Derbyshire downs Leeds to boost Forest promotion push
Telegraph 29/12/13
By Les Scott, at the City Ground
Goals from a full-back-turned-striker and a late substitute proved enough to give Nottingham Forest victory over Leeds United in a game Forest dominated from start to finish. The victory extends Forest’s unbeaten run to six matches and strengthens their position in the Championship play-off places.
“It’s where I planned for us to be come January,” said Billy Davies, the Forest manager. “First objective was to be in the play-off places come the new year. I have spoken to the chairman and if we are to achieve objectives two and three, which is to stay in the play-off places and eventually achieve promotion, then we shall have to strengthen in the January window.”
Possible new recruits apart, Forest did their promotion credentials no harm at all with this convincing win over a disappointing Leeds side who aspire to promotion themselves. On the evidence of this game, bookies will be offering by far the shorter odds on Davies’s side.
Forest started the brighter and their endeavour paid dividends in the 24th minute when an Andy Reid free-kick found Greg Halford lurking at Paddy Kenny’s left-hand post. The makeshift striker headed firmly home for his second goal in as many games since being converted from full-back.
A minute later, Andy Reid came close to doubling Forest’s tally when his 20-yard drive skimmed Kenny’s crossbar. Forest continued to dominate with Leeds showing only flashes of the form that had left them unbeaten in their previous five matches.
As half-time beckoned Djamel Abdoun cut in from the left but Jamie Mackie missed a good opportunity to make it two when his resultant effort was weak and wide.
Leeds were much brighter after the break but it was Forest who looked the more likely to snatch a goal and came close in the 74th minute when Nathaniel Chalobah set up Reid whose thumping drive from 25 yards came back off a post.
Forest appeared to be coasting to victory. In the 83rd minute, however, during a rare forage forward into the Forest penalty area, Leeds equalised. The previously solid Forest rearguard failed to clear their lines and Ross McCormack bundled the ball home for his 18th goal of the season.
Leeds’s joy was short-lived. From the restart the ball was worked to substitute Matt Derbyshire on the right. Leeds switched off, let the former Blackburn striker advance and choose his spot before hitting a screamer from 25 yards across Kenny.
Forest almost made it three when Simon Cox fired narrowly wide.
“We dominated them from start to finish,” said Davies, “Actually I’m a little disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet. The goal they scored was their only real effort. Derbyshire’s goal was an absolute beauty, worthy of winning any game and no more than we deserved.”
Davies refused to be drawn on who he hoped to sign in the January window other than he had two players in mind and was “very hopeful” of adding to his already weighty squad.
“It was frustrating,” said Leeds boss Brian McDermott. “We didn’t play well but we hauled ourselves back into the game only to lose concentration and the game.
“I’m looking to bring in four players I believe can make a big difference to us and our promotion push.”
By Les Scott, at the City Ground
Goals from a full-back-turned-striker and a late substitute proved enough to give Nottingham Forest victory over Leeds United in a game Forest dominated from start to finish. The victory extends Forest’s unbeaten run to six matches and strengthens their position in the Championship play-off places.
“It’s where I planned for us to be come January,” said Billy Davies, the Forest manager. “First objective was to be in the play-off places come the new year. I have spoken to the chairman and if we are to achieve objectives two and three, which is to stay in the play-off places and eventually achieve promotion, then we shall have to strengthen in the January window.”
Possible new recruits apart, Forest did their promotion credentials no harm at all with this convincing win over a disappointing Leeds side who aspire to promotion themselves. On the evidence of this game, bookies will be offering by far the shorter odds on Davies’s side.
Forest started the brighter and their endeavour paid dividends in the 24th minute when an Andy Reid free-kick found Greg Halford lurking at Paddy Kenny’s left-hand post. The makeshift striker headed firmly home for his second goal in as many games since being converted from full-back.
A minute later, Andy Reid came close to doubling Forest’s tally when his 20-yard drive skimmed Kenny’s crossbar. Forest continued to dominate with Leeds showing only flashes of the form that had left them unbeaten in their previous five matches.
As half-time beckoned Djamel Abdoun cut in from the left but Jamie Mackie missed a good opportunity to make it two when his resultant effort was weak and wide.
Leeds were much brighter after the break but it was Forest who looked the more likely to snatch a goal and came close in the 74th minute when Nathaniel Chalobah set up Reid whose thumping drive from 25 yards came back off a post.
Forest appeared to be coasting to victory. In the 83rd minute, however, during a rare forage forward into the Forest penalty area, Leeds equalised. The previously solid Forest rearguard failed to clear their lines and Ross McCormack bundled the ball home for his 18th goal of the season.
Leeds’s joy was short-lived. From the restart the ball was worked to substitute Matt Derbyshire on the right. Leeds switched off, let the former Blackburn striker advance and choose his spot before hitting a screamer from 25 yards across Kenny.
Forest almost made it three when Simon Cox fired narrowly wide.
“We dominated them from start to finish,” said Davies, “Actually I’m a little disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet. The goal they scored was their only real effort. Derbyshire’s goal was an absolute beauty, worthy of winning any game and no more than we deserved.”
Davies refused to be drawn on who he hoped to sign in the January window other than he had two players in mind and was “very hopeful” of adding to his already weighty squad.
“It was frustrating,” said Leeds boss Brian McDermott. “We didn’t play well but we hauled ourselves back into the game only to lose concentration and the game.
“I’m looking to bring in four players I believe can make a big difference to us and our promotion push.”