Hunting successive Premier League wins for the first time since the opening two games, Spurs made a shaky start and almost found themselves trailing inside five minutes when Sangare’s header rebounded off the post before Neco Williams forced a save from Guglielmo Vicario in the ensuing chaos.
Tottenham settled after that but were unable to carve out a clear opening, allowing Forest to break the deadlock after 28 minutes, thanks to the tenacity of Sangare, who closed down Archie Gray on the edge of his box and poked to Hudson-Odoi for a tap-in.
Looking to make amends with what would have been the first goal of his senior career, Gray then saw his volley on the turn held by stand-in John Victor as the visitors searched for a response.
However, Sean Dyche’s side were good value for their lead, and almost doubled it before the interval as Morgan Gibbs-White came within inches of turning in on the stretch at the back post.
Only fierce rivals Arsenal had beaten Tottenham on their travels this season (W4, D2), but five minutes into the second period, that looked unlikely to remain the case as Hudson-Odoi bagged his second of the afternoon, this time inadvertently catching out Vicario with a cross that sailed over the goalkeeper.
A triple change from the away side as the hour mark approached did little to turn the tide, and with Forest still on top, the game was put to bed 11 minutes from time when Hudson-Odoi laid off Sangare, who sent a rasping effort in off the post as a parting gift before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations.
It’s now seven wins and six clean sheets from 12 matches in all competitions for Dyche (D2, L3), whose oversight has overseen an upturn in form for a Forest side who are now four points clear of the drop zone.
As for Spurs, one win in seven league fixtures leaves Thomas Frank’s side disappointingly stuck in the bottom half of the table.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest)
