Theo Walcott: Sean Dyche will be thrilled with what ‘fantastic’ Nottingham Forest star did vs Tottenham
Theo Walcott has heaped praise on Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare after his goal and two assists in the 3-0 win over Tottenham.
Forest beat Tottenham 3-0 at the City Ground on Sunday (14 December) to pile even more sack pressure on Thomas Frank.
Callum Hudson-Odoi gave the hosts the lead in the 28th minute after some shoddy Spurs defending, while he scored again in the second-half before Sangare added some gloss to the scoreline.
The 28-year-old has been a key player for Forest this season after he struggled to make an impact in 2024-25 because of a long-term hamstring injury.
Sean Dyche is now set to lose Sangare as he goes to the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, and he will be a big miss following such an impressive performance.
Walcott praised Sangare on Match of the Day after his fine showing vs Spurs
Sangare nearly opened the scoring early on as he crashed a header against the post with Guglielmo Vicario standing motionless, but he did soon help create the first goal for Hudson-Odoi.
The Ivorian caught Spurs’ Archie Gray napping on the edge of the box and stole in to intercept the ball, then drew Vicario close before setting up his teammate to tap into an empty net.
Sangare’s impact on proceedings did not end there, as he grabbed his second goal of the campaign with a stunning, outside-of-the-boot strike to make it 3-0 in the 79th minute.
He was singled out for praise by pundit Walcott on Match of the Day (14 December), as he said: “He’s going to be missed in the AFCON, that’s what they’re gonna miss, his energy from midfield, and this is where the (first) goal comes from.
“Just watch this (Sangare’s goal). Outside the boot, fantastic finish. Sean Dyche will be really happy with the way he’s started his career at Nottingham Forest right now, they’ve been brilliant.”
What Dyche said about Sangare after top Tottenham showing
Dyche has turned Forest’s form around in the last few weeks after being hired to pull them away from relegation danger following Ange Postecoglou’s ill-fated spell in charge.
Sangare has been key to their upturn in performances, with starts in seven of their last eight games as he enjoys the best spell of his Forest career so far.
Following the Spurs match, Dyche also applauded the 28-year-old to the media, saying: “He’s certainly put a shift in for us, and we know he can play, we know he understands the game.
“Previously, he’s had a few injuries as well, which have maybe cost him. I’ve enjoyed working with him. He works hard on the training pitch, and he comes in with a smile and gets on with it.
“He’s shown what he can do and continued to do so today with a great goal.”
His upcoming absence is set to serve as a blow to Forest throughout the Christmas period, but the likes of Douglas Luiz and James McAtee will be eyeing up the chance to impress Dyche and give him somewhat of a selection headache for when Sangare is back.