was one-on-one with Matz Sels.
Forest grew into the contest and increased the pressure before the interval. Jair Cunha fired narrowly over, while Morgan Gibbs-White found Kinsky after breaking into the Spurs box, despite having a good chance to finish.
Tottenham continued to waste set-piece opportunities after the restart, with Micky van de Ven heading wide. The biggest talking point came in the 66th minute.
Gibbs-White again got behind the Spurs defence and saw his low effort deflect upwards off Kinsky. Sandro Tonali failed to clear the loose ball, allowing Williams to throw himself at it and bundle it over the line. VAR, however, showed that the ball had struck his hand before crossing the line, resulting in the goal being overturned.
Marmoush missed another opportunity late in the match after Kinsky sent him through on goal. Mohammed Kudus was also in a promising position but was not played in, and neither team could produce a winning goal.
The wait goes on for De Zerbi
Forest were frustrated at the final whistle, feeling that narrow margins had cost Oliver Glasner his first victory as manager. The result nevertheless gives them consecutive draws against Liverpool and Tottenham.
For De Zerbi, however, there will be plenty to worry about. Spurs earned their first point of the campaign at the City Ground but remain without a Premier League goal.
Tottenham have failed to register a first-half shot on target in four of De Zerbi’s 10 Premier League matches. Only Aston Villa have recorded more such games during that period, with five.
Their struggles continued after the interval. Spurs attempted 12 shots but failed to hit the target, despite recording 1.57 expected goals (xG). Sels, making his 100th appearance for Forest, was therefore rarely tested.
Forest also recorded 12 attempts, but their chances amounted to only 0.65 xG. They managed two shots on target.
It is the first time since November 2021 that Tottenham have gone three consecutive matches without scoring. It is also only the second time in the club’s history, after the 1974-75 campaign, that they have failed to score in each of their first three league matches of a season.
