Tottenham Hotspur came from a goal behind to see off Nottingham Forest 3-1 at White Hart Lane in the League Cup this evening.
The Premier League outfit were heading for a shock defeat when debutant Jorge Grant put Forest ahead in the second half, but Spurs soon hit back to secure their first win in five attempts.
Ryan Mason started the comeback on 72 minutes, before Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane made sure of progression to round four with goals of their own in the final 10 minutes.
Read how the action unfolded at White Hart Lane below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Capital One Cup meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest from White Hart Lane. The hosts come into this one winless in their previous four games in all competitions, and find themselves in desperate need of a victory to lift spirits around the club.
Visitors Forest have made a solid start to their campaign, meanwhile, and top the Championship table under their new manager Stuart Pearce. Tonight's game kicks off in less than an hour, so let's take a look at how these two sides line up...
TEAM NEWS!
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Vorm, Naughton, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies, Bentaleb, Stambouli, Lennon, Paulinho, Townsend, Soldado
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: De Vries, Fox, Wilson, Lascelles, Harding, McLaughlin, Vaughan, Grant, Osborn, Paterson, Veldwijk
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has handed Michel Vorm his club debut this evening, while in front of him Federico Fazio also starts at White Hart Lane for the first time. Ben Davies, Kyle Naughton, Benjamin Stambouli and Nabil Bentaleb also start for a Tottenham side tonight captained by Aaron Lennon.
There is also a debutant among the Forest ranks with Jorge Grant being selected in Stuart Pearces's starting lineup. Jack Hunt has failed to shake off the ankle injury that he picked up against Millwall, however, and misses out completely. Dorus de Vries starts between the sticks, meanwhile, with Jamaal Lascelles taking his spot in central defence.
BENCH WATCH!
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Friedel, Chiriches, Dier, Mason, Lamela, Eriksen, Kane
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Darlow, Collins, Halford, Blackstock, Tesche, Walker, O. Burke
It's a strong looking bench for the home side, with Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane all capable of turning a match should they be needed, while 43-year-old Brad Friedel will also be hoping for some action on the field this evening. Top goalscorer Britt Assombalonga misses out altogether for Forest, though, as they go in search of their first victory against Tottenham in five attempts.
Cup sponsors Capital One have handed out 1,000 green round-necked jumpers to travelling supporters this evening as a tribute to former Forest great Brian Clough.
Well this evening's game is by no means a must win encounter for Spurs, but should they exit the League Cup at this early stage questions will begin to surface regarding manager Pochetinno. The Spaniard arrived in North London this summer looking to put his own spin on the side, although largely the results haven't been too promising.
The surprising defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion last weekend ensured that the Lilywhites have made their worst start to a league campaign since 2008. Still plenty of time to get it right for Pochettino, of course, and already there are signs of players buying into his philosophy. But two home losses on the trot must be rectified tonight if he is to fully win over supporters.
It's been a stark contrast at the City Ground so far this season, with new Reds boss Pearce having made an instant impact. Eight games in and Forest top the Championship table, and one of the key aspects to their promising form to date has been their ability to carve out clean sheets. In fact, in total Pearce's men have six shut-outs to their name, which they will be looking to add to this evening.
That said, it has been by no means perfect for the four-time League Cup winners, with just one win in their last three. Forest will also be without their key players this evening as Pearce opts to give Assombalonga a rest following his fine start to life at the club.
The setting for this League Cup third-round encounter from a little earlier
HEAD-TO-HEAD! I've already touched on the fact that Forest have had a bad time of things in this fixture in recent meetings, failing to beat their opponents in the last four encounters between the two. This is, however, the first time Spurs and Forest have taken to the field against each other since 2005.
Well this is a competition that Spurs, like their opponents this evening, have won four times. They will be hoping to avoid defeat at the third-round stage like North London rivals Arsenal, though, who exited the competition with defeat at home to Southampton last night.
In fact, another three Premier League sides bit the dust last night in the League Cup, paving the way for those remaining to have a real crack at lifting the cup up high at Wembley next year. You can view the results in full from last night by clicking here.
