Leeds United 3 Nottingham Forest 1: Midfielder's incredible night and star returns in huge Whites boost — YEP 6/2/26

By Lee Sobot

Leeds United took on Nottingham Forest under the Friday night Elland Road lights.

Leeds United gave themselves an almighty boost in their quest for Premier League survival as the Whites and in particular Ilia Gruev enjoyed a night to savour with a 3-1 win against Friday night’s visitors Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.

Fifth-bottom Leeds and fourth-bottom Forest lined up locked together on 26 points, the two teams both six points clear of the division’s third relegation spot occupied by West Ham.

Leeds, though, forced a huge change to the survival battle picture as a brilliant 3-1 win in which Dan James returned from injury sent them three points clear of Forest and nine ahead of West Ham who visit second-bottom Burnley in Saturday afternoon’s game in hand.

Leeds began brightly with Gabi Gudmundsson getting in down the left on three occasions and sending in crosses which Forest just about dealt with, Zach Abbott sticking out a leg to one of them and seeing the ball fly narrowly over his own bar.

Forest, though, gradually began to cause a threat themselves and only an excellent save from Karl Darlow prevented them from taking the lead, Darlow producing a flying one handed stop to tip an effort from Nicolas Dominguez wide.

Forest continued to create chances and Igor Jesus sent a header just wide from a lovely Elliott Anderson cross but Leeds were then denied by the frame of the goal at the other end.

A James Justin corner was cleared back out to the Whites defender and Justin's second ball back into the box picked out Dominic Calvert-Lewin who sent a powerful header which crashed back off the crossbar, Noah Okafor skewing the rebound over.

But the chance appeared to turn the tide back in United's favour and the Whites went ahead with 26 minutes on the clock as a beautiful pass from Ilia Gruev sent in Jayden Bogle who advanced on keeper Stefan Ortega before coolly converting.

Elland Road erupted but not as much as it did again six minutes later as Daniel Farke's Whites quickly doubled their lead.

This time a lovely dinked pass played in Justin down the right of the box and Justin's low shot was saved by Ortega.

The ball, though, rebounded back to Justin who coolly sent a square pass across the box to Noah Okafor who gleefully slammed home from close range.

Forest had gone from being level to 2-0 down in six minutes but to their credit they produced a solid response, Sewan Dyche's side thwarted by strong Whites defending.

A particularly big chance presented itself just before the break as a Joe Rodon clearance hit Pascal Struijk and fell to Morgan Gibbs-White but his shot was tipped wide as part of an excellent half for Darlow and his side as a whole.

There were no changes during the break and Leeds again began well after the restart, Forest surviving a Leeds attack with a couple of blocks as Farke’s Whites looked to put the game to bed.

The ball, though, was only cleared to Gruev whose evening to remember continued as he paused before sending in a curling cross-cum-shot to which Calvert-Lewin stormed on to before beating with Ortetga with a clever chested finish.

After earlier having chances to go ahead, Forest were now having a torrid evening and Leeds pushed on seeking a fourth goal, Forest surviving a huge scramble at a corner as Ortega kept out a header from Pascal Struijk and follow-up attempt from Gruev.

Gruev was caught by a hand to the face from Ortega in the process and needed treatment, the Bulgarian eventually playing on with something up his nose after changing his shirt.

Forest attempted to rally and Dyche’s side squandered a good chance in the 78th minute as Morato flicked a header just wide from a decent cross, after which boss Daniel Farke made his first change as Dan James returned from injury to replace Aaronson.

Typically, James went close within minutes of being introduced, Ethan Ampadu’s pass sending him away down the right and the winger’s cross flying past the far post.

Forest, though, despite being 3-0 down, refused to throw in the towel and Dyche’s men set up a nervy enough final 15 minutes or so as a cross from Omari Hutchinson picked out Lorenzo Lucca who beat Rodon in the air en route to heading home past Darlow with four minutes left.

Four minutes left actually turned into 13 as nine minutes of added time were announced, during which Forest pushed Leeds right back and peppered the box with crosses.

Leeds, though, held firm without conceding again, Darlow producing another brilliant save to tip a shot from Ibrahim Sangare that was destined for the roof of the net over the bar in what proved the last real chance of the game.