Leeds United took a big step towards securing their Premier League status with a 3-1 victory over relegation rivals Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.
After a frantic first half, the home side took a two-goal lead at the break, with Jaden Bogle beating Forest goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, Noah Okafor doubling the lead and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring three minutes into the second half.
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Forest secured a late consolation through new signing Lorenzo Luca but Leeds took three points to move nine above the relegation zone while Sean Dyche’s side remain in 17th place.
as it happens
The home side started the game with confidence and soon got into a rhythm, but it was Forest who got the first try.
After breaking down the left, Callum Hudson-Odoi tangled his shot into the arms of Karl Darlow and minutes later Nicolas Domingos was saved by the Leeds keeper with a brilliant all-out save.
Igor Jesus has missed a lot of chances this season and the Brazilian will be disappointed that he did not test Dalot in the 20th minute as his header went wide of the target.
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Leeds missed a golden opportunity of their own when top scorer Calvert-Lewin rose to meet James Justin’s shot, only to find his header hit the crossbar.
The Whites, who have taken the lead in four of their last five Premier League games, took the lead again when they latched on to Ilya Gruev’s lofted pass and poked past Forest debutant Stefan Ortega.
The home fans didn’t have to wait long as Justin’s shot was blocked by Ortega, but the full-back set up Noah Okafor’s close-range effort just on the half-hour mark.
Darlow was again influential late in the half when he pushed Morgan Gibbs-White’s shot away from the goal.
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Leeds burst out of the penalty area in the 49th minute, Gruev receiving the ball in acres of space and shooting, with Calvert-Lewin creatively tapping the ball into the net for his 10th Premier League goal of the season.
The visitors did get a glimmer of hope when substitutes Omari Hutchinson and Lorenzo Luka combined, with the latter scoring his first Premier League goal.
The victory moved Leeds three points ahead of Forest, who will be nervously on their toes when West Ham face Burnley on Saturday.
Analysis: Forests not out of the woods yet
Sean Dyche’s side have been strong in recent weeks and will look sharper on their feet when they arrive at Elland Road, but a comprehensive defeat against Leeds was a reminder that their league status is in jeopardy.
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Forest’s current six-point buffer above the relegation zone may look uncomfortable tomorrow afternoon as West Ham travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley.
After a season of disaster after disaster, boss Evangelos Marinakis has given his two managers marching orders, and the Reds are likely to find themselves back in the relegation battle.
West Ham’s fortunes have improved since the arrival of new recruits in January and the Hammers will be increasingly confident they can secure a place at Forest, especially given that Dyche’s side still have Europa League pressure.
Forest will need to show more of their performance when they take on Wolves at the City Ground on Wednesday night in another key clash against a struggling side.
