Nottingham Forest face Tottenham Hotspur in a crucial relegation six-pointer in the capital this afternoon
Ryan Yates of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Midtjylland and Nottingham Forest FC at Arena Herning
Midfielder Ryan Yates wants Nottingham Forest to use the “noise” around Tottenham Hotspur to their own advantage in today’s big relegation six-pointer.
One point separates the teams ahead of kick-off, leaving the Reds eager to claim all three this afternoon (2.15pm kick-off) to leapfrog their opponents in the table. If they can triumph in the capital it would represent head coach Vitor Pereira’s first Premier League victory with the club.
Spurs appear to have found a bit of a spark under new boss Igor Tudor in their last couple of games, having drawn with Liverpool and beaten Atletico Madrid. But Yates believes the spotlight will still be firmly focused on the hosts, something that could work in Forest’s favour.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page
“I think, even though it is Spurs, who are down there at the bottom with us, just getting a win against anybody at this time of the season would be big,” said Yates, who scored in midweek as the Reds progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa League by seeing off FC Midtjylland. “It’s not going to decide anything, but we want to keep the momentum from Thursday going. We’re going to be fired up for it, it’s going to be a good occasion.
“Like I say, it’s not going to decide anything, but it’s another opportunity for us to go and show what we’re all about. They’re under pressure to win as well. It’s going to be a good game, probably decided by fine margins, and we want to make sure that goes our way.
“I would probably say there’s a little bit more noise around them at the moment, shall we say? We need to have that belief that we can go anywhere and win and get points, like we’ve shown this season.
“We know they played very well the other night against Atletico, a team full of quality, but likewise, for ourselves. It will be a good matchup.”
Forest overturned a first leg deficit against Midtjylland, winning 2-1 on the night and 3-0 in the resulting penalty shootout. Yates wants to keep the feelgood factor from Denmark going against Spurs.
“I think it just gives us belief,” he said. “I think a lot of players who didn’t play many minutes through the season have shown their quality, and they’re going to be full of confidence and chomping at the bit to play. The performance levels from the guys who don’t play is going to push the guys who are starting to raise their game, and ultimately that helps you win games.
“There’s nothing better than winning games of football. I think that’s what we do it for.
“We showed our quality and the depth of the squad. You need to enjoy it, look at what we did well, and use that momentum, but going forward, not just for Sunday.
“There’s no excuse, we’re very privileged athletes. We get looked after and we’ve got plenty of time to recover. We’re all going to be 100% going to into the game, and it’s going to be a very exciting one for sure.”