Fraser Forster has been offered an intimate form of comfort after he gave two comical goals away against Manchester United.
Despite his double gaffe the former Celtic goalkeeper was on the winning side with Tottenham 4-3 winners in their EFL Cup quarter-final clash on Thursday night. Ange Postecoglu’s team have booked a semi-final date with Liverpool after victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But they were made to sweat despite gaining a 3-0 lead.
Dominic Solanke’s brace and Dejan Kulusevski’s finish had them on easy street. But then Forster gifted possession to United inside the Tottenham box, allowing Bruno Fernandes to tee up sub Joshua Zirkzee. Then seven minutes later, Forster stalled on the ball and Amad Diallo slid in to convert his late clearance into the net.
Forster was not the only shaky keeper on the pitch with United back up Altay Bayındır flailing at Son’s corner kick which flew straight in. His claims of a foul from Lucas Bergvall were warranted but ignored. After the madcapped affair Spurs skipper Heung-Min Son offered an olive branch for his teammate Forster.
He told CBS Sports: “How many times he’s saved us this season? I can’t even count. He’s been unbelievable, he’s been outstanding. Even today, before we conceded a goal, he made a couple of good saves that are saving us. There’s no doubt, we move on all together. He’s an experienced player, so we move on together. I’m going to give him a little cuddle.”
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was, however, more damning. He said: “I do not know how the manager does it at times, he must be pulling his hair out, but some of the things are his fault, like passing the ball back to the goalkeeper – Forster is the worst player on the pitch with the ball, so stop giving it to him.”