Former Nottingham Forest defender Michael Dawson says they were too passive in defeat at Tottenham.
The hosts went two goals up in the first half after Harry Kane grabbed a brace. Son Heung-min secured victory with his side’s third goal of the day just after the hour mark.
Joe Worrall found the net for the Reds with ten minutes remaining, while Dejan Kulusevski gave away a late penalty. Andre Ayew failed to convert it, though, as Tottenham inflicted Forest’s ninth away defeat of the season.
Dawson believes their defensive approach failed to payoff as they could not hold onto possession when they did have the ball.
“In the first half Forest didn’t even have a go,” the former Forest and Tottenham defender told Sky Sports.
“That was disappointing for them. Giving Spurs a goal, playing 11 men behind the ball. I think Forest set up that way with Lingard, Gibbs-White and Johnson to hit on the counter-attack, but when they had it they kept turning it over.
“Spurs were just too good, from start to finish. I thought Richarlison was brilliant today. It was one-way traffic for 45 minutes and it was comfortable (for Tottenham). The goal came from a great bit of play down the right-hand side, Richarlison sends in a good cross. Serge Aurier and Joe Worrall just don’t get close enough to Harry Kane, and it’s a top class header from him.
“Forest will be disappointed in the way they gave away the penalty. Joe Worrall; Richarlison gets in there before him, and Harry Kane sticks it away.”
The pundit was more impressed with the display after the interval.
“In the second half Forest had a real go. Steve Cooper made substitutions, he had to because they never touched the ball and Fraser Forster was a spectator.
“They brought on Emmanuel Dennis and Andre Ayew and had a right go, they had opportunities. Two or three saves that Forster had to make, and if they get the next goal you think ‘here we go’. But unfortunately they got caught with a sucker punch on the counter attack. It was great from Spurs’ point of view. That was game over.
“Spurs will be disappointed they didn’t keep a clean sheet. Forest get a penalty in the end, Kulusevski comes together with Dennis and it was a collision, Craig Pawson got that one right. Unfortunately for Forest they couldn’t get the second to cause a few problems in the final minutes.”
