3 hours ago
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The job is not done yet, far from it. But on a rainswept evening in West Yorkshire, the collective response from everyone associated with Leeds United for each of their goals left you in no doubt that this had the whiff of a season-defining night.
With Leeds and Nottingham Forest sitting an advantageous but not decisive six points above the relegation zone before kick-off, and 18th-placed West Ham United away to Burnley on Saturday, it felt like both these famous old clubs knew victory here could dramatically shape the remaining three months of the campaign.
For 20 minutes or so, it was unpredictable, end-to-end and pretty breathless viewing. But a four-minute period which encapsulated Forest’s season to date was decisive, as they spectacularly fell apart and conceded twice midway through the first half before Dominic Calvert-Lewin settled this quintessential relegation six-pointer shortly after half-time.
The consequences of this result will fully be known only by the time the weekend is out. If West Ham do slip up, this could well be the night that goes a long way towards securing Premier League survival for Leeds. If they continue this sort of form at Elland Road – 22 of their 29 points have come at home – they will probably be fine no matter what.
But it will be Sean Dyche and Forest who watch on nervously on Saturday now. For all the good work they have done of late with eight points from their last four games, a Hammers victory at Turf Moor makes things fascinating once again. Not that Leeds, their supporters and Daniel Farke – who deserves immense credit for this mid-season turnaround – will care right now.
The game began at a frenetic pace despite horrendous conditions. Both sides clearly knew the importance of victory, both enjoying spells on the front foot inside the opening quarter. The first real chance came the way of the visitors though, as Nicolás Domínguez forced a wonderful save from Karl Darlow after a Forest counterattack.
Igor Jesus then headed narrowly wide from an Elliot Anderson cross and just as it looked as though the visitors had established a foothold in the game, they were hit with two devastating blows four minutes apart as Leeds took control.
With the pitch heavy, the players covered in mud and Elland Road rocking under the lights, the game had a distinct early Premier League years feel. So perhaps it was fitting that the opening ball came from a simple, old-fashioned long ball over the top by Ilia Gruev, who picked the run of Jayden Bogle to perfection to allow the wingback to slot under Stefan Ortega for his first Premier League goal for Leeds.
Four minutes later, Leeds doubled their lead in far more intricate fashion. Some magnificent buildup play led to the tireless Brenden Aaronson threading through James Justin and while his shot was saved by Ortega, Justin had the presence of mind to square it for Noah Okafor, who tapped into an empty net for his first goal since October.
Having more than held their own for almost half an hour, Forest were two goals behind in the blink of an eye. Dyche was furiously trying to instil some life back into his players from the touchline, with the visitors shell-shocked by Leeds’ double. And while there was a brief riposte, there was nothing too troubling for the hosts to contend with as half-time approached.
Forest had to start well after half-time, but they did the complete opposite. More Leeds pressure led to the third goal four minutes after the restart, as a curling cross from Gruev was chested out of Ortega’s path and into the net by Calvert-Lewin for his 10th Premier League goal of the season.
That is his best goal-scoring return since 2020-21 when he was an England international. No Englishman has more goals in the top flight this season – and Elland Road, clearly enjoying themselves by this point, serenaded their No 9 with chants about an England recall.
Dyche rung the changes as the hour approached. And whether that was simply to stem the flow of Leeds’ attacking chances or try to haul his side back into contention, it didn’t have the desired effect. The hosts kept pressing and but for a bit of instinctive keeping from Ortega, Leeds would have had a fourth as Forest failed to clear a corner.
It was, in truth, a meek showing from Forest aside from that encouraging opening quarter. They at least scored a consolation when new signing Lorenzo Lucca scored his first Premier League goal after heading in an Omari Hutchinson cross but by then the damage had long since been done.
