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Daniel Farke hails ‘massive’ Leeds win against Forest in survival battle

Daniel Farke praised a “massive win” after Leeds United strengthened their Premier League survival push with a deserved 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on Friday night. The German coach said his players delivered the perfect response after a heavy defeat in their previous outing, producing an energetic and confident display that moved the club nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Leeds took control with two goals inside four first-half minutes. Jayden Bogle opened the scoring in the 26th minute after latching onto Ilia Gruev’s clever pass, before Noah Okafor doubled the lead with a simple finish soon afterwards to end a long scoring drought.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin then sealed the win early in the second half with a smart chest-finished strike – his 10th league goal of the season – before substitute Lorenzo Lucca headed a late consolation for Forest.

Farke admitted the match carried added pressure following Leeds’ previous loss but praised his squad’s mentality. “I’m very proud because this was a complicated game for us,” he said. “After a defeat it’s never easy to respond, but we showed spirit, intensity and played really good football.”

It will do a lot for our confidence and belief – this was a massive performance and a massive win.”

The Leeds boss highlighted midfielder Gruev and winger Okafor for special praise. “Ilia was outstanding – two assists, key passes and great reliability,” Farke explained. “Noah showed his quality going forward and worked incredibly hard without the ball. That balance helped us control the game.”

Forest manager Sean Dyche admitted his side struggled defensively despite some promising spells. “We were beginning to ask questions, then conceded a poor goal at a bad time,” he said. “The third goal really hurt us, but the players kept going and that’s the positive.”

The result provided a significant boost for Leeds’ survival hopes and reinforced Elland Road’s reputation as a difficult venue under the lights, with Farke’s side delivering one of their most convincing performances of the campaign when it mattered most

Daniel Farke hails ‘massive win’ after Leeds boost survival hopes against Forest

Leeds boss Daniel Farke praised a “massive win” for his side after they beat Premier League relegation rivals Nottingham Forest 3-1 at Elland Road to climb nine points clear of the bottom three.

Two goals in four first-half minutes from Jayden Bogle – his first in the top flight for Leeds – and Noah Okafor put Leeds in control before Dominic Calvert-Lewin notched his 10th league goal of the season soon after the interval.

Forest’s new signing from Napoli, Lorenzo Lucca, headed a late consolation for the visitors, who stayed one place and six points above the drop zone.

Farke said: “I’m very proud because this was complicated game for us. First and foremost, because we had lost the last game (4-0 at home against Arsenal).“

I know it was Arsenal, but a loss always does something with the confidence and belief. It’s always difficult to respond after a loss, and this made it a difficult game.

“Second, it was, of course, a game where there was a bit more on the line, not just the three points. Sometimes during the season there’s a game that feels just a bit more important than other games.“

And then to deliver in this way, with such a spirited performance, with our intensity to be so dominant and to play such a good football game.

“I think it will do a lot with our confidence, our belief, our spirit within the group. This was second to none today, and for that, it’s a massive performance and a massive win.”

Farke singled out Bulgaria midfielder Ilia Gruev and Switzerland winger Okafor for special praise.

“Ilia looked unbelievably sharp in training this week,” the German boss added. “He’s so reliable.“

With him, you always get a six or seven out of 10. Today, it was pretty close to a 10 out of 10. Two assists, many key passes. I thought he was outstanding.

“Noah gave one of his best performances in a Leeds shirt. He can take on players, score goals and deliver assists. We know this, but also today, his work was great against the ball to win it back.”

Forest boss Sean Dyche felt his side were just beginning to ask questions of Leeds before conceding quickfire first-half goals, but admitted the home side deserved their win.

“We knew they’d start fast and I thought we weathered that OK actually,” Dyche said.

“We were having our best spell and the frustration for me is their first goal was such a poor goal to concede when we were now asking questions of them.“

And the third is the one that really kills you, because by then you’re looking at it thinking ‘OK, we can nick the next goal and if you get that it’s 2-1 and all of a sudden everything changes’.

“But we gave away another really poor goal defensively, but the pleasing thing, if there is such a thing from today, is we kept on going and kept on going.”