Tottenham Hotspur's Unconvincing Win over Forest Was Vital to Season Ahead

The final scoreline read 3-1. Seemingly a routine home win for Spurs over a Championship side. 

In reality, it was far from comfortable. Forest, having made nine changes to their line-up, were expected to be easy pickings despite Tottenham's recent rocky form. 

Mauricio Pochettino too named an entirely changed 11 against Forest, and they had the better of the early exchanges. 

Jan Vertonghen and Federico Fazio looked solid at the back and dealt quite easily with sporadic Forest counter-attacks, but as the half wore on, Spurs' attack looked lost. Forest warmed into the game and had the better chances to score late in the first half. 

Tottenham seemed far more intent on applying Mauricio Pochettino's footballing philosophy against Forest than in the 1-0 defeat against West Brom, and while it was scrappy, there were promising phases of play. 

Well-known and highly credible Spurs youth blogger Chris Miller (@WindyCOYS) suggested on Twitter that Pochettino is using "easier" games as a sort of live-fire exercise: bedding in his tactics against inferior opposition. If so, Pochettino is shrewdly backing his own philosophy without sacrificing league performance.

Spurs aren't exactly flying in their Premier League campaign, but the four European games and this Cup fixture have been clearly different in both personnel and style. 

Tottenham's win over Forest won't serve as a watershed moment in their season, but it forms part of a larger picture that is still emerging. Pochettino hasn't enforced a complete style change on Spurs immediately. Rather, he is cultivating an evolution in the playing style away from the staid possession football preferred under Andre Villas-Boas. 

His players are learning an unfamiliar system, so this is the most sensible way to progress. Consider Louis van Gaal's stubborn insistence on three defenders and Manchester United's subsequent struggles. Pochettino is trying to avoid such self-inflicted wounds. 

Tottenham struggled to impose themselves on the match for the first hour. Nottingham Forest even took the lead in the 61st minute, but Spurs still couldn't put Dorus de Vries under any real pressure. 

It was clear that Spurs' issue was the front three, and in the 64th minute, Pochettino withdrew Paulinho and Benjamin Stambouli for Ryan Mason and Harry Kane. 

It was Mason who made the crucial breakthrough. 

Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press

His stunning equaliser sparked Spurs into life, and from that moment, it seemed there would be only one winner. 

Suddenly the tempo rose, and Spurs' superior players took control. Roberto Soldado grabbed the lead before Harry Kane ensured Spurs' progress with a third. 

The fact that it took both substitutions and a wonder goal to spark Spurs is regrettable, but the fact that they were able to storm back into the game and finish on such a high is the key takeaway from the game. 

Spurs belatedly blew Forest away and not only earned a place in the fourth round of an eminently winnable knockout tournament, but garnered crucial momentum ahead of the north London derby. 

Had they fallen to another ignominious home defeat, the already imposing nature of the looming match against Arsenal would have assumed yet greater importance. 

With victory, any victory, there is greater optimism, and the momentum of the last stage of the match can be carried into Saturday's big game. 

The form of several of the players too is cause for positivity. Roberto Soldado scored an excellent goal, making the case for inclusion against Arsenal on Saturday.

Benjamin Stambouli's tigrish presence could also be valuable against Tottenham's bitter rivals. He gave another fine performance, but his fitness remains an issue. He is yet to complete 90 minutes but could yet play a part in the derby. 

Pochettino could name the same back four against Arsenal who played competently against Forest. It would be a step up from the farcical performance against West Brom. 

Danny Rose is likely to keep his place as Ben Davies continues to wait for his Spurs Premier League debut, but Vertonghen, Federico Fazio and Kyle Naughton could all be retained. 

Spurs' performance drew significant criticism during and after the match, but the positives to be taken from the 3-1 win far outweigh the frustrating first hour. 

They are beginning to incorporate more of Pochettino's philosophy. The performances of Soldado, Stambouli, Vertonghen and Fazio are also worthy of acclaim. The fact that they were eventually able to produce an excellent 20-minute spell is the most significant result. 

Spurs have now broken a run of indifferent performances. They travel to the Emirates for the north London derby against Arsenal without the sense of foreboding that would have accompanied another negative result. 

Pochettino faces his toughest test as Spurs manager on Saturday, but the 3-1 win over Forest makes it a little easier.