STAT ATTACK! Forest have eliminated Spurs in each of their last three League Cup ties against them (1989/90, 1991/92, 1992/93). A good omen for the visitors.
Interestingly, Pochettino has opted to field one striker up top in Roberto Soldado this evening. The striker can often be frustrating in the famous Lilywhites' shirt, but a goal or two tonight for the Spain international will do him a wonder of good. Andros Townsend will just be happy to be out on the field, meanwhile, having recovered from a leg injury. Encounters such as tonight offers those on the fringes the opportunity to showcase their talent and prove to Pochettino that they can make a difference when it comes to the big league games.
Not long to go now...
But it's not just the players looking to impress, as Pochettino too knows that he needs to pick up victories no matter what the competition. Don't forget he got off to a flyer at the Lane, picking up four wins from his first four games in the hotseat. Since then he has failed to oversee a single win, which just adds to the importance of this one.
Pearce has made his intentions clear this evening by not naming Assombalonga or Michail Antonio in the matchday squad. That is not to say he has written this game off, but instead the main focus is simply on the Championship. That one-point lead they currently hold at the summit is all well and good, but across a gruelling campaign the Forest manager needs his players fit and firing throughout.
PREDICTION! With that said, and the fact that Tottenham are in desperate need of a confidence-boosting victory, I'll back the home side to win 3-1.
So an opportunity for some fringe players on either side to make an impact that, in what should hopefully be a nice, open contest. Forest's vocal travelling support will also add to the atmosphere this evening, as the sides enter the field at White Lane Hart.
They will have to make due without him tonight, though...
KICKOFF! Here we go then, as Spurs get us underway in North London. Can they get their season back on track with a victory tonight?
It's a case of Spurs knocking the ball around defence and midfield at the moment, getting a feel of the ball. Lars Veldwijk, fielded as a lone striker, is looking to close down Spurs at every attempt.
The passing from the hosts is all very slick at the moment, but they look uninterested in carving out any eye-of-the-needle passes at the moment. It is clear that they will have a lot of the ball this evening, but can they up the tempo?
Lennon, who is of course captaining Tottenham tonight, goes on one of his trademark runs out wide before cutting inside and aims to pick out Soldado on the edge of the box, but the pass is cut out. No chances of note as of yet, although Forest have hardly had any possession of the ball.
Naughton gets the first cross into the box of the match, which is well headed away. The resulting corner is easily cleared as they fail to ask any questions of their opponents. As mentioned, the passing is all very slick from the hosts, but they must get an end product.
SHOT! Bentaleb loses out on the ball in a central midfield position, but quickly wins it back before starting another attack. Naughton gets a cross into the box, which is cleared once more, although it only goes as far as Jan Vertonghen on the edge of the box. The defender gets a strike in at goal which De Vries gets down to stop. The shot took a deflection on its way through, and looked to be heading wide regardless.
It has hardly been cutting-edge stuff from Spurs so far, but Forest need to change things up in order to stop the one-sided nature of the possession. The hosts currently boast 70% of the ball, and they will be looking to make it count from a corner that they have just won...
Much like the previous delivery, it is easily headed away from the Forest box. Sixteen minutes in and this game already has a clear pattern.
Forest playing Spurs at their own game now, passing it around the defence before slowly moving it forward. A ball is eventually played long into the box and Fazio is forced to concede a corner. Veldijwk gets his head on the cross, but concedes a free kick in the process for pulling on his man.
PENALTY APPEAL! I'm not sure what Danny Fox was thinking there?! The defender fails to get rid of the ball inside the box, instead losing it to Paulinho who he in turn tugs down to the ground. The Brazilian went down a little easily, though, and that may have worked against him. Correct decision from the referee in my opinion.
OFF THE BAR! Very nearly a sensational goal from Ben Osborn. The youngster shows strength and speed before working a central position shooting angle, unleashing a curling effort from the edge of the box which comes back off the bar. Moments later a cross was played into the Spurs area which went right across goal crying out for a Reds player to tap home.
Another half-chance for Forest as Fazio is caught out by Veldwijk, but the Dutchman couldn't quite latch onto the ball. Moments earlier there was a strong shout from the away section as Townsend looked to handle the ball while trying to control it inside the area, yet Andre Marriner felt otherwise. Again, you have to say that is the right decision.
