Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United
Nottingham Forest moved six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone on Sunday, thanks to a stunning strike from forward Brennan Johnson.
Premier League: Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United was a clash between two teams fighting for survival and the first top flight duel between these proud clubs in over two decades. The Whites had plenty of chances to draw, or even win the game, but a combination of poor finishing and a cool goalkeeping display from Forest’s new stopper Keylor Navas preserved the win for the hosts, who are now five games unbeaten in the league.
Steve Cooper’s side are up to 13th in the table while Leeds United are in 17th, above the drop zone on goal difference alone. It’s a good time for Forest to go on an unbeaten run and, equally, a bad time for Leeds to stutter. The Whites are desperate to avoid another nail-biting run in but, as things stand, they in the thick of the dogfight.
The teams at the bottom of the table will have been watching the Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United updates with interest, probably hoping for a draw but, while Leeds dominated all the stats it was Forest who collected the three priceless points.
Highlights of the game
Forest hardly had a sniff of the ball as Leeds United dominated the opening exchanges, Luis Sinisterra almost breaking through on three minutes, but keeper Keylor Navas, signed the day before the transfer deadline, made a smart save and a quick recovery to claim the ball. And the visitors camped in their hosts’ half for pretty much all of the opening 12 minutes, but in the 13th, Forest struck. When Leeds failed to properly clear a free-kick the ball dropped onto the boot of Johnson and he sweetly volleyed it home.
Johnson had won the free-kick and may have been offside in the build up to that moment but Forest fans didn’t care about that one bit.
Sinisterra passed up another golden chance to level when Wilfried Gnonto pulled the ball back from the bi-line but, with the goal gaping, the Colombian blasted it high into the stands when the net should have been bulging.
Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch rang the changes in the second half, bringing on Weston McKennie for his debut, after his loan move from Juventus, and Leeds pushed for a leveller, the busy Patrick Bamford denied twice by saving challenges. Forest were always dangerous at the other end though and substitute Sam Surridge came close to doubling the lead but his curled effort sailed just over the angle of post and crossbar.
When the final whistle went, the roof came off the County Ground Stadium as the hosts celebrated a massive win. Leeds have plenty to ponder.
Key statistics
The Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United betting odds pre-match predicted a hard fought game and so it was, but Leeds had the better of the main metrics, with almost 70 per cent possession, nine shots to six and four to two on target. But Forest have made a habit of winning 1-0 and this was the biggest of the lot.
Leeds haven’t won at the City Ground in a top flight fixture since 1971 and when Johnson scored on 13 minutes it was only his third touch of the game, the second winning the foul leading up to the strike. That sums up the game really.
What’s next?
Here at SBOTOP we’ll be previewing and reporting on all the Premier League games over the next seven days as Forest travel away to high flying Fulham next weekend. The Cottagers came up as champions last year and have been at home in the top flight, drawing with Chelsea on Friday to stay eighth in the table.
Leeds United have a very tough February ahead of themselves; they visit Manchester United on Wednesday and then host the Red Devils next Sunday. It is one of the fiercest rivalries in English football and both Uniteds are desperate for points. And if that isn’t enough the Whites then go the Goodison Park to meet Sean Dyche’s Everton who started their life under the former Burnley boss with a 1-0 win over leaders Arsenal.
It’s all hotting up at both ends of the table and Manchester City can close the gap on the Gunners to two points if they come out on top of their clash with Spurs in the final Sunday game; but, right now Nottingham Forest have eased their worries at the bottom…for now.
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