Fresh double blow for big Leeds United rivals as setback is compounded by key man injury
A fresh blow has been dealt to key Leeds United rivals.
Leeds United’s struggling Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest have been dealt a fresh blow, compounded by a key man injury setback.
Rather like third-bottom West Ham, fourth-bottom Forest enjoyed a good start upon a managerial change as Sean Dyche replaced Ange Postecoglou but the Reds went into Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Aston Villa having lost three in a row.
That run combined with United’s good recent form left Forest three points behind Farke’s Whites ahead of their 12.30pm kick-off at Villa Park.
Villa absolutely dominated the first half but without creating many clearcut chances and the two sides looked destined to enter the interval all square.
However, in the sole minute of first half stoppage time, Youri Tielemans and then Morgan Rogers fed the ball to Ollie Watkins who unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the box to put his side ahead.
The pattern of the game soon continued after the break and Villa doubled their lead just four minutes after the restart as a sharp first-time cross from Matty Cash set up John McGinn who applied a clinical first-time finish from the middle of the box.
First choice player forced off injured
Forest then squandered a rare golden chance to get back into the game as Dilane Bakwa sent a free header wide but Morgan Gibbs-White pulled a goal back just after the hour mark after being played in by a long ball down the right.
Yet an error of judgement from Forest keeper John Victor led to Villa restoring their two-goal lead in the 73rd minute, the Forest stopper racing out towards McGinn as he received a Tielemans pass and McGinn able to dribble around him before firing home from long range.
To make matters worse, first choice keeper Victor injured himself in the process and had to be taken off as Matz Sels was brought on from the bench.
Forest’s defeat now presents Leeds with a new chance to kick six points clear of Dyche’s side with a victory from Sunday’s lunchtime showdown at home to Manchester United which represents their game in hand.
Third-bottom West Ham who are seven points behind the Whites visit rock bottom Wolves on Saturday afternoon in a 3pm kick-off.