Leeds do the double over Nottingham Forest — Mail 25/8/26

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Daniel Farke's side win at the City Ground for the second time in just FOUR days with Carabao Cup triumph - and Liam Delap cannot come quickly enough for new boss Oliver Glasner

By JAMES SHARPE

Liam Delap cannot come quickly enough for Nottingham Forest. Two games into Oliver Glasner’s reign at the City Ground, two defeats to Leeds United, and zero goals. He started three strikers and they still couldn’t score.

And, so, for the second time in four days, Daniel Farke’s team came to town and took full advantage of a team still trying to find their new identity. First for three points on Saturday, now for a place in the League Cup third round.

Daniel James was afforded the freedom of West Bridgford all evening and fittingly gave Leeds the lead before James Justin bundled in a second after a long throw caused chaos in the Forest box.

Glasner’s side, once again, looked in desperate need of new blood. Thankfully, news emerged a few hours before kick-off that Forest had agreed a club-record fee of £45million, potentially rising to £50m, for the Chelsea striker. A remarkable whack for a player who scored just one Premier League goal last season and wasn’t even training with the first-team.

Delap is by no means the first budding talent to be chewed up and spat out by Chelsea and if Glasner can unleash the old-fashioned centre-forward that thrived at Ipswich, he would be just what they need. Glasner likes a physical focal point, as he had at Palace in Jean-Philippe Mateta, to hold it all together and bring team-mates around him into play as those around him attack with pace.

‘A frustrating night,’ said Glasner, who refused to comment on Delap’s impending arrival. ‘Last season told everyone what is needed, not just tonight. Nine months of relegation battle, losing maybe your top midfielder and now just six weeks together. The reality is no magician, no messiah, just hard work.’

That’s why Forest still look better when Chris Wood leading the line but he’s 35 in December and struggles with injury. He had the best chances of the night for Forest but couldn’t take any of them. A sensational last-ditch tackle from Joe Rodon denied him after a neat nutmeg of Nico Elvedi left him with just James Trafford to beat. Wood had another fine chance in the second half, too, but couldn’t beat Trafford from eight yards.

Trafford is quickly starting to enjoy his football again. Two matches since his £40m move from Manchester City and two clean sheets.

‘It was a remarkable level of performance,’ said Leeds boss Farke. ‘Never in doubt, it was a fully deserved win. I saw how dominant we can be against really good sides.’

Forest, meanwhile, are still getting used to playing Glasner’s way and James repeatedly exploited the space behind wing-back Williams. James whipped one cross in to set up a glorious chance for Sean Longstaff, saw a shot of his own saved by Matz Sels.

On 50 minutes, Williams bombed forward only for Arnaud Kalimuemdo to give the ball away and leave Forest exposed. Longstaff slipped in James who fired past Sels before Williams could get back.

The puzzle of how to replace Elliot Anderson remains unsolved.

Leeds’ second summed it all up as the ball bounced its way to the back post, Williams tried to clear it but couldn’t, almost put it into his own net, only for Justin and Lucas Nmecha to finally help it in.

At least it was a more entertaining spectacle than four days ago. Neither side deserved to win that one. Leeds warranted every bit of their victory this time. The boos at full-time told you that.

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