THEY are the words Tottenham fans must have thought they would never read – but Richarlison cannot stop scoring.The Brazilian striker had been fast-tracking his way towards the top of the list of Spurs’ worst ever signings.
Richarlison was on target again as Spurs beat Nottingham ForestCredit: Rex
Dejan Kulusevski was also on target in the 2-0 victoryCredit: AFP
But having now scored in back-to-back games for the first time since leaving Everton in a £50million move in 2022 – he has actually got three goals in those two matches – maybe Richarlison is not such a lost cause after all.
He only managed to score three times last season and had scored juit a couple this term before grabbing two in Sunday’s 4-1 demolition of Newcastle.
But he put Spurs ahead with a header in first half injury-time and the player who created the goal with a magnificent cross, Dejan Kulusevski, grabbed the second following some terrible goalkeeping by Matt Turner
Tottenham were forced to play the last 20 minutes with 10 men because Yves Bissouma was handed a red card after raking his studs down the leg of Ryan Yates.
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But to the delight of Postecoglou, his team held on to maybe prove they have overcome that blip of five games without a win.
The news is not quite so rosy for Forest boss Steve Cooper. His team are now without a win in six and have managed just one victory in 13 games.
While Cooper still has the firm support of Forest’s fans, you get the feeling that owner Evangelos Marinakis could press the big red panic button at any time.
Spurs certainly made hard work of this win but Richarlison clearly enjoyed his moment celebrating in front of the home fans.
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To score in a third game in succession would even be sweeter as he faces former club Everton at home next Saturday.
Even ahead of the trip to the east midlands, Postecoglou spoke about Richarlison saying that for the first time this season, he is injury-free and playing with a clear mind.
Yet if he is to continue his run, he needs a few more stunning passes from Kulusevski.
What a player he is proving to be and it is no surprise he has created more chances than any other player for Postecoglou this term.
While that £50m deal for Richarlison may still not be seen as great business, the £29.2m for Kulusevski was a bargain.
Although it was a hard-fought win, it was a deeply disappointing return for Brennan Johnson, who was back at the City Ground following his £47.5million deadline day move to Spurs.
Richarlison fired Spurs ahead on the stroke of half-timeCredit: Getty
Kulusevski put the game to bed in the 65th minuteCredit: Reuters
He suffered a head injury after just over 30 minutes and as he walked off the pitch holding tissue over a cut head, he received a standing ovation from the home fans along with chants of ‘he’s one of our own’.
Johnson, who scored 29 goals for Forest, came close to grabbing only his second for Tottenham when he prodded the ball towards the corner but Turner got down low to push the ball away.
Son Heung-Min should have put Spurs at the start but fired a surprisingly-tame shot straight at Turner after a terrific pass from yes, you’ve guessed it, Kulusevski.
Yet despite being in control, Spurs started making silly mistakes and giving the ball away with Pape Matar Sarr a key culprit.
Cheikhou Kouyate should have made the most of some chaos in the Tottenham area but somehow, he missed a free header and embarrassingly, he ended up handling the ball instead.
Johnson then suffered a whack to his head in a challenge with Willy Boly and after overcoming the rough patch, Richarlison delivered that glancing header from six yards following the terrific cross from the right by Kulusevski.
Brennan Johnson was forced off with a bloodied headCredit: AFP
Yves Bissouma picked up another red cardCredit: Reuters
Boly, though, could at least have put in a challenge on Richarlison.
The Forest defender could have made amends at the start of the second half when he was somehow left completely unmarked but he blazed the effort into the Trent End. In fact, probably into the actual river itself.
Anthony Elanga thought he had equalised but after a VAR check, was ruled offside
And then home keeper Turner, under pressure from Son, suffered a couple of moments he will want to forget.
He ended up passing the ball straight to Kulusevski who had too much nous for defender Moussa Niakhate although the shot went through Turner’s arms.
Spurs were then down to 10 men after the sending off of Bissouma who was initially given a yellow card before ref Jarred Gillett was called over to a monitor following a VAR check.
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But for Postecoglou and Richarlison, in particular, the last few days have been a lot better than the previous couple of weeks.
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