Football: Forest capitalise on Vega's dismissal

Nottingham Forest 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

The wildly contrasting fortunes of two of the Premiership's foreign legion held the key to an absorbing contest at the City Ground yesterday, when Nottingham Forest came from behind to record a victory which lifted them out of the relegation zone for the first time since October.

Tottenham, who had taken the lead after 70 seconds, looked to be on course for their first win of 1997 until late in the first half. It was then that Ramon Vega, the Swiss centre-back making his second appearance after arriving from Italian football, became the first Spurs player to be dismissed during Gerry Francis's 27 months in charge.

The principal beneficiary of Vega's departure proved to be Bryan Roy. The Dutchman had been quoted in a morning paper as saying that Stuart Pearce, Forest's caretaker manager, was "killing" his career. Called up only because of the unavailability of Dean Saunders and Kevin Campbell, Roy not only equalised with his first League goal since May but went on to score the winner.

That Forest have now taken 13 points out of 18 under Pearce is a tribute to his motivational powers, though Spurs could consider themselves unfortunate to suffer a third successive Sunday defeat. Vega had only himself to blame, yet on several other occasions they did not receive a fair crack of the whip from the referee, Jeff Winter.

Most glaring among them was a dreadful challenge on Spurs' Andy Sinton by Scot Gemmill midway through the second half. Mr Winter allowed the game to go on and Forest swept upfield to score the decisive goal with Sinton lying stricken on the turf. Only then did the official seek out Gemmill to show him the yellow card.

Even after they had edged in front, Forest were pressed into desperation defence by the White Hart Lane 10. Sol Campbell volleyed over their best chance, but Spurs were never quite able to open up Forest as clinically as they had done in practically their first foray.

A long throw-in by Allan Nielsen - which some critics claim is Francis's main attacking ploy - found Forest distracted by the towering presence of Campbell and Colin Calderwood. Sinton's crisp, low volley from 12 yards was his fourth goal of the season and the first Mark Crossley had conceded in four matches.

The turning point came in the 44th minute. As the players streamed out of the visitors' penalty area following David Howells' goal-line clearance from Colin Cooper, the latter was apparently struck by Vega. The pounds 3.75m recruit from Cagliari, booked and substituted on his debut a week earlier, had already been cautioned for encroachment. Now he saw red.

Spurs switched to a back four for the second half, but were still adjusting when they let in a goal in exactly the time it had taken them to score at the start. Des Lyttle's cross from the right was converted at close range by Roy, who until then had been jeered by the crowd.

The outstanding Howells soon sent a thunderous half-volley straight at Crossley. Moments later, with Sinton lying hurt and Spurs effectively down to nine men, Chris Bart-Williams powered through to test Ian Walker. The keeper could not hold the shot, enabling Roy to complete his metamorphosis from zero to hero by prodding in the rebound.

The final evidence that this was not Spurs' day came in the last minute, when Crossley handled a back-pass from Pearce without being penalised. Many more afternoons like this and Pearce will start to believe there is nothing to the management game.

While he did not share his thoughts with the press afterwards, sending Forest's fitness trainer in his place, Francis took the opportunity to air his grievances. "The decision on their second goal was a very poor one to say the least. It was a bad tackle on Sinton but the referee said he played advantage to us. The ball ran to Nielsen, who had three of their players around him. If that's an advantage, I'm a Chinaman."

The Spurs manager wanted to study television footage of Vega's offence before commenting in detail, but said: "If you raise your hands these days you're obviously going to be in trouble. It would annoy me if Ramon punched him because it has cost us a good player as well as the match."

Goals: Sinton (2) 0-1; Roy (47) 1-1; Roy (62) 2-1.

Nottingham Forest (4-4-1-1): Crossley; Lyttle, Cooper, Chettle, Pearce; Phillips (Gemmill, h-t), Haland, Bart-Williams, Woan; Clough; Roy (Lee, 88). Substitutes not used: C Allen, Guinan, Fettis (gk).

Tottenham Hotspur (3-1-4-2): Walker; Calderwood, Vega, Campbell; Howells (Nethercott, 85); Carr, Nielsen, Sinton (Rosenthal, 65), Edinburgh; R Allen (Wilson, h-t), Iversen. Substitutes not used: Austin, Bardsen (gk).

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees). Bookings: Forest Cooper, Gemmill; Tottenham Campbell, Howells, Nielsen. Sending off: Tottenham Vega.

Man of the match: Howells. Attendance: 27,303.