Tottenham head to Nottingham Forest with something they have not always handled well in recent seasons. Momentum that asks to be carried forward rather than admired.

The league table places Spurs 11th after 15 matches, on 22 points and within reach of the sides above them. Forest sit 17th, five points back and looking over their shoulder. On paper, the gap suggests opportunity. In reality, this is the kind of fixture that has undone Spurs before.

Nottingham Forest have taken six points from Tottenham across their last two league meetings, winning at the City Ground on Boxing Day before repeating the feat in north London the following April. Neither match was one sided. Neither was decided by sustained dominance. Both turned on moments Spurs failed to manage properly. Those details have not been forgotten.

Nor has last summer.

The Morgan Gibbs White saga was one of the most visible and combustible stories of the transfer window. Tottenham moved to activate his release clause. Forest reacted publicly and angrily. Accusations of an illegal approach followed, along with open talk of legal action. The move collapsed and Gibbs White signed a new long term contract in Nottingham instead.

It was loud, prolonged and impossible to ignore. Spurs supporters remember it clearly. There is no hostility attached to this fixture, but there is memory, and memory sharpens focus.

The emotion of midweek is now behind them. Son Heung min’s return to N17 was everything supporters hoped it would be. Warm, proud and deeply affirming. Seeing him walk out again reminded everyone why he is so revered and what standards look like when they are lived consistently. It was a moment to honour the past properly, and by doing so, to close that chapter.

Now the attention returns fully to the league.

Tottenham cannot afford to carry sentiment into Sunday. Matches like this require clarity rather than reflection. Thomas Frank has framed the challenge carefully. “I think we’re in a fine place, not exceptional, but fine,” he said. “We’ve been good away from home and very competitive. I expect us to go there with confidence and belief, with a chance of getting three points, but it will be unbelievably difficult.”

That assessment fits Spurs’ season. Away from home, they have generally looked clearer in their structure and calmer in their decision making. Wins at Everton and Leeds came with control rather than chaos. Even when results have dipped, the organisation has travelled more reliably than the mood.

What has shifted most noticeably in recent weeks is the coherence of the attack. Frank pushed back on the idea of sudden tactical freedom. “I don’t think we’ve taken the handbrake off,” he said. “A lot comes down to the team being in sync, the right players being sharp and in form at the same time.”

He then named the combination supporters are beginning to believe in. “Richarlison is not in his best form ever, but in a very good place. Kudus is back with full energy and sharpness. Xavi is performing at a very high level. Those three together give our attacking game much more.”

That trio now looks planned rather than provisional. Simons sets tempo and connects Spurs between the lines. Kudus stretches defences and forces decisions. Richarlison occupies centre backs and creates space even when goals are not flowing. Fans can see something repeatable forming, and that has eased much of the early uncertainty around Frank.

The mood around the club has shifted. Not dramatically, but meaningfully. There is a growing sense that Spurs are beginning to understand what they are building and why.

Forest under Nuno Espírito Santo remain compact, physical and emotionally driven, particularly at the City Ground. They defend narrow, invite pressure wide and look to turn broken phases into transitions. Their form has been erratic, capable of heavy away wins and flat home defeats, but their intent in front of their supporters is consistent. Disrupt rhythm early. Feed off the crowd. Make patience uncomfortable.

Spurs cannot afford to be drawn into that.

There is also a personal subplot woven into the afternoon. Brennan Johnson returns to the City Ground as a Tottenham player whose most significant moments have already come elsewhere. Signed from Forest on deadline day in 2023, Johnson remains a major figure in Nottingham. For Spurs, he represents progress. He is expected to be available after a minor issue. “It’s a minor thing,” Frank confirmed. “I expect him to be available for Forest. He trained today.”

Team news otherwise remains steady. “Everyone who was available for Slavia will be available again,” Frank said, with Dominic Solanke continuing his individual recovery work. Frank has been consistent throughout. “When he’s training fully with the team and available for selection, that’s when I’ll say something.”

Forest’s league position ensures urgency. Spurs’ position demands maturity. These fixtures are rarely decided by quality alone. They are decided by how teams manage moments, after a missed chance, after a heavy tackle, after the crowd senses opportunity.

Frank was asked recently how consistency is built. His answer felt instructive. “It’s about consistent performances, even when results don’t always follow. It’s ongoing work and it takes time.”

Tottenham are still in that process. But there is growing belief among supporters that the direction is finally clear.

The emotion of midweek has been honoured properly. Son’s message has been heard. The past has been acknowledged.

Now comes the harder part.

Carry the standards forward.

Momentum only matters if it survives the next test.

The City Ground will not be generous.