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Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest. Sky Bet Championship.

Elland RoadAttendance24,838.

Leeds United 2

  • C Wood (55th minute)
  • S Doukara (74th minute)

Nottingham Forest 0

    Leeds 2-0 Nottingham Forest: Garry Monk's men into third with Forest victory

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    Highlights of Leeds' 2-0 home win over Nottingham Forest

    Chris Wood scored his 20th goal of the season and Souleymane Doukara cracked in a memorable volley as Leeds beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 to move third in the Sky Bet Championship.

    The two second-half goals teed up a 2-0 win and condemned managerless Forest - who defied their hosts well for 45 minutes - to a 14th league loss of the season.

    Garry Monk's Leeds will worry little about that and the chances are that come Sunday's FA Cup tie with Sutton, they will still be talking about Doukara's goal.

    Often maligned during his time in Yorkshire, the Frenchman evoked memories of Tony Yeboah with a thunderous first-time volley at Elland Road, not too dissimilar to the striker's wonder goal against Liverpool 21 years ago.

    Chris Wood of Leeds United scores his side's first goal
    Image: Chris Wood scores the first goal for Leeds

    Keen to atone for their loss to Barnsley at the weekend, Leeds flew out of the blocks and could have led within 12 seconds, Stuart Dallas off balance and off target on the end of Kemar Roofe's cross.

    Buoyed by their morale-boosting weekend over Bristol City at the weekend, Forest replied with Britt Assombalonga drawing a terrific fingertip save from Rob Green.

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    Souleymane Doukara struck a wonderful volley to double the lead

    Leeds' goal threat comes largely in the shape of Wood and the New Zealander thought he had his name on the scoresheet 13 minutes in, but he was called offside as he crashed in a loose ball from a free-kick.

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    Chances thinned out for the rest of the half, though, with Forest's resolute backline frustrating the home side.

    Souleymane Doukara of Leeds United (R) celebrates scoring his side's second goal
    Image: Doukara celebrates scoring Leeds' second goal

    The home crowd, knowing what was at stake, did their best to lift United and the goal they craved arrived 55 minutes in.

    Kyle Bartley's header from a Pablo Hernandez corner was blocked - possibly by hand - but before Leeds could protest the ball had fallen to Wood and he finished emphatically from six yards.

    Michael Mancienne of Nottingham Forest closes down Eunan O'Kane of Leeds
    Image: Nottingham Forest defender Michael Mancienne closes down Leeds' Eunan O'Kane

    Forest - with Assombalonga isolated despite the introduction of Nicklas Bendtner from the bench - were unable to offer a response and as they laboured, Doukara finished the job in the 74th minute.

    On for Dallas, he was positioned outside the area as Michael Mancienne half-cleared Hernandez's corner, and arrowed a volley past Stephen Henderson into the top-left corner that had to be seen to be believed.

    Roofe tried to join him on the scoreboard with another volley, his skipping inches wide as Leeds enjoyed themselves, but in the end two was enough.

    Leeds manager Garry Monk said:

    "It was a fantastic strike, you won't see too many cleaner or better ones this season.

    "It was a fantastic goal but the main thing for us was to bounce back. We felt it would be important, when we spoke in pre-season, to bounce back from negatives, show we could recover.

    Stuart Dallas of Leeds United and Matty Cash of Nottingham Forest in action
    Image: Stuart Dallas of Leeds United and Matty Cash of Nottingham Forest in action

    "It was a difficult first half, their game plan was working. It made the tempo lower and we found it difficult at times. It ended up a mucky game, stale. We made a few tweaks, upped our intensity and we win games when we do that. To show we can bounce back, that was the main thing."

    Nottingham Forest caretaker boss Gary Brazil:

    "I was very pleased with our performance. I thought in the first half our use of the ball was very good and we had to take our chances.

    "No complaints about the first half. The second, we came off the tempo and I think that's where we are at the moment."

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