Guardian 2/4/11
Leeds United romp to victory against 10-man Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest are to appeal against defender Chris Cohen's first-half dismissal, which proved to be a key moment in their 4-1 defeat away to Leeds.
The game turned in the home side's favour in the 35th minute, when the referee, Mark Halsey, showed Cohen a red card for his lunging tackle on George McCartney in front of a furious home dug-out.
Forest's assistant manager, David Kelly, was so incensed by the decision that he refused to shake Simon Grayson's hand after the match.
The Leeds captain, Jonny Howson, broke the deadlock in the 51st minute and Luciano Becchio headed home a second six minutes later. But substitute Garath McCleary curled home a brilliant effort to throw 10-man Forest a lifeline in the 65th minute and Leeds looked jittery. Only after Max Gradel lashed home his first goal from the edge of the area in the 74th minute could the home fans breath more easily and Gradel pounced on a rebound for his second with four minutes remaining to leave Forest without a win in their last eight matches.
The Forest manager, Billy Davies, said: "I've spoken to our chief executive, Mark Arthur, and we're definitely intending to appeal the red card. Definitely. We've seen the DVD and the referee said it was for excessive force, but we'll definitely go to appeal and see how we get on."
The Forest bench clearly felt the Leeds manager's furious reaction to the tackle helped sway the referee's decision. Davies, careful not to say too much about the incident, added: "You decide for yourselves. You don't need me to tell you. We all know what took place.
"I said last week, it [promotion] will not be decided until the last two or three games and you're better being a lucky manager than a good one at this stage of the season. Promotion will all be decided on refereeing decisions, suspensions, injuries and Lady Luck.
"We did not deserve that today. Did we look like a side lacking in confidence? No. Did we look like a side that didn't have a work ethic? No. They worked their socks off and I'm very proud of what my players gave us. You can't legislate for certain decisions that take place."
Grayson, who challenged his players before kick-off to try to win all of their remaining games this season, felt Halsey was correct to send Cohen off. He said: "The referee got it clearly right. I know Chris Cohen and he's not a malicious player, but he left the ground two-footed, caught George McCartney and the ball. It was the right decision. If it had been one of my players that had done that I would have accepted the decision. It was a reckless, not malicious, challenge."
Grayson agreed Forest had caused his side plenty of problems before being reduced to 10 men. "They are a good side," he said. "You only have to look at their bench, the budget they've spent, they should be favourites for the division and they're going to cause problems. We had to be patient and move the ball around, push the two wide players further up the pitch to create space for our full-backs.
On Kelly's snub at the final whistle, Grayson said: "I'll always offer my hand, win, lose or draw and if people refuse it, then that's their problem."
Mail 2/4/11
Leeds 4 Nottingham Forest 1: Rousing win against 10-men raises promotion hopes at Elland Road
By Myles Hodgson
Nottingham Forest intend to appeal against the first-half dismissal of midfielder Chris Cohen, which proved the turning point in their costly defeat by promotion rivals Leeds.
Forest
manager Billy Davies discussed the 35th-minute incident with his chief executive Mark Arthur and they decided to launch an appeal to the FA after Cohen appeared to lunge two-footed at Leeds full-back George McCartney.
Referee Mark Halsey showed Cohen a straight red card and although Davies refused to comment about the decision, he admitted: 'It's a pity the game didn't stay 11 versus 11 because we totally dominated, we created most of the chances and limited them to very few shots at goal. I was very proud of what I got from the players.'
Cohen's sending-off sparked a brief pushing match involving most of the players, although it quickly calmed down and did not reach the intensity of the 18-man brawl which marred the previous encounter between the sides in August when the FA fined both clubs for failing to control their players.
'From where I was standing it was a red card,' said Leeds manager Simon Grayson. 'He's left the ground two-footed and he might have taken the ball, but he could easily have broken George McCartney's leg.'
The dismissal spoiled an impressive opening from Forest, who have now gone eight matches without a win, and they could have taken the lead seconds earlier when defender Leigh Bromby blocked Marcus Tudgay's goalbound shot after Radoslaw Majewski pulled the ball back from a mazy left-wing run.
