Fresh blow and dismissal brings emerging new rivals into Leeds United view amid big Nottingham Forest boost

A big fresh blow has left new rivals firmly in Leeds United’s view amid a big fresh boost for Nottingham Forest.

Fifth-bottom Leeds began the weekend eight points clear of the Premier League dropzone but the gap was reduced to five points on Saturday lunchtime as third-bottom West Ham recorded a 3-1 win at home to Sunderland.

With Leeds away at Everton on Monday night, forth-bottom Forest then had the chance to wipe out their three-point gap to the Whites in Sunday’s 2pm kick-off at Brentford and Sean Dyche’s side seized the opportunity by recording a solid 2-0 success.

The victory left Forest only trailing Leeds on goal difference but having played a game more, in addition to third-bottom West Ham who are now just five points behind Daniel Farke’s Whites.

Leeds, though, now have the chance to not only kick back clear of both Forest and West Ham but also join rapidly emerging new struggling rivals Crystal Palace who were beaten 3-1 by Chelsea at Selhurst Park on Sunday and also had star midfielder Adam Wharton sent off for a second booking.

Palace have now gone seven league games without a victory and sit just three points ahead of Leeds but having played a game more and with only a marginally better goal difference.

It means victory at Everton could feasibly take Leeds above Palace and also level on points with Tottenham who could only manage a 2-2 draw from Saturday’s clash at second-bottom Burnley which left them 14th.

Sizeable boost for Forest

But there was no getting away from the size of the boost recorded by Forest at Brentford who made a bright start, only to fall behind in the 12th minute through a brilliant strike from Igor Jesus.

Right back Ola Ania worked space at the byline to send in a cross and Jesus controlled the ball with his chest before swivelling and firing a powerful finish into the bottom left corner from a tight angle.

Forest then went close to doubling their lead seven minutes later through Ibrahim Sangare who fired just wide and Brentford were then dealt a double blow as Kristoffer Ajer and Mikel Damsgaard were both forced off injured after both going down from separate challenges.

But the Bees then squandered a glorious chance to equalise as one of the substitutes Dango Outarra was played in one-on-one but unable to beat keeper Matz Sels who produced a strong save.

With Sels then tipping an awkward deflected cross over the bar, Forest took a 1-0 lead into the break after another substitute in Sepp van den Berg and sent a header just wide from a long throw.

Brentford again threatened after the break but an important interception from Nikola Milenkovic prevented dangerman Igor Thiago from going through.

The Bees continued to knock on the door but Thiago uncharacteristically blazed a wild shot wide in a packed box from a corner and Forest bagged the game’s second goal in the 79th minute as Taiwo Awoniyi finished after a break down the right.