SHOT! A rare sighting on goal for Tottenham and Townsend in particular. The 23-year-old drills an effort narrowly wide of the target from 25 yards out. I was just about to say it is the visitors who are creating the best openings, but maybe that is about to change?
There is clearly a lack of understanding at the back for Spurs, which is completely understandable, and Forest's players can sense that. It was a slow start for Pearce's charges, but they have grown into it and would have been leading if not for the width of the post.
Townsend gets a decent cross into the box as Spurs look to increase the pressure. It was a powerful run down the right-hand side from the midfielder who perhaps should have been challenged before getting the ball into the area. Shortly after, Townsend, this time in a more central position, unleashed a strike which was well wide of the goal.
Once more the Championship outfit look to feed the ball to Veldwijk early on, and yet again the lone-striker causes some problems. He fails to fully control the ball when running towards goal, however, and in the end Spurs clear away.
SHOT! Well the game started slow, but the pace has well and truly been picked up now. Naughton tests De Vries with an effort from range before picking out Townsend from the rebound, but his teammate's cross is handled well by the former Swansea City man.
SHOT! Fazio unleashes a thunderous strike which looks for all the world to be heading into - and possibly straight out the back of - the net. The ball ends narrowly over the crossbar, though, as Spurs continue to press for an opener.
Spurs once more push forward and manage to get a few crosses into the box, yet Forest deal with each wave of attack with relative ease. If Pochettino's side are to make the breakthrough, you feel that they will have to take a different route.
SHOT! Another disappointing attempt on goal from Townsend on the edge of the opposition area, which is dragged well wide. A minute or so to go until half time, and Forest can be more than happy with their efforts so far.
HALF TIME: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
The referee brings to an end a largely frustrating first half. Spurs have seen plenty of the ball, and have even mustered a few shots from decent positions, but Forest are the side who deserve to be ahead in this one. Osborn coming within a few inches of giving the Championship outfit the lead with his strike on 23 minutes which came back off the bar.
On the whole the hosts' backline has lacked a little dodgy, largely down to the lack of time Fazio and Vertonghen have spent together, while there has been little end product at the other end of the field.
Surely more to come from the whole Tottenham side in the second half?
BENCH WATCH!
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Friedel, Chiriches, Dier, Mason, Lamela, Eriksen, Kane
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Darlow, Collins, Halford, Blackstock, Tesche, Walker, O. Burke
A reminder of the two sets of subs, and both sides have a full array of options still to chose from as and when they wish. Forest can turn to youngster Oliver Burke and/or Dexter Blackstock if feeling adventurous or indeed chasing a goal later in the game, while Spurs can call upon Vlad Chiriches, Harry Kane, Lamela and Eriksen in an attacking sense.
It would be wrong to suggest that Tottenham were particularly bad in the first 45 minutes, but they certainly need to up their game considerably if they are to avoid extra time or even crash out of the competition.
FOREST SUBSTITUTION! Robert Tsche has been introduced for the visitors at half time in place of David Vaughan.
KICKOFF! Forest get the second half underway, where they will very much be hoping for more of the same.
SHOT! Osborn flashes an effort narrowly wide of Vorm's goal in the early stages of the second half, picking up the ball in a central position before flashing his attempt wide.
A few groans ring around White Hart Lane from frustrated Spurs supporters. Bentaleb looked to pass backwards rather than opt to go forward, which is not what the Premier League outfit need right now. The game instead needs to be forced.
The second half starting in very much the same way as the first 45 minutes, as Tottenham knock the ball around with little conviction. The crowd are urging their players to go forward, they need to be brave.
A similar story to the last few Spurs games in many ways, and one that will need rectifying. Right now the task at hand is to overcome Forest, although they need to ask far more questions than they are at the moment.
CLOSE! Paulinho comes within inches of giving Spurs the breakthrough. The Brazilian looked to flick Davies's cross into the bottom corner, but the ball floated narrowly wide of the far post. That is by far the closest the home side have come so far.
