Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged that no one in Nottingham Forest would be third place in April, but supported his team to embrace the challenge after they started a huge week with victory in Tottenham.
After the weekend victories, Forest went to sixth place in the Premier League for Champions League qualification -rivalen Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa, but responded with aplomb in the capital.
Early efforts of Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood brought Bos into control and although Spurs created a number of opportunities, Richarlison's 87th minutes of header turned out to be too late, because Forest claimed a potentially crucial three points in the top five race.
After they needed a last day last season in Burnley to stay on, the men from Nuno went into force and the 19th goal of Wood of the season means that they return to London on Sunday for a semi -final of the FA Cup with Manchester City in a fascinating mood.
“First of all, we have to realize that we are in a fight that nobody expected, included us, and it is normal, but I don't want to prove that nobody is wrong,” said Nuno.
“It's about us. We have a big wish to compete and the players enjoy. We are in the mix against large teams and that can only make us proud.
“We embrace the challenge. We are a big week for us, we are going to Wembley to compete against a large team and there are many games for us. As long as we keep this approach, you never know.”
Nuno saw Forest making the ideal start with the Anderson's strike bent along Guglielmo Vicario in the spor goal in the fifth minute and it was 2-0 after 17 minutes.
Wood haunted Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven to go home the cross of Anthony Elanga.
Tottenham improved, but Mathys Tel and Richarlison wasted the first half of the first half before Dejan Kulusevski's 59th minute head was brilliant from the line by Harry Toffolo.
Matz Sels then boomed Richarlison twice before the Brazil went home a Pedro Porro delivery went home with three minutes to go, but Forest held.
He added: “Of course the last minutes full of fear, who wanted the time to go faster and Tottenham placed us against the ropes.
“We are very proud of the way we compete.
“I think the team competed well at the start of the game, we are achieving goals and we were dominant, even without trying to control Tottenham.
“Although they had opportunities, we again had Matz (Sels) at a high level, the clearance of Harry Toffolo, but Spirit is about that.”
Sels: We know what to do
Matz Sels admitted that Nottingham Forest had had a “great season” when they returned to the third in the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Tottenham.
The goalkeeper made some important saves during the Monday meeting in Noord-London and is aimed at a top five finish.
He said Sky Sports: “With 66 points you are normally quite in the top five, but this season it might be a bit more because all the teams around us keep winning. There are five games to go and we know what to do.
“We will see where we can end, but we have already played a great season. We can be proud of what we have done so far, but we want to give everything to end there in the top five.”
“I did well in recent years in France, but maybe the people here in England do not follow that competition. The last deadline day was not easy to stay here at Forest, but the Gaffer had a plan and he created something very good.
“Even last year when I came here, it was almost the same team, so we already had a lot of quality. In the Premier League there are no easy matches. We started the season well and the victory in Liverpool gave us a lot of confidence and the faith came by little.”
'Win a huge psychological boost at Spurs'
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher over Forest's victory at Spurs:
“It feels huge for Bos, not only the points and where it places them in the table, but psychologically with what has happened in recent weeks. They have had defeats and the opposition smoke blood in and around them. Other teams are in great form in Aston Villa, Newcastle and Man City. That was a big result.
“You could see what Nuno wanted to do in the second half. We have seen them do this so often this season, go to that back. Not always during the break, but he supported his defenders and his keeper to get a clean leaf. They almost did it.
“It was a bit nervy for them late. The keeper made a number of really good saves and there was a goal line that was not of this world. But Bos has been a revelation and I think most neutrals want to see them continue until the end of the season. They don't want to see it Peter.”
What is the state of playing in the race for the Champions League?
The race for the top five is tight, because only two points in Newcastle are separated in seventh place in the third and Aston Villa, with five more competition weeks.
Newcastle remains third, despite their harrowing 4-1 defeat in Aston Villa, but Nottingham Forest could climb above them if they can win their game in their hand in the wrestling Tottenham on Monday evening football – live on Sky Sports.
Man City jumped Bos to fourth place after their 2-0 win in Everton and closed the gap in third place Newcastle to one point.
Chelsea also went above the forest and the fifth after their dramatic 2-1 victory in Fulham.
Chelsea, forest and seventh placed villa are all locked on 57 points, only separated by target difference.