POSTECOGLOU FACES EASTER MONDAY CURSE AS STRUGGLING SPURS HOST FOREST'S HOLIDAY SPECIALISTS

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April 21, 2025

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will stage a fascinating Premier League encounter this Easter Monday as Ange Postecoglou's faltering side face a Nottingham Forest team with a remarkable historical affinity for holiday fixtures.

Tottenham's season has spiraled into disappointment, with the North London club on course for their worst Premier League campaign in over two decades. Spurs have already suffered 17 league defeats this season – their highest tally since the 2003-04 campaign under David Pleat, when they lost 19 times. Postecoglou now joins an unwanted club alongside Osvaldo Ardiles (19 losses in 1993-94) and Gerry Francis (18 defeats in 1996-97) as the only Tottenham managers to lose 17 or more Premier League games in a single season.

"We're obviously going through a difficult period, but I've never been one to lose faith in my process," Postecoglou told reporters on Saturday. "This is a long-term project, and these challenges are part of our growth. We need to respond with character against Forest."

The roots of Tottenham's collapse can be traced back to their stunning 4-0 victory over Manchester City on November 23. That result, which briefly sparked talk of a potential title challenge, has been followed by a disastrous run of form. Only relegation-threatened Ipswich Town (13), Leicester City (8) and Southampton (6) have accumulated fewer points than Spurs' meager haul of 18 from 20 matches since that landmark win.

Particularly concerning has been Tottenham's record against teams in the top half of the table. They have lost 16 of their last 20 Premier League matches against sides starting the day in the upper echelon (3 wins, 1 draw) and have been defeated in eight out of nine (with 1 draw) since that November victory over City.

Adding to Tottenham's concerns is their peculiar Easter Monday curse. Spurs have lost their last two Premier League games played on this holiday, with both defeats coming at home – 2-1 against Manchester United in 2006 and 2-1 against Norwich in 2012.

In stark contrast, Nottingham Forest arrive with a remarkable Easter Monday pedigree that stretches back decades. The visitors have lost just two of their last 35 league games played on this holiday (21 wins, 12 draws), while in the top flight they're unbeaten in 16 such matches (13 wins, 3 draws) since a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in 1966.

"It's a fascinating statistic," admitted Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo when informed of his team's holiday record. "But football is played in the present, not the past. We respect Tottenham's quality regardless of their recent difficulties."

Forest will be looking to complete a league double over Spurs for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign, having secured a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season – a result that ended a six-game losing streak against the North London club in the Premier League.

However, Forest's recent momentum has stalled with consecutive league defeats, threatening to undo the good work of their previous three-match winning run. Under Nuno's stewardship, they have experienced three successive defeats just once before – during February and March of last season.

The match features intriguing individual storylines at both ends of the career spectrum. For Tottenham, 19-year-old French forward Mathys Tel has scored in each of his last two Premier League appearances and stands on the verge of history. No teenager has ever scored in three consecutive league games for Spurs, while only three non-English teenagers have achieved this feat in Premier League history – Robbie Keane (Coventry, January 2000), Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal, twice during 1998-99) and Romelu Lukaku (West Brom, March 2013).

Forest's Portuguese winger Jota Silva has emerged as their super-sub, scoring in each of his last two away Premier League games after coming off the bench. All three of his goals in the competition have come as a substitute from just 13 shots, while in five starts he has fired eight shots without finding the net.

With Tottenham desperate to salvage some pride from a disappointing campaign and Forest looking to secure their Premier League status for another season, Monday's encounter promises to be an intriguing battle of teams with contrasting recent trajectories.

We thank OPTA for providing the statistical data. Photo: source XYZ