SPURS CRISIS DEEPENS WITH 3-0 DEFEAT TO RELEGATION RIVALS FOREST

LONDON, March 23 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Tottenham Hotspur collapsed in a white-hot atmosphere as they lost 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, heightening fears of a seismic relegation, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

It had been a rare positive week for Spurs with a spirited point at Anfield followed by a morale-boosting 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid to ease the pressure on Igor Tudor, but the interim boss is firmly back under the microscope after a potentially pivotal defeat.

After the team bus was greeted with partisan backing outside the ground, Tottenham started on the front foot and hit the crossbar twice during a largely dominant first half, only for Igor Jesus’ 45th-minute header to give Vitor Pereira’s team a precious half-time lead.

It was a sucker-punch and further blows followed, with Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White able to finish off a slick move after 62 minutes before substitute Taiwo Awoniyi sent Spurs supporters heading for the exits when he tapped in with three minute left.

Boos followed at full-time following another abject home loss, with Tottenham winless in 13 Premier League matches and down to 17th, only a point above West Ham United, but Forest backed up Thursday’s Europa League progression with a crucial victory in the fight for survival.

-- BERNAMA-dpa