Nottingham Forest meet Harry Kane, it’s all part of the learning curve. When Kane is around, it really doesn’t matter about possession, territorial advantage or the decibel levels ringing around the rafters of a wonderful old ground.
Surely it’s not about feelings. It’s all about concentration, converting chances and scoring goals. Forest made all the running against Tottenham. They were quick and exciting at times but failed to score and were undone by two goals from the England captain, one at each end of the game.
The first didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Steve Cooper’s side or the noise from the home crowd, but the second, in the 81st minute, certainly did. It was a reminder that in such rarefied company it’s all about focus and quality without emotion.
Harry Kane scored a brace to take him level on Premier League goals with Andy Cole on 187 in Spurs’ 2-0 win over Forest.
Dean Henderson celebrated with gusto after an excellent save to deny Kane from the penalty spot and keep Forest in the game.
It was the second penalty save in as many weeks after the England striker saved one against West Ham last weekend
Heung-min Son continued to have a quiet season by his high standards, but did manage a couple of shots
Kane’s second goal, a far post header, put the game to bed after a close 80 minutes at the City Ground on Sunday.
Kane has now played against 32 different opponents in the top flight and has scored against all but Brentford.
He’s rewriting the records every time he puts on his boots. That brace took him to a total of 187 Premier League goals in 286 games, level with Andy Cole on the charts. Only Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer have more.
There were, of course, great goalscorers before 1992. Jimmy Greaves, perhaps the greatest, holds Spurs’ all-time goalscoring record. Kane is also on his trail. At this rate, he will pass Greaves this season.
Kane could have left Nottingham with a hat-trick. His penalty was saved by England teammate Dean Henderson. It was 1-0 at the time and it looked like it could be decisive, but he pushed the disappointment out of his head. One of its strong points.
Tottenham’s £60m signing Richarlison made an impact off the bench but was fouled late on after some displays.
Three draws would have been unfair to Forest. Two nulls was a hard enough lesson, but they received a standing ovation from those who recognized the effort and sense of adventure. They will collect points and cause trouble for visitors to the municipal grounds if they act like this.
Cooper has signed 17 players without losing the identity forged in winning promotion last season and his side showed spirit to respond to Tottenham’s opener’s setback, scored on the break in the fifth minute.
Dejan Kulusevski picked up a loose ball in midfield, drove inside and released Kane, whose finish was low and perhaps earlier than Henderson expected. “Kind of messy, but they’re in,” Kane shrugged afterwards.
Cooper threw up both arms in exasperation. Just what he hoped to avoid against a team built to punish their rivals at the break. As if to make the point, Spurs threatened again.
Tottenham’s win moves them to third in the league after four Premier League games as they remain unbeaten so far
Kane drifted away, this time found by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and thwarted by a vital tackle from Joe Worrall. Heung-min Son hit the bar when Scott McKenna failed to clear.
Forest refused to change their approach. They threw their full-backs forward and the front three were fluid and mobile, interchanging, pressing and forcing Tottenham errors. Johnson tormented Ben Davies, his Wales international team-mate.
The crowd roared back as Hugo Lloris dived to his left to beat Lewis O’Brien’s long-range shot. The Spurs keeper then came off his line to prevent Jesse Lingard connecting with Morgan Gibbs-White’s low cross.
This was Forest’s best spell. Johnson headed over, Gibbs-White shot over and Conte cut away an increasingly agitated band on the touchline to the amusement of the Forest fans, some of whom mocked him about their managers.
New Nottingham Forest signing Morgan Gibbs-White put in an impressive first-half performance but struggled after the break.
Lloris was stranded when Ryan Yates headed wide before Spurs were awarded a penalty and the chance to snuff out the Forest fire in the 53rd minute.
Kane rose at the back post to meet Ivan Perisic’s cross only for Forest centre-half Steve Cook to handball the ball over the bar. Referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot without hesitation.
Cook claimed he had been pushed. Spurs wanted him sent off. Stuart Attwell on VAR, checked the replays. Cook escaped with a yellow card. “If that’s not denying a scoring opportunity, I don’t know what is,” Kane said. “I was surprised by the decision.”
Lewis Cook (pictured, left) awarded a penalty after a freak handball on the goal line, but he wasn’t blushing.
Henderson made a fabulous save, diving to his right as Kane failed to get the height he wanted. The City Ground roared its loudest roar of the day.
Henderson removed his cap to acknowledge the applause, a gesture surely appreciated by Stuart Broad, the bowler and Forest fan, in his usual seat. Within seconds, at the other end, Neco Williams took a chance to equalize from wide.
It all made for breathless entertainment, but Tottenham were more in control in the second half and Cooper took more risks with attacking changes. Son was denied by Henderson and Kulusevski fired wide, but Kane scored his second in the 81st minute.
Antonio Conte became increasingly agitated by Forest’s attacking play and was booed by Forest fans behind him
Forest have dropped to 14th in the league following the defeat, but played well against a strong Spurs side.
Forest were tired and nodded when Ryan Sessegnon’s cross was cleared and they thought the danger had passed.
They didn’t react when Richarlison won possession recycled and delivered from the left with the outside of his right boot.
Cheikhou Koyate swerved and left Kane completely unmarked to score with a header. With the points secured and Tottenham’s promising start extended, he dived into the home end to celebrate.
West Ham next on Wednesday. Forest will face champions Manchester City. It’s all part of the learning curve.
DATA OF THE MATCH
Nottingham Forest 343: Henderson 7.5; Worrall 6.5, Cook 5.5 (Kouyate 75, 5), McKenna 6; Williams 6.5, Yates 6 (Awoniyi 75, 5), O’Brien 6.5 (Freuler 75, 5), Toffolo 6.5; Johnson 8 (Surridge 90), Lingard 7 (Dennis 69, 6), Gibbs-White 7.
Substitutions: Hennessey, Biancone, Colback, Mighten.
Subs: Cook, Worrall, McKenna, O’Brien, Johnson
Manager: Steve Cooper 6.5
Tottenham 343: Lloris 7; Sanchez 6.5, Dier 7, Davies 6.5; Royal 6, Hojbjerg 7, Bentancur 6.5 (Spence 90+1), Perisic 6 (Sessegnon 73, 6); Kulusevski 7 (Bissouma 83), Kane 8, Son 6 (Richarlison 73, 7).
Substitutions: Forster, Doherty, Wing, Lenglet, Sarr.
Goals: Kane 5, 81
Reserves: Kane
Manager: Antonio Conte 6.5
Ref: Craig Pawson 6