Ten-man Leeds go down to Nottingham Forest

Posted Wednesday, January 02, 2019 by PA

Nottingham Forest secured a dramatic 4-2 win over 10-man Championship leaders Leeds to ease some of the pressure on manager Aitor Karanka.

There could hardly have been more drama at the City Ground as Leeds fought back from 1-0 down to claim a 2-1 lead, despite being down to 10 men following the dismissal of Kalvin Phillips in the 42nd minute, before eventually going down to a second successive defeat.

Jack Colback struck first for the hosts before substitute Jack Clarke and Ezgjan Alioski netted to put Marcelo Bielsa’s side ahead.

Alioski’s goal came in the 64th minute but Forest responded by netting three times in seven mad minutes as Colback got his second before Daryl Murphy and Ben Osborn secured a timely three points that ended a run of five games without a win for the Reds.

Forest suffered an early blow as Michael Hefele limped off with an injury in the fifth minute, with Adlene Guedioura coming off the bench.

But the change did not have a negative impact, with the home side taking the lead within a minute.

Adam Forshaw under-hit an attempted back pass to the keeper, which was pounced on by an alert Colback, who calmly rounded Bailey Peacock-Farrell before slotting home.

Jack Robinson had a lucky escape after clipping the heels of Jack Harrison as the Leeds man, with little cover behind the Forest defender, but referee Darren England decided on showing a yellow card.

Barry Douglas did almost add further punishment from the free-kick, as he bent a shot narrowly wide.

Kemar Roofe saw a rising shot saved by Costel Pantilimon, as the visitors continued to press.

But a key moment arrived in the 42nd minute as Leeds found themselves down to 10 men, with Phillips shown red for a dangerous, lunging challenge on Guedioura.

Forest should have extended their lead when Murphy sent Joe Lolley scampering clear – but the winger was denied by a big save.

Leeds made a change at the interval with Clarke replacing Harrison – and it proved to be a significant decision as, within seven minutes, the substitute had drawn the visitors level.

Clarke still had work to do when picked out by Mateusz Klich on the edge of the box, but he beat Pantilimon with a low shot.

Roofe was close to giving the 10 men the lead when he lifted a shot over the advancing Pantilimon but saw his effort drop just wide.

But going behind sparked a reaction from Forest, who responded by scoring three goals in seven rampaging minutes.

Colback bagged his second goal of the game as he rifled home a shot from the edge of the box in the 69th minute.

Sub Osborn then delivered a cross to the far post three minutes later, where Murphy was perfectly placed to power home a header.

Murphy then turned provider, feeding Osborn, who cut sharply inside onto his right foot, before hammering an unstoppable shot high into the top corner of the net.

Pantilimon had to make a superb save to keep Leeds at bay, with Roofe having found himself with the space to have a crack from 10 yards, while a brave block from Robinson almost ended in an own goal.