Tottenham Hotspur are still waiting for their first Premier League victory of the new campaign after being held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side have yet to find the back of the net this season, and their performance at the City Ground once again exposed their problems in the final third.
Two of Spurs’ major attacking additions from the summer, Omar Marmoush and Savio, were handed starts, but neither managed to seriously test Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels. Mathys Tel was another attacker who struggled to make an impact, and his latest display could put his starting position under threat ahead of next weekend’s meeting with Everton.
De Zerbi could drop Tel after another quiet display
Despite Tottenham spending more than £300m during the summer transfer window, Tel has remained a regular starter under De Zerbi.
The 21-year-old had started all three Premier League matches before Saturday, but his performances have failed to justify the manager’s continued faith in him.
Tel once again started against Forest and remained on the pitch for 74 minutes, yet he failed to register a single shot. He also completed just one of his five attempted dribbles, highlighting his struggles to make things happen in dangerous areas.
His delivery was also disappointing, with only 29% of his attempted crosses finding their intended target. Without the ball, Tel struggled just as much, winning only 20% of his ground duels as Forest’s defenders kept him under control.
With Tottenham still without a league goal this season, De Zerbi may now have to consider making changes to his attacking line.
Pedro Porro also struggled at the City Ground
Tel was not the only Spurs player who endured a difficult afternoon.
Tottenham spent long periods on the back foot against Oliver Glasner’s side and struggled to break down Forest’s defensive setup. They failed to record a single shot on target throughout the match, with several attacking players unable to make the difference.
While some of Spurs’ new signings can understandably be given time to adapt to De Zerbi’s system, the same argument is harder to make for Pedro Porro.
The Spanish full-back has started the last two league matches but once again looked short of his best against Forest.
Porro played the full 90 minutes, but his numbers showed just how difficult he found the contest. He completed only three of his 13 crosses, giving him a crossing success rate of 23%, while his dribble success rate was just 25%.
He also lost possession 24 times — the highest figure among the players who started the match.
Pedro Porro vs Nottingham Forest:
– Minutes: 90
– Touches: 89
– Pass accuracy: 72%
– Crosses completed: 3/13
– Dribble success: 25%
– Possession lost: 24 times
– Tackles: 1
– Dribbled past: 2 times
– Ground duels won: 3
Porro also struggled defensively, winning just three ground duels at a 43% success rate and being dribbled past twice.
Overall, the 26-year-old failed to make a meaningful impact either going forward or defensively, adding to Tottenham’s frustrating afternoon.
After another underwhelming performance, De Zerbi could be forced into a major selection decision ahead of the Everton game.
Both Tel and Porro failed to deliver the level of performance Tottenham needed to claim three points against Forest, and with Spurs still searching for their first win — and first goal — of the campaign, changes could be on the way.
