Leeds United Serie A tunnel shirt swap, mixed zone briefing and off-camera Nottingham Forest moments — YEP 7/2/26
By Graham Smyth
The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s
3-1 win against Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.
Leeds United gave themselves and their fanbase a weekend off
from the worries of a relegation battle thanks to a huge win over Nottingham
Forest.
Defeat at Elland Road was almost unthinkable given the
difficulty of the next three games for the Whites, and the possible narrowing
of the gap between themselves and West Ham United in the drop zone. So to win
so handily against Sean Dyche's men on a Friday night was exactly what the
doctor ordered for such an emotional football club.
Here's the YEP take.
Good day
Daniel Farke
The YEP was not alone in worrying that the midfield profile
was too defensive for a must-win game at home. It turns out the man paid to
manage Leeds United had it all in hand and knew what he was up to. What he got
from Ilia Gruev in particular was a masterclass. Leeds were well worth their
victory and could have romped it by a greater margin, creating seven big
chances. The three points were vital given what is around the corner and it
ticked off one of the six positive results Farke spoke about beforehand.
Ilia Gruev
Farke described him to broadcasters after the game as a
mixture of Hristo Stoichkov and Lothar Matthäus. The Bulgarian was everywhere
and not only showcased his engine but pulled off two assists that would not
have been previously associated with his game. He more than justified his place
in the team and was the best player on the pitch.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Scoring against a former manager was likely quite sweet but
entirely secondary to giving Leeds what they needed up front. He gave Nikola
Milenkovic and co a horrible time of it. The improvisation for his goal was
superb.
Karl Darlow
What was needed after the mistake against Arsenal was a
solid display. Even if he didn't pull off any world-class saves he had to be
steady and composed. He did pull off some top-drawer stops and for the vast
majority was very solid.
Bad day
Sean Dyche
The Forest boss failed to get from his team anything close
to what Farke elicited from Leeds. He cut a frustrated figure even from the
early minutes, having set up quite defensively, and saw his team go 2-0 down
but was unable to change the game. Once it went to three it was a mountain that
Forest never looked capable of climbing.
Zach Abbott
Gabriel Gudmundsson blew past him a number of times. In
truth the Swede had him on toast. A difficult night at Elland Road for the
Forest defender.
Off-camera
Groundstaff rolling a ball down a contraption akin to the
one kids and rubbish 10-pin bowlers use to deliver a ball to the pins - one of
those tripod/slide type efforts. Presumably they were checking how well the
ball was travelling on the surface after such rainfall.
A life-sized cardboard cutout of Nottingham boxer Leigh Wood
resting in the press room ahead of Josh Warrington's half-time appearance.
Sean Dyche laughing at Noah Okafor going to ground by the
touchline. By the 33rd minute he wasn't seeing the funny side as he and his
coaches assembled to talk through a possible tactical response to being 2-0
down.
Daniel Farke raising his hands to the crowd to whip them up
as Okafor battled to win the ball then a free-kick, as Dyche complained to the
fourth official.
Warrington smashing the cardboard cutout in a not-at-all
predictable finish to his onfield appearance and interview, where he accused
Wood of bottling an Elland Road visit.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin having words with Nikola Milenkovic as
the Forest defender stood over a prone Brenden Aaronson. The American had gone
down after taking a boot to the midriff and the Forest defender wanted him to
get up. Calvert-Lewin didn't take kindly.
A grinning Chris Domogalla gently gesturing to Lukas Nmecha
to calm down as he ran back to the technical area presumably hoping to get
stripped off ahead of his substitute appearance. But he never came on.
Forest defender Milenkovic being briefed to within an inch
of his life by Forest media staff in the mixed zone, before going to do press
duties.
Sean Longstaff taking a Leeds shirt to the away dressing
room and leaving word for old Newcastle pal Elliott Anderson that he would
return shortly, as he went back through the mixed zone clutching a Forest
shirt.
Lorenzo Lucca coming back from the home dressing room with a
pristine white Jaka Bijol shirt. The Slovenian, who played with Lucca at
Udinese, did not come off the bench on his return from injury.
49ers technical director Gretar Steinsson and 49ers
investor/Leeds board member Gene Schneur making no less than three trips
through the mixed zone in a matter of seconds.
