Leeds vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This is a massive game down in the relegation battle in the Premier League as Leeds United welcome fellow battlers Nottingham Forest to Elland Road on Friday night.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Cannot be streamed
Leeds preview: Frustrated Leeds
Daniel Farke and his Leeds side have been impressive in the last couple of months but their performances have perhaps deserved more victories than they have been able to achieve, with a lack of thrust in the final third often leading to too many draws.
The home team come into this one on the back of a 4-0 hammering at the hands of league leaders Arsenal last week, but that was just their second defeat in 13 matches across all competitions since late-November.
Nottingham Forest preview: Stubborn Forest
Sean Dyche and his Nottingham Forest side begin the match day sitting 17th in the table but they are six points clear of the bottom three and the relegation places, with a four-match unbeaten run of form ahead of this week’s trip to Yorkshire.
Having gone down to ten men in first-half stoppage-time last week, Forest managed to hold on for a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at the City Ground, backing up their 4-0 annihilation of Ferencvaros in the UEFA Europa League a few days earlier.
Leeds team news: Reliance on DCL
Leeds United missed out on a move for Jorgen Strand Larsen and, light up front, Leeds will be extremely worried about injuries to the currently fit and available Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The hosts do have some injury issues, though, with Jaka Bijol and Daniel James facing late fitness tests, while both Lukas Nmecha and Anton Stach are confirmed absentees.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Darlow; Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Bogle, Ampadu, Gruev, Justin; Aaronson; Okafor, Calvert-Lewin
Unavailable: Stach (Injured), Nmecha (Injured)
Questionable: Bijol (Injured), James (Fitness)
Nottingham Forest team news: Williams suspended
Nottingham Forest failed in moves for the likes of midfield duo Yasin Ayari and Arne Engels but the visitors did bring in left-back Luca Netz from Borussia Monchengladbach and he could be involved this weekend.
That is especially likely because Neco Williams was sent off last weekend and is now missing through suspension, while goalkeeper Matz Sels is a doubt after being forced off last week with back-up, John, unavailable due to injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Gunn; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Netz; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Jesus
Unavailable: John (Injured), Savona (Injured), Williams (Suspended), Wood (Injured)
Questionable: Sels (Injured), Hudson-Odoi (Injured)
Leeds vs Nottingham Forest prediction
Forest have succumbed to just one defeat inside 90 minutes in their last seven matches across all competitions with Dyche’s defensive style of football capable of ensuring they are inching their way towards survival. They now face a Leeds side that have been generally very good up until the final third, with a bit of profligacy holding them back from stringing wins together. With that characteristic, as well as the visitors’ overall intent, a low-scoring encounter appears inevitable for this one.
Leeds vs Nottingham Forest tip: Under 2.5 goals