At the other end Veldwijk sees his headed effort deflected over as Forest remind Tottenham that this second half is not going to be simply all about attacking. They very much need to be on their game at both ends.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (GRANT)
The pressure increase on Pochettino as Jorge Grant, a surprise inclusion in Forest's starting lineup this evening, taps home to give his side the lead. Velwijk did brilliantly to head down the ball when played long, and after working the ball out wide the 19-year-old managed to turn the ball into the box into the net from six yards out. What a debut!
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION! Pochettino wastes no time in making a double switch, introducing Harry Kane for Paulinho and Ryan Mason for Stambouli. Can they make a difference in the final 25 minutes or so?
Could this particular stat be coming to an end?
Paulinho headed wide moments ago as search seek an equaliser, but that aside they have failed to create any openings. There is likely to be a bombardment of crosses into the Forest box if the last couple of minutes is anything to go by, yet the Championship side have so far stood strong.
Veldwijk does brilliantly once more to latch onto a long ball, and despite initially getting the better of Fazio, he is eventually edged out of possession. He will be required to do a lot of legwork as we approach the final 20 minutes here.
CLOSE! Well one of the many crosses into the box is finally met by a player wearing a white shirt, and perhaps Kane should have done better when heading towards goal. He wasn't too far out from goal, but could only head into the hands of a relieved De Vries.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (MASON)
A fantastic strike from Ryan Mason levels up the game at White Hart Lane. The substitute picked up the ball off Davies before striking from range and finding the top corner of the net. De Vries had little chance of stopping that one, and it is very much game on now.
FOREST SUBSTITUTE! Veldwijk is replaced by Blackstock to give Forest some fresh legs in attack. The Dutch striker can be more than happy with his tireless display this evening.
OFF THE BAR! So close from Townsend who strikes the bar with his free kick from distance. Moments later Mason had another attempt on goal which failed to match the deadly finish of his strike a few minutes previously. All Spurs now.
It was certainly one to remember...
Tottenham look more convincing in attacking positions now, and Forest have been left holding on as we enter the final 10 minutes. Both sides could do without extra time, but right now that is looking the likely outcome.
Fazio not afraid to stay up the field following Spurs' corners, which highlights the home side's intention - they want victory in 90 minutes. Can they find a winner?
GOAL! TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (SOLDADO)
Tottenham's pressure finally tells as Soldado completes the comeback with eight minutes remaining in North London. It was a classic finish that we have come to expect from the Spaniard, from his time in La Liga at least, as he turns in Townsend's strike from close range.
TOTTENHAM SUBSTITUTION! Goalscorer Soldado leaves the field in place of Lamela. That goal will do him the world of good, particularly if it proves to be the winner.
FOREST SUBSTITUTION! Burke replaces fellow debutant Grant with three minutes plus added time remaining. The Reds running out of time to find a leveller as we approach the final few minutes.
Credit to Spurs who looked as though they were heading out of the cup having fallen behind, but they struck back well through Mason and Soldado to turn the game on its head. The fourth official signals that there will be an additional four minutes to play, though, so it is not quite over yet...
GOAL! TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (KANE)
It is now. Harry Kane makes certain of the victory by finishing off a nice Tottenham move, tucking the ball away at the far post to make life a little more comfortable for Pochettino and Co. Lamela was the man who fed the ball into Kane's path, and the substitute did well to just about stay onside, making no mistake to add a third.
OFF THE POST! Forest looking particularly tired now, and Lamela almost adds a fourth for his side after seeing the opposition back away, only to graze the post from distance. It won't matter too much, though.
FULL TIME: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
They looked nervy at times, but Tottenham have booked their spot in the fourth round of the League Cup with a 3-1 victory over their opponents. It could have been so much different, but Pochettino deserves credit for his changes; Kane and Mason making a big difference when introduced.
It means a first win in five games for the hosts, while Forest have tasted their first reverse of the campaign. Next up for Tottenham is the small matter of the North London derby against Arsenal on Saturday evening, where they will be looking to push on from this victory. Forest host Brighton & Hove Albion, meanwhile, looking to maintain their strong start to the Championship season.
Well that's all from me this evening, but be sure to stick around on Sports Mole for all the reaction from White Hart Lane, plus updates from the fourth-round draw which takes place shortly.
