Report: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United

Report: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United

Defeat at the City Ground.

Premier League

Nottingham Forest 1 (Johnson 13’)

Leeds United 0


Forest: Navas (GK), Mangala (Aurier 45’), Williams (Ayew 90’), Gibbs-White, Johnson, Freuler (C), McKenna, Danilo (Colback 45’), Boly, Lodi, Wood (Surridge 72’). Subs not used: Hennessy (GK), Worrall, Lingard, Scarpa, Felipe. 

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ayling, Cooper (C), Roca (McKennie 57’), Bamford (Rutter 67’), Harrison (Greenwood 83’), Adams, Struijk (Firpo 67’), Sinisterra (Summerville 57’), Gnonto, Wober. Subs not used: Robles (GK), Aaronson, Kristensen, Joseph.


Venue: City Ground

Attendance: 29,363


Referee: Robert Jones

Booked: Danilo, Boly, Williams, Surridge (Forest) Struijk, Wober (Leeds)


Jesse Marsch’s side travelled to the East Midlands to take on Nottingham Forest in this Premier League clash, but came away empty handed after Brennan Johnson’s first half strike turned out to be the only goal of the game. 

Leeds had the best chance in the opening period of the match, which was well fashioned by Luis Sinisterra. The winger burst into the box and carved out an opening, only to see his left-footed strike denied by debutant Keylor Navas in the Forest goal. 

Shortly after and with their first real venture forward of the match, the hosts took the lead. From an in swinging free-kick, the ball fell to Johnson on the edge and he struck a powerful first time volley into the bottom corner. 

After controlling much of the match prior to the goal, Leeds continued in that fashion for the majority of the rest of the half, pushing forward and making opportunities. 

The next big chance on goal came from Sinisterra again. Willy Gnonto had been lively down the wing and his low cross into the middle was perfect for the winger to run onto, but he couldn’t keep the effort down as it flew over the bar. 

Again, looking for an equaliser in the match, it was Gnonto causing problems as he created another good opening. This time the ball fell to Luke Ayling at the back post and his well-struck left-footed effort was then well saved by Navas again. 

The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper - frustratingly for Leeds - would impress yet again as the game edged closer to the break. After stopping Ayling’s headed cut back across goal, he would produce another strong save moments later to deny Gnonto’s low shot.

HALF TIME: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United  

After picking up a yellow card for a late foul on Pascal Struijk, Forest made changes as Danilo was replaced by Steve Cooper at half-time with Jack Colback coming on, joined by Serge Aurier who was swapped with Orel Mangala. 

Following no real chances at either end for the first 10 minutes or so of the second half, Marsch went to his bench to change things at the City Ground. 

For his Leeds United debut, Weston McKennie was brought on for Marc Roca. Along with the new-signing, we saw a return from injury for Crysencio Summerville as he replaced Sinisterra. 

With around 25 minutes remaining there was no change on the scoreline, but further changes came from the bench. On for his Premier League debut, Georginio Rutter was swapped with Patrick Bamford, the other change being Junior Firpo on for Struijk. 

A final chance in a half that hadn’t seen many, fell to Leeds. Sam Greenwood - the fifth change for the Whites - crossed the ball in from a free-kick and it fell to Summerville just outside the box, but the forward’s effort sailed over the bar.

That was to be that at the City Ground and the full-time whistle blew shortly after, meaning all three points went to the hosts. 

FULL TIME: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United

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