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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Bruna Reis

Evangelos Marinakis 'a proud king' as Harry Kane downs Nottingham Forest for Tottenham

Nottingham Forest fell to a second defeat in the Premier League on Sunday in a 2-0 loss against Tottenham at the City Ground.

The Reds were unbeaten in their last three games prior to the encounter in all competitions. Harry Kane scored the opener within five minutes before Steve Cooper's side had plenty of chances to respond.

It wasn't to be for Cooper and co however, as the England international struck another 10 minutes from time after seeing his penalty kick saved by Dean Henderson.

READ MORE: How Nottingham Forest are answering pundits' transfer questions on the pitch

READ MORE: Antonio Conte addresses respectful Richarlison and 'showboating' in victory at Nottingham Forest

NottinghamshireLive takes a look at what the national media have made of the result and performance...

BBC Sport, Emma Sanders

Forest were positive throughout and began on the front foot but Kane punished them with a clinical finish on the break within five minutes. Antonio Conte's side were made to work for their victory as Forest, pushed on by a noisy and optimistic home crowd, kept themselves in the game for large periods.

Summer signing Morgan Gibbs-White - on his first start for Forest - and forward Brennan Johnson were particularly lively for the hosts but Tottenham had numerous opportunities to extend their lead. Henderson's save to deny Kane from the spot - after Steve Cook's handball on the line - was quickly followed by a huge chance for Forest's Neco Williams but he could not find the target.

Forest continued to push for an equaliser but Kane dealt the ultimate blow when he headed in substitute Richarlison's cross. The points deservedly went to Spurs but it was an entertaining fixture with plenty of positives for newly promoted Forest.

Read more here.

The Guardian, Jonathan Liew

Nottingham Forest had most of the ball, most of the territory and pretty much all of the noise. But they didn’t have a Golden Boot winner. And yet for now these are golden days on the banks of the Trent, a time of fresh horizons and fresh hope, before the grim realities of survival kick in, when the days are warm and the new signings pour through the door like old friends: 18 of them already this summer, and there were moments when it felt like all of them were on the pitch at once.

In the stands, owner Evangelos Marinakis surveyed his realm like a proud king. On the pitch, Henderson wore a baseball cap to block out the evening sun. Forest looked remarkably cohesive, too, for a squad that still has the feel of a speed-dating event. There was plenty of possession and plenty of enthusiasm, as Steve Cooper’s team got at Tottenham the way most teams will try to get at Tottenham this season: flood the midfield, quickly spread the play, pressure the penalty box with crosses and shots from distance.

Lewis O’Brien looks an immediate upgrade in midfield. Morgan Gibbs-White, a tearaway tornado of a forward with a £42.5m price tag and a seemingly inexhaustible battery, had a fine full debut. Where they occasionally suffered was in transition. Conventional defending – 10 men behind the ball, mark your zone, keep the spaces even – is the sort of stuff a decent coach can teach in an afternoon

Read more here.

Daily Mail, Matt Barlow

Nottingham Forest meet Harry Kane, it is all part of the learning curve. When Kane is around, it really does not matter about ball possession, territorial advantage or the decibel levels ringing around the rafters of a wonderful old ground.

It certainly is not about sentiment. It is about focus, converting the chances and scoring goals. Forest made all the running against Tottenham. They were quick and thrilling at times but they did not score and were undone by two goals scored by the England captain, one at either end of the game.

The first did not puncture the enthusiasm of the Steve Cooper's team or the raucous home crowd but the second, in the 81st minute certainly did. It was sobering a reminder that in such rarefied company it is about cold unemotional concentration and quality.

Read more here.

The Telegraph, Jason Burt

Kane’s edge, and the hardness that manager Antonio Conte has installed in his team, were the difference but there surely is no danger of Forest going immediately back down to the Championship if they can produce performances like this. And score. There is so much for manager Steve Cooper to draw encouragement from.

If Forest were fortunate that defender Steve Cook was not red-carded in the incident that led to that spot-kick then it was the only luck they enjoyed. They certainly played the better, more positive football but although their front-three is full of fluidity and promise with Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs-White catching the eye it just does not have the ruthlessness that Spurs possess.

For all the money Forest have spent they still rely on the back-three that played in the Championship and that also proved to be the difference. It is a combination Cooper will need to think about and although Renan Lodi – sitting in the stands as he becomes Forest’s 18th summer signing – is primarily a left-back he can play in a back-three and has done so at Atletico Madrid.

Read more here.

The Sun, Isabelle Barker

It was hats off to Dean Henderson for denying the lethal Spurs forward from the spot with a peach of a save on 56 minutes. The Nottingham Forest loanee, who was wearing a cap to block out the sun, has now saved three of the five Prem penalties he has faced, including one from Declan Rice a fortnight ago.

The visitors hit back with Lewis O'Brien stinging Hugo Lloris’ palms from 20 yards. And they burst out the traps after the break with Morgan Gibbs-White making a blistering run and crossing to Ryan Yates who headed wide.

But they were left kicking themselves when Steve Cook virtually slam-dunked an Ivan Perisic cross - even though the ball wasn’t going in or reaching Kane. Cook was let off with a yellow but the Tricky Trees looked doomed as lethal striker Kane stepped up.

Read more here.

What did you make of Forest's performance? Let us know in the comment section...

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