Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham 0: Spurs’ search for Prem goal goes on as hosts have strike controversially ruled out

MAYBE Sandro Tonali’s Tottenham luck is turning – even if it will not have felt like it at the time. Spurs’ £100million man was having another underwhelming game which looked set to get a whole lot worse midway through the second half. Neco Williams’ apparent goal was ruled out for a handball offence Credit: Reuters Nottingham Forest were far from pleased with the decision Credit: PA The Italian had somehow missed his clearance from a Morgan Gibbs-White shot which then bobbled over the line, with the help of Neco Williams who bravely dived headfirst towards the ball as a desperate Tonali tried to hack it away. Tonali lay in the net as the City Ground erupted, no doubt thinking of the flak set to come his way yet again since joining Spurs for a record fee. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! But then came a massive stroke of fortune for the 26-year-old as the goal was chalked off by VAR which had spotted Williams touching the ball with his hand as it crept over the line. It felt harsh because the Welshman was only putting his hands up to protect himself from being kicked in the face by Tonali but, the officials will argue, rules is rules. Cue massive relief from Tonali and his boss Roberto De Zerbi, who had been bracing himself for three straight league defeats to kick off the campaign after splashing more than £300m. In the end his Spurs side – which included Mykhailo Mudryk as a late sub – did grind out their first point of the season, even if they are still goal-less in three. It did not mask another disjointed display lacking in creativity and dynamism, but given the circumstances, De Zerbi and Tonali will certainly take it. Mudryk’s heart must have been racing as he took his place on the bench before the game for his first competitive match since November 2024. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Spurs’ Hail Mary deadline day signing, brought in on loan from Chelsea, has not been allowed to play in that time due to a doping ban which was resolved in July. Sporting the exact same get-up of black jumper, black trousers and white trainers, rival bosses Roberto De Zerbi and Oliver Glasner coached their new sides from the edge of their technical areas throughout the game. They watched what could certainly be described as a competitive game – but also a dull one. There were plenty of robust challenges, a few which left Spurs stars Sandro Tonali and Micky van de Ven on the floor, only for ref Craig Pawson to tell them to get up. Savio, the £85m capture from Manchester City as part of Spurs’ massive spend, made his league debut here and showed some flashes of skill down the right-hand side. Tottenham’s fans serenaded the Brazilian and his dancing feet with a new chant to the tune of ‘Gold’ by Spandau Ballet. But it was his fellow arrival from City, Omar Marmoush, who really should have put Tottenham ahead on 17 minutes. Holding off Neco Williams, loan star Marmoush raced onto a ball over the top from Pedro Porro, controlled it but then fired wide of the far post.That was about it from Spurs in the first half, but it was hardly like Forest were creating anything either. Neco Williams was throwing himself at everything in the Spurs box Credit: Getty The best they could conjure up was a Jair Cunha drive which fizzed over, while James McAtee’s awful free-kick in stoppage time summed up the opening period. That made it five straight halves of Premier League football this term for Spurs without a goal and you could sense them upping the ante after the break. They almost had the breakthrough too ten minutes into the second period when Micky van de Ven got in front of Matz Sels to divert Savio’s corner just the wrong side of the post. Sensing his side losing momentum, Glasner introduced £22m new-boy Daniel Munoz to a standing ovation. And it was then Forest who had the big moments, both involving Williams. First the Welshman was crashed into in the box by Mohammed Kudus, but nothing was given. Then came the game’s main flashpoint. McAtee rolled a neat ball through to Gibbs-White who clips it over Kinsky goal-bound. Sandro Tonali’s blushes were saved by the goal review Credit: PA Tonali and Jan Paul van Hecke were both in a position to clear it but the latter left it to the Italian, who missed with his attempt. The ball appeared to be bouncing in but brave Williams was there to make sure of it as Tonali desperately tried to get back to hack it away. Forest were celebrating what they thought was the opener – only to find out that VAR had ruled it out for handball against Williams. It left the player and all observers wondering what he was supposed to do, given he would have been kicked in the face had he not put his hands up. Spurs responded to their let-off by bringing on Mudryk, while Marmoush was barracked with taunts of “What a waste of money” as he smashed a shot well wide. It ended a stalemate which, given Spurs’ results, represents progress for De Zerbi. But it is the first time since 1974-75 they have failed to net in their opening three league games. Comment now