Down to 10 men, Forest were unable to maintain their early momentum and fell behind six minutes after the break when Leeds captain Jonny Howson burst into the box and converted Eric Lichaj's cross. Leading scorer Luciano Becchio claimed his 18th goal of the season to double the Leeds advantage by heading home after Bromby's header clipped the bar after a corner. Substitute Gareth McCleary briefly gave Forest hope by curling a shot into the top corner from the right side of the box, but two late goals from Max Gradel lifted Leeds's promotion hopes and delivered a blow to Forest as they slipped out of the play-off places.
Yorkshire Post 2/4/11
Leeds United 4 Nottingham Forest 1: Gradel caps Elland Road wonder show
A WONDER-GOAL from Max Gradel crowned a valuable victory for Leeds United in a heated encounter with promotion rivals Nottingham Forest.
Chris Cohen saw red for the visitors and six other players were booked as Leeds claimed victory courtesy of a second half strike apiece for Jonny Howson and Luciano Becchio plus a double from Gradel. Gareth McCleary replied for Forest with a sublime strike of his own but it was United who were celebrating come the final whistle after moving four points clear of Billy Davies’ men with seven games to play.
The vital breakthrough came on 51 minutes when neat link-play between Robert Snodgrass and Eric Lichaj led to the full back crossing for Jonny Howson. United’s captain then displayed great presence of mind to budge the ball away from Wes Morgan before beating Lee Camp.
Once ahead, Leeds visibly relaxed and doubled their advantage six minutes later when Luciano Becchio finished from close range after Leigh Bromby had headed Barry Bannan’s corner against the post.
Forest, though, refused to be downhearted and pulled a goal back midway through the second half when Gareth McLeary curled an exquisite shot beyond Kasper Schmeichel and into the top corner of the net. Schmeichel then came to Leeds’ rescue by turning over a goalbound effort from Wes Morgan before Gradel restored the home side’s two goal advantage. Bannan’s free-kick was the catalyst, Forest being unable to properly clear a bouncing ball and when Johnson headed it back towards goal, Gradel collected before finishing from the edge of the area. Gradel added a second three minutes from time after finishing from six yards after Lee Camp had denied both Becchio and Jake Livermore.
It gave the final score a flattering look for the home side with there being little doubt that this was nothing like a game that should have finished 4-1. Not, however, that anyone of a Leeds persuasion in the 29,524 crowd cared a jot at the final whistle.
Leeds United romp to victory against 10-man Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest are to appeal against defender Chris Cohen's first-half dismissal, which proved to be a key moment in their 4-1 defeat away to Leeds.
The game turned in the home side's favour in the 35th minute, when the referee, Mark Halsey, showed Cohen a red card for his lunging tackle on George McCartney in front of a furious home dug-out.
Forest's assistant manager, David Kelly, was so incensed by the decision that he refused to shake Simon Grayson's hand after the match.
The Leeds captain, Jonny Howson, broke the deadlock in the 51st minute and Luciano Becchio headed home a second six minutes later. But substitute Garath McCleary curled home a brilliant effort to throw 10-man Forest a lifeline in the 65th minute and Leeds looked jittery. Only after Max Gradel lashed home his first goal from the edge of the area in the 74th minute could the home fans breath more easily and Gradel pounced on a rebound for his second with four minutes remaining to leave Forest without a win in their last eight matches.
The Forest manager, Billy Davies, said: "I've spoken to our chief executive, Mark Arthur, and we're definitely intending to appeal the red card. Definitely. We've seen the DVD and the referee said it was for excessive force, but we'll definitely go to appeal and see how we get on."
The Forest bench clearly felt the Leeds manager's furious reaction to the tackle helped sway the referee's decision. Davies, careful not to say too much about the incident, added: "You decide for yourselves. You don't need me to tell you. We all know what took place.
"I said last week, it [promotion] will not be decided until the last two or three games and you're better being a lucky manager than a good one at this stage of the season. Promotion will all be decided on refereeing decisions, suspensions, injuries and Lady Luck.
"We did not deserve that today. Did we look like a side lacking in confidence? No. Did we look like a side that didn't have a work ethic? No. They worked their socks off and I'm very proud of what my players gave us. You can't legislate for certain decisions that take place."
Grayson, who challenged his players before kick-off to try to win all of their remaining games this season, felt Halsey was correct to send Cohen off. He said: "The referee got it clearly right. I know Chris Cohen and he's not a malicious player, but he left the ground two-footed, caught George McCartney and the ball. It was the right decision. If it had been one of my players that had done that I would have accepted the decision. It was a reckless, not malicious, challenge."
