The league positions between the two clubs shows a noticeable gap, but Leeds should not underestimate Nottingham Forest.
Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are two of English football’s former heavyweights, both stuck languishing in the second tier.
Of the two it is Leeds who are better placed to bounce back to the top flight ahead of this week’s match between the two teams, and they will head into it with confidence despite losing to Barnsley at the weekend.
Leeds are in fourth position in the Championship, currently occupying a play-off spot, while if Forest are going to be switching leagues next year then it will be due to relegation to League One.
Matty Cash of Nottingham Forest in action with Liam Bridcutt of Leeds United
Forest are without a permanent manager in place, sitting in 19th place in the table just five points above the drop zone.
They did manage to beat Leeds earlier this season with a performance inspired by winger Oliver Burke, who was sold to Red Bull Leipzig 24 hours later.
So it would be easy for Leeds to look down at Forest and think they are ripe for the picking, and that may be true, but they are still a dangerous team to come up against, as league leaders Newcastle found out at the beginning of December.
| Goals | Conceded | |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 38 | 45 |
| Leeds | 37 | 27 |
This season despite there being 15 places between the two teams in the table, Forest have still managed to score more goals than Garry Monk’s Leeds.
Their clear undoing has been their defence, which has been woeful in comparison to the Whites.
Ben Osborn of Nottingham Forest in action with Stuart Dallas of Leeds United
In form striker Chris Wood could have a field day, having scored 16 of Leeds’ 37 goals to date, but if the home side can’t get it together, Forest have demonstrated they have goals in them.
They have netted more goals than any side below 11th place in the league, and are the sixth highest scorers in the Championship.
Star defender Pontus Jansson is returning at an opportune time for Leeds, who cannot afford to take Forest lightly.
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