Leeds United host Nottingham Forest in club’s fist home Sky Bet Championship season at Elland Road on Saturday (12:30pm). The Whites will be looking to keep their 100 percent start going following their 3-1 victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate, last Sunday. Forest were defeated 2-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion in their opening fixture and will be looking for a bounce back in West Yorkshire.
Manager/head coach:
Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa
Nottingham Forest: Sabri Lamouchi
League position:
Leeds United: 1st
Nottingham Forest: 18th
Top scorer:
Leeds United: Jack Harrison, Pablo Hernandez and Patrick Bamford (1)
Nottingham Forest: Matty Cash (1)
Head to head:
Leeds United wins: 31
Draws: 34
Nottingham Forest: 34
Last time at Elland Road:
Saturday 27th October 2018
Sky Bet Championship
Leeds United 1 (Roofe 82)
Nottingham Forest 1 (Robinson 11)
Leeds United: Peacock-Farrell, Ayling (Pearce 25) (Clarke 65), Jansson, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips (Saiz 65), Hernandez, Forshaw, Klich, Alioksi, Roofe.
Bristol City: Pantilimon, Darikwa, Pereira Figueiredo, Fox, Robinson, Guedioura, Colback, Cash (Bastiao Dias 87), Antunes Carvalho, Lolley (Osborn 69), Grabban.
The last time Leeds hosted Nottingham Forest, Jack Robinson opened the scoring for the Reds with a headed goal from a corner. Leeds searched for an equaliser with Adam Forshaw coming inches away from equalising. It wasn’t until eight minutes from time when Kemar Roofe handed Leeds an equaliser as Mateusz Klich fired the ball across the face of the goal. Leeds nearly won it in injury time as Pablo Hernandez’s intricate flick nearly found the bottom corner.
Team news:
Marcelo Bielsa is without Luke Ayling and Tyler Roberts who are still missing through injury. Gaetano Berardi is available again following his suspension. Nottingham Forest will be without Ryan Yates and Tendayi Darikwa; Darikwa suffered a ruptured ACL in pre-season.
The key battle:
Patrick Bamford v Michael Dawson
Leeds United’s number nine Patrick Bamford will be looking to get amongst the goals again, as he faces experienced central defender Michael Dawson. This battle will be a key factor in deciding the outcome of the match.
Latest odds:
Leeds United: 1/2
Draw: 16/5
Nottingham Forest: 11/2
(Odds correct at time of article published)
