Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur shared the points after playing out a goalless draw at the City Ground on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in a Premier League encounter that produced plenty of effort but very little attacking quality.

Both sides entered the fixture looking for their first league victory of the season, but neither team could find the breakthrough as the game ended 0-0. The result gives Nottingham Forest another point after their 2-2 draw away at Liverpool, while Tottenham finally opened their league account with a point after losing their first two matches of the campaign.

Forest Come Closest to Breaking the Deadlock

The home side appeared to have found the winning moment when Neco Williams was involved in a goal that would eventually be ruled out following a VAR review.

Williams was in the thick of the action as Forest pushed forward, but the goal was disallowed for handball. The decision became one of the major talking points of the afternoon, with the incident denying Forest what could have been a crucial winning goal in front of their home supporters.

Despite enjoying periods of pressure, Forest were unable to consistently test Tottenham goalkeeper Antonín Kinský. Their best recorded effort on target came from James McAtee, but it was not enough to change the scoreline.

The result means Forest remain without a Premier League victory after their opening three matches. They have, however, now collected two points, following draws against Liverpool and Tottenham.

Tottenham’s Goal Drought Continues

For Tottenham, the draw will provide some relief after a difficult start to the new campaign, but there will also be plenty of concern about their attacking performance.

Spurs have now failed to score in each of their first three Premier League matches of the season. Before the trip to Nottingham, Tottenham had suffered defeats against Brentford and Newcastle, leaving them without a point and without a league goal.

The stalemate at the City Ground finally ended their wait for a point, but the London club still have major questions to answer in front of goal. Tottenham failed to register a shot on target during the match, highlighting just how difficult they found it to create clear opportunities.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi will therefore have plenty of work to do during the international break as he looks for solutions in attack. Tottenham have invested heavily in their squad, but the early results suggest that the new-look team is still searching for the right balance and attacking chemistry.

New Signings Show Promise

There were nevertheless some encouraging signs for Tottenham.

Savio, one of the club’s major summer additions, showed flashes of attacking quality on his debut. The Brazilian was among the players expected to inject greater creativity and pace into Tottenham’s forward play, although he could not produce the decisive moment his team needed.

Sandro Tonali also put in a committed performance in midfield. The expensive summer signing was involved in several important defensive moments as Tottenham worked hard to keep Forest from taking control of the game.

Mykhailo Mudryk also made a late substitute appearance, marking his return to Premier League football after a lengthy absence. However, he was unable to make a significant impact during his limited time on the pitch.

A Frustrating Afternoon for Both Teams

Ultimately, neither Nottingham Forest nor Tottenham did enough to deserve all three points.

Forest had the more notable attacking moment with their disallowed goal, but they also struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Tottenham, meanwhile, showed defensive resilience but lacked the cutting edge required to punish the home side.

The 0-0 scoreline therefore reflected a match in which both teams were more effective at preventing goals than creating them.

For Forest, the priority will now be turning encouraging performances into victories. Their next league assignment will be another difficult test away at Aston Villa.

Tottenham will return home looking for their first Premier League win when they face Everton. After three matches without a league goal, the pressure will be on De Zerbi and his attacking players to respond.

What the Result Means

The draw leaves Nottingham Forest with two points from their opening three Premier League matches, while Tottenham move onto one point. Forest remain without a win, while Spurs are still searching for both their first victory and first league goal of the campaign.

Although neither side will be completely satisfied with the result, Tottenham can at least take comfort from finally getting off the mark. Forest, on the other hand, will feel they missed an opportunity to claim maximum points at home.

The Premier League season is still in its early stages, but Saturday’s result highlighted the work both clubs still have to do. Forest need to become more clinical in front of goal, while Tottenham urgently need to rediscover their attacking threat.

For now, the points are shared at the City Ground — but both teams will know that much more will be required if they are to turn their seasons into successful campaigns.