Grayson agreed Forest had caused his side plenty of problems before being reduced to 10 men. "They are a good side," he said. "You only have to look at their bench, the budget they've spent, they should be favourites for the division and they're going to cause problems. We had to be patient and move the ball around, push the two wide players further up the pitch to create space for our full-backs.
On Kelly's snub at the final whistle, Grayson said: "I'll always offer my hand, win, lose or draw and if people refuse it, then that's their problem."
Mail 2/4/11
Leeds 4 Nottingham Forest 1: Rousing win against 10-men raises promotion hopes at Elland Road
By Myles Hodgson
Nottingham Forest intend to appeal against the first-half dismissal of midfielder Chris Cohen, which proved the turning point in their costly defeat by promotion rivals Leeds.
Forest
manager Billy Davies discussed the 35th-minute incident with his chief executive Mark Arthur and they decided to launch an appeal to the FA after Cohen appeared to lunge two-footed at Leeds full-back George McCartney.Referee Mark Halsey showed Cohen a straight red card and although Davies refused to comment about the decision, he admitted: 'It's a pity the game didn't stay 11 versus 11 because we totally dominated, we created most of the chances and limited them to very few shots at goal. I was very proud of what I got from the players.'
Cohen's sending-off sparked a brief pushing match involving most of the players, although it quickly calmed down and did not reach the intensity of the 18-man brawl which marred the previous encounter between the sides in August when the FA fined both clubs for failing to control their players.
'From where I was standing it was a red card,' said Leeds manager Simon Grayson. 'He's left the ground two-footed and he might have taken the ball, but he could easily have broken George McCartney's leg.'
The dismissal spoiled an impressive opening from Forest, who have now gone eight matches without a win, and they could have taken the lead seconds earlier when defender Leigh Bromby blocked Marcus Tudgay's goalbound shot after Radoslaw Majewski pulled the ball back from a mazy left-wing run.
Down to 10 men, Forest were unable to maintain their early momentum and fell behind six minutes after the break when Leeds captain Jonny Howson burst into the box and converted Eric Lichaj's cross. Leading scorer Luciano Becchio claimed his 18th goal of the season to double the Leeds advantage by heading home after Bromby's header clipped the bar after a corner. Substitute Gareth McCleary briefly gave Forest hope by curling a shot into the top corner from the right side of the box, but two late goals from Max Gradel lifted Leeds's promotion hopes and delivered a blow to Forest as they slipped out of the play-off places.
Yorkshire Post 2/4/11
Leeds United 4 Nottingham Forest 1: Gradel caps Elland Road wonder show
A WONDER-GOAL from Max Gradel crowned a valuable victory for Leeds United in a heated encounter with promotion rivals Nottingham Forest.
Chris Cohen saw red for the visitors and six other players were booked as Leeds claimed victory courtesy of a second half strike apiece for Jonny Howson and Luciano Becchio plus a double from Gradel. Gareth McCleary replied for Forest with a sublime strike of his own but it was United who were celebrating come the final whistle after moving four points clear of Billy Davies’ men with seven games to play.
The vital breakthrough came on 51 minutes when neat link-play between Robert Snodgrass and Eric Lichaj led to the full back crossing for Jonny Howson. United’s captain then displayed great presence of mind to budge the ball away from Wes Morgan before beating Lee Camp.
Once ahead, Leeds visibly relaxed and doubled their advantage six minutes later when Luciano Becchio finished from close range after Leigh Bromby had headed Barry Bannan’s corner against the post.
Forest, though, refused to be downhearted and pulled a goal back midway through the second half when Gareth McLeary curled an exquisite shot beyond Kasper Schmeichel and into the top corner of the net. Schmeichel then came to Leeds’ rescue by turning over a goalbound effort from Wes Morgan before Gradel restored the home side’s two goal advantage. Bannan’s free-kick was the catalyst, Forest being unable to properly clear a bouncing ball and when Johnson headed it back towards goal, Gradel collected before finishing from the edge of the area. Gradel added a second three minutes from time after finishing from six yards after Lee Camp had denied both Becchio and Jake Livermore.
It gave the final score a flattering look for the home side with there being little doubt that this was nothing like a game that should have finished 4-1. Not, however, that anyone of a Leeds persuasion in the 29,524 crowd cared a jot at the final whistle.