Premier League 

Leeds United 2 (Harrison 20’, Sinisterra 45’)

Nottingham Forest 1 (Mangala 12’)

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ayling (C), Firpo, Koch, Aaronson (Summerville 74’), Roca, Bamford (Kristensen 90’), Harrison, Struijk, Sinisterra (Rodrigo 74’), McKennie. Subs not used: Robles (GK), Cooper, Gyabi, Rutter, Gnonto, Greenwood.

Forest: Navas (GK), Mangala (Shelvey 56’), Williams, Gibbs-White (Scarpa 72’), Toffolo, Niakhate, Johnson, Freuler (C) (Kouyate 64’), Dennis (Ayew 72’), Danilo (Awoniyi 56’), Felipe. Subs not used: Hennessy (GK), Worrall, Surridge, Lodi. 

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 36,740

Referee: Robert Jones

Booked: Summerville (Leeds) Williams, Johnson, Felipe, Kouyate (Forest) 

Leeds United faced Nottingham Forest under the lights of Elland Road in the Premier League. It was the first meeting between the pairing in West Yorkshire, in the top flight, since 1999. 

Goals from Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra secured a thoroughly deserved win, moving the Whites up to 13th in the Premier League table. 

Despite a strong start from Leeds, it would be the visitors who took an early lead. Orel Mangala found space on the edge of the box and picked up a pass from Emmanuel Dennis, before composing himself to fire into the bottom corner.

The equaliser only took eight minutes to find though, as Javi Gracia’s side quickly levelled. Marc Roca forced Keilor Navas into a good save, only for Harrison to be alert enough to follow up and fire home the rebound with a powerful low strike. 

Leeds kept the pressure up and a superb atmosphere inside Elland Road was roaring on every attack. Harrison continued to cause problems on the right and his backpost ball almost found Sinisterra for a tap in, before the winger then played in Patrick Bamford who saw his effort deflected wide. 

With the board having gone up for two minutes of added time - Elland Road would have an opportunity to erupt shortly before the interval. 

Good link up throughout the team saw Roca spread it wide for Junior Firpo, who went forward and gave it to Sinisterra. The winger then did the rest on his own, cutting in from the left and unleashing a brilliantly placed low strike into the bottom corner!

That was the last action of what had been a good half for Gracia’s side, meaning the return to the dressing room was with a goal advantage. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Nottingham Forest

There were no changes at the break as both teams returned for the second half. The first chance went to Leeds, with Roca again a key part in the build up. His ball over the top set Bamford free, but as he struck, the covering Forest defender got in a good block to turn the shot away. 

Forest were threatening when they came forward, searching for a leveller. The pace of Dennis on one wing and Brennan Johnson on the other looked to cause problems, which both times early in the second half Pascal Struijk dealt well with.  

Steve Cooper went to his bench 10 minutes after the restart, making a double change. Danilo and goalscorer Mangala were replaced, with Jonjo Shelvey coming on along with striker, Taiwo Awoniyi. 

The changes almost had an instant impact when, involved immediately, Shelvey provided quality with an excellent through ball which set Awoniyi in on goal, only to see excellent defending from Firpo deny an equaliser.  

With just over an hour gone, Sinisterra went close again. This time it was Brenden Aaronson the creator with some clever skill, before Sinisterra cut inside and curled narrowly past the post.

Gracia went to his bench to make a double change, in response to Forest who had made all five by this point. Aaronson and Sinisterra went off, with top-scorer Rodrigo and Crysencio Summerville entering the action. 

Further efforts came at both ends. Summerville and the lively Weston McKennie had efforts for Leeds, whilst Ayew was denied by a brilliant block from Struijk. 

Leeds were able to control the game for large parts with Bamford offering a brilliant outlet, up until being substituted in the final few seconds. 

The hard work from all players was vital and meant Gracia’s team held on for an important three points under the lights of Elland Road. Next up for the Whites will be Crystal Palace on home turf. 

FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Nottingham Forest