Leeds United 2 - 1 Nottingham Forest: Whites Show Heart to Grab Three Points

With the speculation of a impending investment at Elland Road, the pressure was on the players to grab a win and impress the potential investors if possible. Before kick-off any betting man with sense would have gone against Leeds, but Neil Warnock's men showed heart, commitment and passion to play for the White shirt and carve out a vital three points.

After a very poor performance against Hull, Neil Warnock chopped and changed his team. Aidy White was replaced by Adam Drury at left-back with Dom Poleon earning a start in place of Luke Varney after impressive from the bench on Tuesday.

Both sides started quite slowly and were busy feeling each other out and having shots from distance. Austin tried from distance and Tom Lees went close after finding space in the box. An Austin free-kick caused problems down the other end after a deflection sent Forest towards the Leeds goal, but United managed to scramble back and end the danger.

Forest's Dexter Blackstock had a goal disallowed after rising at the back post but his leap seemed to coincide with Austin falling on the floor and a foul was given. Leeds capitalised by scoring moments later.

Diouf curved a perfect ball to the back post, Byram nodded it into the box and Becchio was on hand to smash the ball into the net from close range. The goal seemed to give Leeds the edge and the possession went into United's favour. The extra possession counted as Leeds grabbed another in the 26th minute.

Becchio's tussling with the Forest defence saw him try to find a clear shot, in drifting wide a deflection fell perfectly into the path of Dom Poleon. The striker fired the ball towards the near post and managed to find the net and score his first professional goal for the club.

Before the end of the first-half Leeds could have made it 3-0 with Byram finding an unmarked Becchio who missed a sitter and smashed the ball over the bar.

After the break United seemed to struggle with the pressure and it was all hands on deck as Forest peppered the goal. Jason Pearce, Lee Peltier and Tom Lees were doing well in the air to prevent a Forest equaliser. A minute before the hour the Leeds defence was finally curved open after some poor defending. A throw-in found the head of Blackstock and Paddy Kenny was left in no man's land as the ball ended up in the back of the net.

As Forest became the dominant side, Warnock replaced Poleon for White and Varney for the injured Peltier. With twenty minutes to go it seemed like Leeds were destined to concede but the Whites front men did a brilliant job to keep the ball in the Forest end. Diouf was outstanding with the ball and he managed to keep off several Forest defenders at ease.

With six minutes added on the Leeds fans were anxious in the stands but with the final few minutes it was Leeds who looked more like scoring. The referee eventually ended proceedings and Leeds came away with a well earned victory.