The north London side's survival hopes were dealt a major blow following a heavy 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, leaving Spurs languishing in 17th place and extending their winless league run to 13 matches.

Despite a fervent pre-match atmosphere, with thousands of supporters lining the streets to welcome the team, optimism quickly faded after another damaging result. Romero, who captains the side, admitted the performance fell short but made a point of thanking fans for their unwavering backing.

"It's a difficult day for everyone, but the first thing is to speak about the fans," he said. "Thank you for today and always staying with us. They gave us fantastic support, but about us, it's a bad day. Now it is finished and the most important thing is to understand the situation."

Spurs had shown early promise, creating chances through Richarlison, while Forest's Igor Jesus nearly turned the ball into his own net. However, the visitors struck a crucial blow just before half-time through Jesus, shifting the momentum of the match.

The second half unravelled quickly for the hosts. Morgan Gibbs-White doubled Forest's advantage shortly after the hour mark before Taiwo Awoniyi sealed the victory late on, prompting a mass exodus from the stands.

The defeat marked Tottenham's 10th home loss of the campaign and erased signs of progress built from a resilient draw at Liverpool and a morale-boosting win over Atlético Madrid in Europe. Instead, the club now finds itself firmly entrenched in a relegation battle.

Romero acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead, particularly with the squad set to disperse for international duty before the run-in.

"It's not easy, but the most important thing is to go to the national team and then come back for the last seven finals," he said. "I promise to put 200 per cent into every one. We have to stay all together… we will go again."

With the pressure mounting, head coach Igor Tudor faces a crucial period to regroup his side, especially after another defensive collapse. Spurs have yet to win a league match in 2026, and their current trajectory has turned a disappointing season into a fight for top-flight survival.

The final stretch of fixtures will determine whether Tottenham can preserve their long-standing Premier League status or suffer a historic drop, with every remaining match now carrying the weight of a cup final.

Arsenal's fringe players shine in win over Luton, Arteta praises squad depth