Key occasions
West Ham have made a late change to their XI at Villa Park. Freddie Potts replaces Jean-Clair Todibo, who did himself a nasty within the warm-up. That might also imply a change of formation, I’m undecided.
The Spurs formation
I assumed Spurs would line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation however Sky Sports reckon they’re taking part in two up entrance. Who ya gonna imagine? (Sky, clearly.)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2) Vicario; Spence, Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Tel; Richarlison, Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Enough about in the present day’s recreation, I simply wish to know what Cloughie was up with this T-shirt.
Harvey Auzorst identified that Jim Ramsey was a producer on ITV Sport on the time, however I’ve no thought of the backstory. With a little bit of luck Jim Ramsey will probably be studying this.
“Unless you’re a Friend Of Piers (as I’m sure NO Arsenal fans want to be known), it’s traditionally been fairly difficult to truly dislike Spurs,” writes Matt Dony. “They just naturally seemed to have a decent amount of goodwill about them. Generally trying to play good football, interesting signings, decent results without being too successful. Lots of people seemed to have a soft spot for them.
“It feels like they’ve burned an awful lot of that goodwill over the last few years, though. To the point where, previously, I think most of us would be sad to see the predicament they’re in now. In actuality, though, it is (and we have to be honest) really quite funny. I still hope they don’t go down, but I have the popcorn out either way. And a heartfelt apology to the many, many fine Spurs fans who are going through the wringer.”
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a brand new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live within the app for each iOS and Android … so what are you ready for?
Erm, excuse me, I requested you a query.
“Not a six-pointer then,” begins Charles Antaki, “but – for Man City and Arsenal fans, maybe an amuse-bouche? Little about it suggests the tantalising delicacy that the term suggests. Hors-d’oeuvre, perhaps, but pronounced horses’ hooves for the thundering and galumphing likely to be on show.”
Morgan Gibbs-White might most likely sue for slander.
Late drama within the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. Luke McLaughlin has extra.
Ben Fisher
The night time earlier than Nottingham Forest prevailed against Midtjylland, going the space in central Denmark to tee up a primary European quarter-final 30 years to the day since their final, Ryan Yates was doing a spot of homework. The Forest membership captain discovered himself flicking by means of the Champions League providing on the staff lodge in Silkeborg, half an hour east of Herning, however naturally lingered on Tottenham’s rematch with Atlético Madrid. A visit to Spurs, in fact, is subsequent and, like Forest, they discover themselves in a dangerous predicament close to the underside of the Premier League.
Vítor Pereira has completed regardless of the reverse of dressing up Sunday’s assembly as simply one other recreation is, stressing with eight video games to go the Premier League should come first, even when they’ve rekindled fading hopes of European glory. It has been an unexpectedly satisfying week for each side, Forest overturning a first-leg deficit to advance, and Spurs constructing on an encouraging show, and outcome, at Liverpool by registering a welcome first win under Igor Tudor, whose facet exited on combination.
The oft-maligned Richarlison has quietly scored 9 Premier League objectives this season. Nothing to put in writing residence about, positive, however he may very well be a key man within the subsequent two months.
Forest’s prime league goalscorer, because you requested, is Morgan Gibbs-White with eight.
Igor Tudor mentioned information reveals his gamers are actually within the “top four or five of all season for high-intensity runs”. Opta information reveals the gamers are successful the ball larger up the pitch extra typically and making use of extra high-intensity stress – resulting in extra profitable assaults – in Tudor’s 4 Premier League video games in comparison with his predecessor Thomas Frank’s 26.
“The squad is like one living thing, modulating the energy day by day, training by training, game by game,” mentioned the 47-year-old. “The changes that happen are a result of the process. Sometimes you do better at one thing or another thing. It’s always about the level of problems there are to resolve, so you try to do your best and if you are good and the problems are not too big then you see the consequences. It’s all about that. Sometimes you need even more time. For sure, that’s an important thing. Now, it’s just to keep on. Don’t allow this to disappear. Keep them strong and continue in the same way.”
The relegation runners and riders
Nottingham Forest
Reasons for optimism: Nottingham Forest are seventeenth within the desk, simply above the relegation zone due to their superior purpose distinction to West Ham. They can pull additional clear in the event that they beat Tottenham on Sunday. They have gained their final three matches in opposition to Spurs and are beginning to present some indicators of stability beneath Vítor Pereira. He is the membership’s fourth supervisor this season, which is hardly excellent, however his concentrate on video evaluation and one-to-one work have improved outcomes. Forest got here from behind twice to attract with Manchester City on the Etihad earlier this month and so they have backed that up with one other draw in opposition to Fulham and a win over Midtjylland within the Europa League. They are taking steps in the best route at a pivotal level within the season.
Newcastle v Sunderland
Things are getting energetic within the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park. You can observe the final quarter of that match with Luke McLaughlin.
“Merely a relegation six-pointer?” wonders Gary Naylor. “On this one, I think Spartacus Mills speaks for us all.”
Gary, I like you, however iT CAN’T BE A SIX-POINTER IF THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO PARTIES INVOLVED! Or am I simply being a joyless, philosophically confused pedant?
For the avoidance of doubt, that was a rhetorical query.
Aston Villa v West Ham staff information
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Mings, Tielemans, Buendia, Abraham, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.
West Ham (3-4-2-1) Hermansen; Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka,
Soucek, Fernandes, Diouf; Bowen, Pablo Felipe; Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Traore, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.
Referee Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Team information
Xavi Simons is omitted from the Spurs facet regardless of scoring twice in opposition to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. He’s changed by Richarlison, who was suspended for that recreation, whereas Kevin Danso and the fit-again Dominic Solanke are available for Radu Dragusin and Randal Kolo Muani.
Vitor Pereira used quite a few his first-choice gamers from the bench in Denmark on Thursday, so there are eight adjustments to the XI that began in opposition to Midtjylland. Nikola Milenkovic and Omari Hutchinson are the survivors.
Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-2-1) Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Sarr, Spence; Richarlison, Tel; Solanke.
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher,
Souza, Muani.
Nottm Forest (4-2-3-1) Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.
Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Preamble
Cor, it’s a bit cosy down there. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are separated by just one level, with Leeds United additionally concerned in recreation of relegation Snakes and Ladders. Barring one thing unforseeable, a kind of 4 massive golf equipment will probably be taking part in Championship soccer subsequent season. Forest, West Ham and Leeds are moderately accustomed to life within the second tier; Spurs haven’t skilled it for the reason that Seventies.
There’s a good method to go – seven video games after in the present day – however when the mud settles, the results of this afternoon’s match between Spurs and Forest could show decisive. There’s not a lot else to say actually: it’s a mustn’t-lose recreation for 2 groups who’re waist-deep within the malodorous stuff.
Spurs will hope they turned a nook when Richarlison equalised in injury-time at Anfield, a outcome they adopted with a shedding victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek. Forest might have completed with out extra-time in Belgium on Thursday however they’ve gained their final three matches in opposition to Spurs, together with a 3-0 evisceration on the City Ground in December, and have most likely performed higher than current league outcomes counsel.
Spurs and Forest would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for his or her pesky ex. But Nuno Espirito Santo, sacked by each golf equipment, has revived an apparently doomed West Ham. Their win at Spurs in January was the beginning of a superb run of 15 factors in 9 video games, and one other victory at Aston Villa in the present day would transfer them out of the relegation locations for the primary time in 2026.
We’ll have purpose updates from that match as effectively, however our major focus is on occasions in north London.
Kick off 2.15pm
