Leeds United Dominate Nottingham Forest In Crucial Premier League Win

Leeds United delivered a statement performance at Elland Road, defeating Nottingham Forest 3-1 in front of a raucous home crowd of 36,835 on February 6, 2026. This crucial Premier League victory moved Daniel Farke’s side nine points clear of the relegation zone, injecting hope and belief into a campaign that has been anything but straightforward for the Yorkshire club.

From the opening whistle, Leeds set the tempo. Manager Daniel Farke deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation, signaling intent and aggression. The hosts pressed high and looked to exploit Forest’s defensive frailties, particularly down the flanks. Forest, led by Sean Dyche in a 4-2-3-1 setup, struggled to find any rhythm in those early exchanges, and it didn’t take long for the home side to capitalize.

After a lively start, Leeds threatened through Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose powerful header crashed off the crossbar—a warning shot that Forest failed to heed. The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute. Jayden Bogle, timing his run to perfection, latched onto Ilia Gruev’s deft through-ball and coolly slotted a low finish beneath Forest’s debutant goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega. It was Bogle’s first Premier League goal for Leeds and a moment to savor for the defender, whose attacking instincts have been a feature of Farke’s system.

Just four minutes later, the Elland Road faithful erupted again. This time, Noah Okafor was on hand to bury his third goal of the season. The move began with James Justin’s strike, which Ortega parried. Quickest to react, Justin found Okafor in space, and the Swiss forward made no mistake from close range. For Okafor, it was an end to a 16-match league scoring drought, dating back to October—a timely return to form for both player and club.

Forest, to their credit, tried to respond. Karl Darlow, Leeds’ reliable shot-stopper, was called into action several times. He produced a sharp save from Nicolas Domínguez and later denied Morgan Gibbs-White with a fine stop just before the interval. The visitors also saw Igor Jesus and debutant Zach Abbott go close, but Leeds’ defensive unit, marshaled by Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon, held firm.

The second half began much as the first had ended—with Leeds on the front foot. Just four minutes after the restart, the hosts struck again. Ilia Gruev, afforded too much space on the right, whipped in a teasing cross to the near post. Calvert-Lewin, showing the poacher’s instinct that’s made him the Premier League’s top English goalscorer this season, chested the ball past Ortega for his 10th league goal. The stadium erupted with chants of "England’s No9," a nod to the striker’s revival since his summer arrival from Everton.

"Calvert-Lewin’s clever chested effort emphasized his confidence at a club which has helped him rediscover his form following his summer arrival on a free transfer," noted one BBC Sport report. It’s a remarkable turnaround for the 28-year-old, who had struggled for goals in his final seasons at Everton, but now looks every bit the talisman Leeds needed in their fight for survival.

With a commanding 3-0 lead, Leeds continued to dictate the tempo, and the home crowd relished every moment. Forest, meanwhile, appeared shell-shocked. Dyche’s men failed to muster a meaningful response until late in the game. Frustration boiled over for midfielder Nicolas Domínguez, who vented his anger on the dugout water bottles after being substituted in the 54th minute—a scene that summed up Forest’s night.

The visitors did manage a consolation in the 86th minute. Substitute Lorenzo Lucca, making his club debut after a January move from Napoli, rose highest to meet Omari Hutchinson’s cross and powered a header beyond Darlow. It was a moment of pride for the 6ft 7in Italian, but far too little to alter the outcome. Forest’s 13th league defeat of the season leaves them just six points above third-bottom West Ham, who have a game in hand. The danger of relegation still looms large for Dyche’s side.

For Leeds, the victory marked their fourth successive top-flight home league win against Forest and their fifth win of the season under Elland Road’s floodlights. The club has never failed to score in 25 top-flight home matches against the Tricky Trees—a statistic that underlines their dominance in this fixture.

Manager Daniel Farke was understandably delighted. Before the match, he had suggested that four more wins would likely secure Leeds’ Premier League status. With this performance, his confidence appears well placed. Leeds now sit 16th in the table, level on points with Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace, and crucially, with a significant buffer above the drop zone.

"It was just a fourth win in 16 league games for the hosts, but one which gives 16th-placed Leeds a platform for survival," reported BBC Sport. The relief was palpable around Elland Road, as fans and players alike sensed the importance of this result in the context of the season.

Looking ahead, Leeds face a challenging run of fixtures. They travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea on February 10, followed by an FA Cup fourth-round clash at Birmingham City on February 15. For Forest, the schedule is equally daunting: a home game against bottom club Wolves on February 11, then a trip to Turkey to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League knockout round play-offs on February 19.

There were notable individual performances throughout the match. Leeds’ Karl Darlow was solid between the sticks, making several key saves to preserve his side’s advantage. Daniel James returned from a hamstring injury to make his first appearance since November, adding pace and industry off the bench. For Forest, Zach Abbott’s full Premier League debut provided a glimpse of promise, despite the tough circumstances.

The statistics tell the story: Leeds have now won all four of their Premier League night matches at Elland Road this season, most recently a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace in December. Since the start of December, they’ve lost just two of their last 11 league games—a run that has reignited hopes of top-flight survival.

As the final whistle sounded, Leeds fans could finally breathe a little easier, knowing their club has taken a significant step towards safety. The fight isn’t over yet, but on a wet and wild night in Yorkshire, Leeds United showed they have the grit, quality, and belief to stay in the Premier League.