Leeds Recap and Ratings: Nottingham Forest 2 - 0 Leeds. An abject performance duly punished.

Leeds United produced a terrible performance to lose 2-0 to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Goals from Sammy Ameobi and Tyler Walker gave the hosts the win in one of Leeds worst performances under Marcelo Bielsa.

The game started with few chances, Tiago Silva forcing Kiko Casilla into a couple of saves from distance. Ezgjan Alioski went closest for Leeds with an effort deflected just wide from the edge of the box, and Patrick Bamford had a headed chance but it was a weak effort.

Forest took the lead after half an hour, Pablo Hernandez gave the ball away sloppily leading to Sammy Ameobi getting in behind. Ameobi hit a shot to the near post and Kiko Casilla seemed to almost dive out of the way.

The rest of the half wasn’t great and Leeds were particularly poor, the only major incident being Kiko Casilla throwing a ball straight to Ben Watson from the edge of his box, he would have been chipped had Luke Ayling not alertly run back to the goal-line.

Lewis Grabban should have added a second early in the second half. Jack Harrison gave the ball away and Joe Lolley went on a run, beating Harrison and Liam Cooper too easily. He found Grabban who cut inside, Kiko Casilla was already laying on the floor for some reason - but Grabban hit it straight at him.

Liam Cooper had Leeds’ one great chance with a completely free header from a corner, but he headed it straight at Brice Samba - who almost threw it in his own net but clawed it off the line.

Joe Lolley went close with a free-kick but in truth - Forest were happy to sit and Leeds didn’t look like creating anything.

Then, in the last minute, Jack Harrison turned down a simple backpass before losing the ball to Joe Lolley. Lolley and Tyler Walker were clean through and the former set up the latter for an open goal to make it 2-0.

Time now to look at each player and how they performed. As always you can tell me how wrong I am @mightywhitespod or @ThruItAllLUFC on twitter.

STARTING LINE-UP

Kiko Casilla - Started with a simple save from Tiago Silva, then a better save from the same man. Then the current Kiko displayed it’s uselessness, allowing a fairly weak shot from Sammy Ameobi to beat him at the near post. Threw a ball straight to Ben Watson 30 yards out from the edge of the box - could easily have lead to a goal.

Made a save from Grabban early in the second half. He had already dived for Grabban’s previous touch and was laying on the floor (there was no fake-shot, he just dived for no reason), but Grabban hit it straight at him. 3/10

Stuart Dallas - Not much to say about his first half, booked for a foul on Ameobi. Second half was poor. 4.5/10

Luke Ayling - Solid first half, brought the ball out from the back well. Dived in badly on the opening goal but that was the third biggest of three errors from Leeds on the goal. 5/10

Liam Cooper - Had some struggles against Grabban in the first half. Had a free header from a corner with 15 minutes to go but he headed it straight at the keeper. 4.5/10

Ezgjan Alioski - Started with a good early tackle on Sammy Ameobi but then lost the ball on a couple of occasions and was lucky not to be booked for an early cynical foul. Leeds only real first half efforts came from him arriving on the edge of the box when Leeds got down the left. Did get his booking early in the second half. Made two good tackles in the box that were risky but he won the ball with both. Could have had a second yellow for a cynical pull-back, subbed soon after. 4.5/10

Ben White - Looked fine in the “Phillips Role”, but was a bit hesitant when the opportunity to come forward presented itself. Too many wasteful passes but has slightly more of an excuse than most due to being out of position. Booked for a mistimed tackle. 5/10

Helder Costa - Had a couple of bright moments in the first half but most of the play was down the other side of the pitch. Second half, wasteful. 4/10

Mateusz Klich - Quiet first half but the best of the Leeds midfield. Quieter second half. Not good enough, and probably Leeds man of the match. 5.5/10

Pablo Hernandez - Gave the ball away in a bad area leading to the opening goal, terrible decision making for such an experienced player. Put in one good cross for Bamford in the first half. Was poor last time out, was poor again. 5/10

Jack Harrison - Saw lots of the ball down the left in the first half but nothing came from his crosses, did play a couple of good pull-backs to Alioski. On the ball as much as anyone second half and didn’t create much. Probably the most attacking intent if I was to give him something. Lost possession in the last minute to gift a second goal to Forest when there was an easy backpass available. 4/10

Patrick Bamford - Had one half-chance with a header in the first half, such a weak header that he may have been trying to knock it down to a teammate. Barely touched the ball. Visibly frustrated as he was losing the battle to the Forest defenders and seemed to moan a lot for the rest of the half. Second half - offered nothing. However, he was not helped by his teammates today - hard to play as a lone striker when the whole team is playing badly. 5/10

SUBSTITUTES

Tyler Roberts (for Hernandez, 58mins) - Playing in the heart of the team having replaced Hernandez and couldn’t have done much less if he’d tried. Barely got on the ball and when he did he usually lost it. 4/10

Jamie Shackleton (for Alioski, 71mins) - Came on at right-back but barely touched the ball. 5/10

Jean-Kevin Augustin (for Bamford, 71mins) - As with Bamford, had no help. Offered slightly more than the man he replaced as he put himself about a touch more and had two decent efforts blocked. 5/10