The tottenham vs nottingham forest timeline dates back several decades and includes FA Cup replays, League Cup finals-adjacent drama, and a modern Premier League rivalry that has swung sharply in Forest’s favour over the past two seasons.
The two sides’ most recent encounter kicked off at 14:15 UTC on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Nottingham Forest won 3-0.
That result was the latest twist in a fixture history of 129 meetings, one in which Tottenham hold a clear overall lead but Forest have enjoyed a striking recent resurgence.
This article traces the tottenham vs nottingham forest timeline in full, using the available historical record to map out the rivalry from its earlier competitive era through to the present season.
Early Meetings and Historic Milestones
Tottenham and Nottingham Forest met repeatedly through the mid-to-late 1990s, a period that included both Premier League fixtures and a dramatic FA Cup tie.
In February 1996, the two sides drew 2-2 in the FA Cup fifth round, before Spurs won the replay 1-1 on… a match that finished level before Tottenham advanced.
The following seasons produced tightly-contested Premier League meetings, including a Forest win in October 1995 and further Forest victories in the 1996-97 campaign.
Tottenham have built a healthy lead over Forest in the fixture across the past 25 years in particular, winning eight of a run of eleven meetings in all competitions during that stretch.
That dominance included a run of Premier League and cup wins through the 2020s, among them a 3-1 Spurs win in March 2023 and further victories in December 2023 and April 2024.
The tables turned sharply from December 2024 onward, with Nuno Espirito Santo masterminding a Forest win against his former club before Forest completed two further victories across the 2025-26 season.
Timeline of key eras
| Period | Notable outcome |
|---|---|
| Feb–Mar 1996 | FA Cup fifth round tie, drawn 2-2 before a replay |
| Mid-to-late 1990s | Regular, closely-fought Premier League meetings |
| 2022–2024 | Spurs dominant, winning multiple meetings including Mar 2023 and Apr 2024 |
| Dec 26, 2024 | Forest win 1-0, Nuno Espirito Santo’s first win over former club |
| Apr 21, 2025 | Forest win 2-1 |
| Dec 14, 2025 | Forest win 3-0 |
| Mar 22, 2026 | Most recent meeting; Forest win 3-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium |
Key points from this era:
- The clubs met regularly through the 1990s, including a memorable FA Cup tie in 1996
- Tottenham built a substantial lead in the fixture over the 25 years to 2024
- Forest’s turnaround began in December 2024 under manager Nuno Espirito Santo
- Forest have won three of the last four meetings between the sides
- The 2025-26 season saw Forest complete a full-season double over Tottenham
Head-to-Head Record and Recent Form
Across all competitions, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest have met 129 times.
Tottenham lead the all-time record with 59 wins, compared to 41 for Forest, while the remaining 29 meetings have ended in draws.
The most recent meeting, on March 22, 2026, saw Nottingham Forest win 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with goals from Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Taiwo Awoniyi.
That result completed a full-season double for Forest, having already beaten Spurs 3-0 at the City Ground in December 2025, when Callum Hudson-Odoi scored twice.
Forest’s recent run has been built on back-to-back victories over a Tottenham side that had, for years, held a clear psychological edge in the fixture.
Prior to this run, Spurs had lost only two of their previous eleven meetings with Forest across all competitions.
All-time head-to-head snapshot
| Metric | Tottenham | Nottingham Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Total meetings | 129 | 129 |
| Wins | 59 | 41 |
| Draws | 29 | 29 |
| Losses | 41 | 59 |
| Last 4 meetings (wins) | 1 | 3 |
Recent meetings
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| Mar 22, 2026 | Spurs 0-3 Nottm Forest |
| Dec 14, 2025 | Nottm Forest 3-0 Spurs |
| Apr 21, 2025 | Spurs 1-2 Nottm Forest |
| Dec 26, 2024 | Nottm Forest 1-0 Spurs |
| Apr 7, 2024 | Spurs 3-1 Nottm Forest |
Key points from this section:
- Tottenham lead the all-time record 59 wins to 41, with 29 draws from 129 meetings
- The most recent match, on March 22, 2026, ended 3-0 to Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Forest completed a full-season double over Spurs in 2025-26
- Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Taiwo Awoniyi scored in the most recent meeting
- Forest have won three of the last four meetings after years of Tottenham dominance