Leeds Utd Match Zone

Four star Leeds down Forest

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Leeds won the battle of the sides in the play off positions with four second half goals to dispose of Nottingham Forest.

The game change in the closing stages of the first half when Chris Cohen was sent off for a tackle that was described by referee as ‘with excessive form`.

Simon Grayson stuck with the same side that lost at Sheffield United last time out.

Jake Livermore who has signed from Tottenham Hotspur on loan started the game on the bench.

Leeds had an early chance with a free kick in a good position but his effort cleared the bar.

Forest also had an early free kick in a good position but McGugan hit it straight into the wall.

Barry Bannan had Leeds first effort on target but his long-range effort was easy for Camp in the forest goal.

Majewski went very close to opening the scoring when his deflected effort went just wide of the bar.

The main talking points of the first half happened within a few seconds of each other. Marcus Tudgay missed a great chance when he shot straight at a defender with the goal at his mercy. Leeds broke and Chris Cohen was sent off for a lunge of George McCartney, video replays showed the decision was a harsh one.

Despite being a man down, Forest still looked the livelier and McCleary forced Schmeichel into a save in the closing seconds of the half.

The half time whistle soon followed with the sides still locked at goalless.

Max Gradel had the first chance of the second half, a good run from McCartney eventually found Gradel who fired over.

Leeds took the lead on fifty minutes through Howson, good work by Snodgrass and Lichaj eventually found Howson in the middle who fired home from close range.

Johnson almost made it two five minutes later, a deep free kick by Bannan found Johnson at the far post and his effort was put out for a corner by Camp.

From the resulting corner it was two, Bromby saw his header comeback off the post and Becchio was there to head in the rebound.

Leeds were now dominating and a trademark left foot shot by Snodgrass cannoned off the bar and to safety.

Gradel then had a good chance after a good run by Howson but he screwed his shot horribly wide.

Forest then got back into the game when McCleary cut in on his left foot and gave Schmeichel no chance.
They almost drew level when Schmeichel had to make a great save to deny a Wes Morgan header.

Leeds restored their two-goal advantage when Gradel fired in from the edge of the area with a smart volley.

The home side were now full of confidence again and Bannan tested Camp from range.

Forest almost got back into the game for a second time when Tyson saw his volley go just wide of the post.

Leeds made it four inside the final five minutes. Gradel got his second of the afternoon after Camp had denied Livermore and Becchio with good saves.

The final whistle went to move Leeds into fourth place for a few hours at least.

Teams

Leeds
Schmeichel, Lichaj, O`Brien, Bromby, McCartney, Howson, Johnson (Kilkenny 88), Gradel, Bannan (Livermore 76), Becchio (Somma 90), Snodgrass

Subs not used
Higgs, Naylor, McCormack, Watt

Forest
Camp, Lynch, Morgan, Chambers, Gunter, Cohen, Anderson (McCleary 30), Majewski, McGugan, Tudgay (Earnshaw 80), Boyd (Tyson 54)

Subs not used
Darlow, Bennett, Adebola, McGoldrick




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