Even with the high stakes of this relegation six-pointer, both sides served up an entertaining battle, and despite having the worst away record in the top-flight, the visitors started well, with Emmanuel Dennis hitting the post from close range following a near-post corner.
Forest midfielder Orel Mangala had never scored in English football before tonight, but ended that painful wait in just the 12th minute, after he received a pass from Dennis and took the ball past Luis Sinisterra, before curling into the right corner from just inside the area to give his team their first away lead since January 4th.
Spurred on by their typically-vocal home crowd, Leeds roared back into the contest just eight minutes later, when Marc Roca’s shot from outside the area was pushed away by Keylor Navas. But it only fell into the path of Jack Harrison, who struck past the Costa Rican to draw the Whites level.
Now with their tails firmly up, the hosts completed their turnaround in the first of two minutes added on, when Sinisterra cut onto his right foot before creating space for a shot from the left side of the area, which found the right corner to deal the visitors a crushing blow.
Sinisterra was bursting with confidence, and he continued to fizz in the second half when his effort just after the hour mark curled narrowly wide of the right post. Ironically, Leeds were the last team Forest were victorious against, but that joyous day at the start of February seems a distant memory for Steve Cooper’s side.
And despite their unquestionable endeavour, Forest never looked likely to get back into the contest, as their away day woes continued.
This potentially costly defeat sees the City Ground outfit drop one place to 17th, and only outside the relegation zone on goal difference. Leeds, meanwhile, climb out of the bottom three and all the way up to 13th, as they give their survival prospects a timely boost.
As well as matchwinner Sinisterra, Harrison in particular will be pleased with his performance on a personal level too, having now had a hand in five of Leeds’ last six home league goals.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Luis Sinisterra (Leeds United)
