Richarlison’s funky pigeon has been a candidate for the RSPB’s conservation red list since he returned from the World Cup carrying an injury a year ago.
Months of fitness issues compounded mental health concerns, form faded and the Brazilian revealed this week how a nagging groin problem had caused him so much pain he limited shooting practice ahead of games.
Since surgery last month, however, he has return in fine fettle, soaring once again and scoring his third goal of the week to set Tottenham on the way to victory at Nottingham Forest.
He celebrated with his signature pigeon moves in front of the TV cameras.
Dejan Kulusevski, who created the opener for Richarlison, added a second for Spurs after an error by Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner, and the North Londoners survived late pressure as they finished the game with 10 men.
Dejan Kulusevski was a joy to watch as he assisted Tottenham’s opener and scored the next
Tottenham’s Richarlison celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Forest
Ange Postecoglou will be delighted with his side’s win tonight as they draw level with Man City
Yves Bissouma was sent off in the 70th minute for a high tackle on Ryan Yates, upgraded from a yellow on VAR advice.
It was his second red card of the season, which means he will be banned for four games and this will take him into the Africa Cup of Nations so he might not be back in a Tottenham shirt until the end of February, depending on how Mali perform.
Destiny Udogie will also miss the next match, at home against Everton, after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season.
Spurs also lost Brennan Johnson to head injury in the first half. It marred his return to the City Ground and complicated life for Ange Postecoglou, who is already short of players.
But the pressure will only increase on Steve Cooper after this results, although he was warmly applauded by home fans at the end in the absence of Evangelos Marinakis.
Forest summoned a late flurry of chances and Neco Williams hit a post in stoppage time but they have won only once in 13 games and this was their third defeat in a row at the City Ground.
Home form was the bedrock of survival last season. Without it, they are sliding into trouble and Marinakis is not an owner renowned for his patience.
Cooper had started with five strung along the back line, the midfield packed with industry and physical presence, and the pace of Antony Elanga and the quick mind of Morgan Gibbs-White up front.
But they were forced too deep and were probably too passive. Tottenham controlled the first half and almost took an early lead when Kulusevski threaded a pass behind Williams to Heung-min Son, who tried to slide a side-footer past Turner.
The American dashed out, closed the angle, spread his frame like an ice-hockey net minder and made a vital save. Turner started well, and made an even better save to deny Johnson midway through the first half, another chance created by Kulusevski, masked to protect a broken nose and in fabulous form.
Guglielmo Vicario produced a number of brilliant saves to keep a clean sheet and deny Forest
Forest are now in deep trouble in the table as they go winless in their last six matches
Bissouma was extremely clumsy in his challenge and he saw a red card in the second half
It would be the last meaningful contribution from Johnson, who cut his forehead in one of a series of frantic scrambles as Forest started to threaten from set-pieces. These included Moussa Niakhate’s long throws, which offered encouragement to the home side and brought the crowd to life.
They had survived the early pressure and were visibly growing in confidence when they went behind in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
With limited attacking options on the bench, Postecoglou had sent on Oliver Skipp to replace Johnson, which meant shuffling Kulusevski from his role in midfield trio to what is a more familiar position for him, wide on the right.
And it was from here he created the goal, cutting inside onto his left foot and delivering a spinning, teasing cross for Richarlison, who timed his run, climbed above Willy Boly and glanced a header past Turner from close range.
It was his fifth of the season, his third of the week and a timely lift for Spurs.
Forest were much improved in the second half. They came out with more adventure and purpose and Boly should have levelled soon after the restart when Elanga found him unmarked in front of goal.
The big centre-half showed little composure as he launched his effort high into the Trent End.
Pressure is piling on Steve Cooper and his Nottingham side who may go into the bottom three
Matt Turner gave a gift of a clearance to Kulusevski for his goal and was furious with himself
Tottenham were very resilient away from home and will be pleased with the impressive win
Elanga did find the net only to find it eventually ruled out on a VAR check. The celebrations seemed muted even as he converted the cross from Williams as if most of Nottingham realised he was among three players who had drifted offside.
Referee Jarred Gillett signalled a goal but it was off and correctly disallowed.
Spurs needed the second and it came thanks to a gift by Turner. The keeper who had started so well was culpable twice. First, he found Kulusevski with a miscued clearance then, was beaten at his near post by power as the Swede eased by Niakhate and unleashed a fierce drive.
Turner got his hands up but could only deflect it into the net. On the touchline, Cooper threw his hands onto his head.
The contest became increasingly untidy after the red card, littered by claims and counterclaims. Tottenham thought Murillo should have received a second yellow for a late tackle on Skipp, and did what they could to disturb Forest’s rhythm.
Vicario stepped up when required to make saves, the best of them to block a point-blank header by Harry Toffolo, Elanga fired another chance wide and, by the time Williams hit the woodwork, there was no stopping the pigeon. He was in full flight with all three points.
