soccer

Spurs can '100 percent' avoid nightmare of relegation: Saltor

Yahoo Sports

Tottenham are just one place above the Premier League relegation zone (CARLOS JASSO) Tottenham assistant coach Bruno Saltor said he is "100 percent" sure Spurs can survive their relegation dogfight after a disastrous 3-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Saltor took on media duties at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in place of interim boss Igor Tudor, who had been informed of a family bereavement. Spurs dominated the first half but Igor Jesus headed Forest ahead on the stroke of half-time.

Morgan Gibbs-White doubled the visitors' lead and substitute Taiwo Awoniyi completed an emphatic win. The three points lift Forest above Spurs into 16th spot, leaving Tottenham just one point and one place above the relegation zone. The club, Europa League champions last season, have seven games left to save themselves from a first relegation since 1977.

Saltor told his post-match press conference Tudor was dealing with a "personal family issue". "Obviously it's a difficult moment for him," he said. "We're just trying to support the best way we can.

" He told Sky Sports that Tottenham, who have not won in the Premier League since late December, were not getting the rub of the green. "Every mistake right now is going against us, every detail is going against us and it affects the players as well," he said. "You can see how much they are fighting.

We are in a difficult situation, everyone knows. " Saltor added: "It hurts us, it is painful, really painful, but the fans were outstanding today -- from before the game until the end of the game. "We need to carry on because we care, we care for Spurs, we are family and want to get out of this situation.