Leeds United celebrated a second triumph at Nottingham Forest in a span of just three days, clinching a place in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Under the guidance of manager Daniel Farke, the Yorkshire side collected all three Premier League points on Saturday and added a 2-0 win in the League Cup, thanks to goals from Dan James and James Justin.
Before the weekend, Leeds had not won at the City Ground since 1972. In a remarkable turnaround, they have now won there twice in a 72‑hour period, giving the club an encouraging start to the new season.
For Forest, however, the result was far from the ideal launch that new manager Oliver Glasner had hoped for. The team is still trying to find its rhythm, although the club has already secured a £50 million agreement for Chelsea striker Liam Delap, signalling ambition for the future. Neither side will be looking forward to a rapid rematch after the Premier League opener that followed the cup tie. Still, the game offered a few moments of excitement for the home fans.
Early on, James Trafford was forced into a spectacular save in the 10th minute, denying an awkward cross‑shot from Ola Aina that threatened to catch him off balance. Shortly after, James Justin was perfectly positioned to block Igor Jesus’ header, keeping the score level. Leeds had an early chance to go ahead when Dan James drifted down the right flank and delivered a low pass that fell just behind Sean Longstaff.
Longstaff’s shot was straight at Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels, who made a routine save. Both teams pressed forward, and Leeds defender Joe Rodon produced a last‑ditch tackle to stop Chris Wood from finding the net, while Sels also denied James with a low effort on the opposite end. The breakthrough finally arrived five minutes after the restart. Aina’s mis‑directed header fell to Longstaff, who surged forward and set up James.
The Welsh international kept his composure and clipped the ball past Sels to give Leeds a 1‑0 lead. Forest responded quickly; Arnaud Kalimuendo’s cut‑back found Wood in a promising position, but Trafford produced another superb save, keeping the ball out of the bottom corner. Noah Okafor then unleashed a shot that drifted just wide as Leeds launched a swift counter‑attack.
Leeds sealed the win with fifteen minutes remaining, though the finish was far from elegant. Lucas Nmecha saw his effort blocked on the line by Forest defender Williams, and James Justin finally tapped the ball into the net to make it 2‑0.
The result confirmed Leeds’ progression in the Carabao Cup and gave them a morale‑boosting double against a historically challenging venue. After the match, Forest manager Oliver Glasner spoke to Sky Sports, reflecting on his brief tenure.
He warned against ignoring the club’s current reality, noting that the team is still far from where they aspire to be. Glasner reminded listeners that Forest endured a nine‑month relegation battle last season, a turbulent campaign that ended only after a massive effort to stay up. He stressed that blaming anyone would be unproductive, emphasizing that the club must focus on hard work rather than lofty expectations. "I'm no magician, no messiah," he said, "just hard work.
It doesn’t make sense to talk about seventh place two years ago when we are still rebuilding. Ignoring reality leads to dreaming, and that’s not helpful." Leeds boss Daniel Farke also addressed the media, expressing satisfaction with his team’s performance. He said the cup run was a primary objective and highlighted the difficulty of winning at Nottingham in recent decades.
Achieving two victories within three days at such a demanding ground, he noted, was a remarkable achievement. Farke described Saturday’s game as tightly contested but insisted that today’s win was fully deserved, praising the players for their resilience and quality. The win not only advances Leeds in the Carabao Cup but also provides a confidence boost as the season unfolds. With the added prospect of a £50 million signing for Forest, the upcoming weeks promise further intrigue in the English football landscape.
Both managers emphasized the need for patience and hard work, acknowledging that success will come gradually. Leeds will now turn their attention to the next round, while Forest looks to regroup and integrate new talent, hoping to translate their investment into improved results on the pitch.
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