Savio and Jan Paul van Hecke impress, while Mathys Tel and Roberto De Zerbi’s frontline face scrutiny after goalless City Ground stalemate.
Tottenham Hotspur’s early-season Premier League campaign took another frustrating turn on Saturday afternoon as Roberto De Zerbi’s side played out a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Coming off back-to-back league defeats against Brentford and Newcastle United, Spurs registered their first Premier League point of the season but remain winless and goalless through three matches.
De Zerbi handed full Premier League debuts to summer signing Savio, while Destiny Udogie and Conor Gallagher also returned to the starting XI. Forest thought they had claimed a late winner when Neco Williams found the net, but VAR intervened after identifying a handball in the buildup. These are the main winners and losers from a tight afternoon in Nottingham.
Winners
Savio
Making his first Premier League start on the right wing, the Brazilian international was comfortably Tottenham’s most dangerous attacking outlet. Savio terrorized the Forest defense during his hour on the pitch, attempting eight take-ons, double any of his teammates, and completing half of them with flair and directness. Completing 14 of 18 passes (78% accuracy), he constantly looked the player most likely to unlock the home side. As he builds up full match sharpness, Savio looks tailored for De Zerbi’s tactical vision.
Jan Paul van Hecke
The Dutch central defender delivered a commanding performance in the heart of Spurs’ backline to earn an 8/10 rating. Van Hecke dominated in aerial duels, made key interceptions to halt Forest counter-attacks, and brought calm composure when building out from the back. Alongside Micky van de Ven, he ensured Antonin Kinsky enjoyed a relatively protected afternoon to claim Tottenham’s first clean sheet of the Premier League season.
Sandro Tonali
Following a nightmarish display against his former club Newcastle last week, Tonali bounced back strongly with a disciplined 8/10 performance at the City Ground. Operating alongside Conor Gallagher, the Italian dictated the tempo in midfield, broke up Forest transitions, and anchored the team effectively. His tactical awareness gave Spurs a solid platform that was missing in previous weeks.
Losers
Mathys Tel
It was a deeply disappointing afternoon for the French forward, who was handed a 3/10 rating after failing to impose himself on the left wing. Tel succeeded in just one of his five attempted dribbles, registered an expected goals (xG) return of zero, and won only two of his 10 attempted duels before being hauled off 15 minutes from time. With Mykhailo Mudryk now pushing for a starting role, Tel may find his place in the side under immediate threat against Everton next weekend.
Omar Marmoush
After showing bright sparks on his home debut against Newcastle, Marmoush found life much tougher at the City Ground. Starved of quality service inside the penalty area, the Egyptian forward managed a rating of just 4/10 as he struggled to hold up play against Forest’s physical central defenders. While his work rate remained unquestioned, Marmoush’s inability to register a clear shot on target highlighted Spurs’ ongoing central striking void.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Frontline
While a clean sheet and a point on the road represent a step in the right direction defensively, De Zerbi cannot hide from the alarming attacking drought facing his side. Tottenham have now gone 270+ minutes of Premier League football in the 2026/27 season without scoring a single goal. Despite spending heavily in the summer window, De Zerbi’s tactical patterns have yet to produce clinical opportunities in open play, leaving the Italian manager under growing pressure to find goals fast.
