Leeds United - v - Nottingham Forest ***Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

Leeds United v Nottingham Forest
Friday 6th February@20:00 | Elland Road



Friday night football returns to Elland Road with a fixture that carries significant weight at the wrong end of the Premier League table. The Whites host the Tricky Trees in a clash that offers the hosts temporary restbite, with the chance to move nine points clear of the drop zone, at least until Saturday afternoon when West Ham visit Turf Moor. Currently sitting level on 26 points, Nottingham Forest are equally keen to put distance between themselves and West Ham in 18th place

History is firmly on the side of the Whites; they have won their last three Premier League home meetings with Nottingham Forest dating back to encounters in 1996, 1999, and 2023. Furthermore, across 25 top-flight home matches against the "Tricky Trees," Leeds have never failed to find the back of the net. That record provides a comforting statistic for the Elland Road faithful, but the challenge of a Sean Dyche style set-up cannot be underestimated.

Only bottom side Wolves (6.7%) have a lower shot conversion rate than Nottingham Forest in the top flight this season (8.5%), leading Dyche to secure the services of Italian international Lorenzo Lucca on loan from Napoli, with an option to buy in the summer. Standing at 6ft 7in, the towering centre-forward is a physical presence designed to disrupt defenses and offer a focal point in the final third. Lucca is expected to lead the line on Friday, adding a new dimension to Forest's attack that the Leeds backline will be desperate to contain.

In fact, Forest have been active in the market, and could thrust several other new recruits straight into their starting line-up. With regular keepers Matz Sels and John Victor both ruled out through injury, the door has opened for a debut for shot-stopper Stefan Ortega. The former Manchester City goalkeeper arrived for a bargain ?500,000 and is widely predicted to start between the sticks. Deadline-day signing Luca Netz, who joined from Borussia M?nchengladbach for just ?2m, is also predicted to start. The left-back?s inclusion is almost a necessity, with Neco Williams suspended and Nicolo Savona injured, forcing Dyche to shuffle his pack immediately.

Manager Daniel Farke provided a mixed bag of injury updates during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday lunchtime, offering both relief and concern. German international midfielder Anton Stach is confirmed to miss out due to a hip injury, a blow that will see him sidelined for approximately 10 to 14 days, potentially stretching into the FA Cup tie against Birmingham City, meaning a possible recall for Sean Longstaff, who is fully fit after his calf injury. On a more positive note, Farke confirmed that Jaka Bijol has returned to team training following a hamstring issue.

While it may be too soon to thrust the Slovenian international back into a starting role after three games out, his presence on the bench would be a welcome boost. Similarly, versatile defender James Justin is available after fears of a broken toe were allayed, with the injury revealed to be merely a bruise. Supporting forward Lukas Nmecha remains the only other notable absentee, still working his way back from a hamstring strain, though Farke suggested he isn't too far from a return. Once again Dominic Calvert-Lewin will lead the line, supported by either Okafor or Aaronson.

Credit: motforum.com

MOT.

[MrsORichSenior_]

good opportunity to pull some points tonight as Forest finishing not to good .......only on par with Wolves.......
a wet dreary ER pitch awaits them by all accounts this evening i hear....... so steady hands in goal and cool heads needed defensively with no silly rash challenges giving away set piece gifts to them.

......... they are short of a few....... so no excuses with two good coaches playing to their strengths its up to us as the home team to yield in the points from the pitch.

...... have a good one Andy and safe journey back.

MOT

[norfolk white]

Think I might turn my phone etc off at 8 and switch it on again at ten, and see wether I?ve got a bad weekend or a good one, the pressure is awful.

[spaldy]

question?

Why a Friday night game in the prem?

[Billyni]

We win, we stay up.
Anything else is brown trouser regalia for the rest of the season.

[MrsORichSenior_]

Starting XI: Darlow (GK), Bogle, Gudmundsson, Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson, Okafor, Justin, Gruev.

Substitutes: Perri (GK), James, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Bijol, Tanaka, Bornauw, Gnonto.

[cherrypie7]

Starting XI: Darlow (GK), Bogle, Gudmundsson, Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson, Okafor, Justin, Gruev.

Substitutes: Perri (GK), James, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Bijol, Tanaka, Bornauw, Gnonto.

I think it just saw Monaco on TV. Is she there?

[ozleeds]

Thought Lewin was ijnured quick heal!
https://buffstreams.plus/premier-lea...forest/1022360

[WTF11]

Well Well, another MOTD Goal of the month candidate?

[WTF11]

And another!!!!