Daryl Murphy started for Nottingham Forest as they beat Leeds United in the Championship.
Paul Merson believes Nottingham Forest striker Daryl Murphy was ‘a handful all day’ for Leeds United as they suffered a 4-2 defeat at the City Ground on New Year’s Day.
The 35-year-old started his first league match in two months for Forest, with star man Lewis Grabban missing the encounter because of an injury.
Jack Colback gave the home side the lead after five minutes before Leeds took the lead in the second half despite being down to ten men after Kalvin Phillips saw red.
Forest then fought back with Colback scoring his second, Murphy’s headed goal and Ben Osborn’s wonder strike securing all three points for Aitor Karanka’s men.
After the match, former Premier League midfielder Merson offered his thoughts on Murphy as he claimed he was the best player on the pitch.
“This lad [Murphy], he was a handful all day,” Merson told Soccer Special on Sky Sports at 5:20 pm. “Murphy played and he probably wouldn’t have played if Grabban plays. I made him Man of the Match, he was a real handful.”
Over the course of the season, Murphy has played ten league matches for his side, scoring three goals and supplying two assists to his teammates.
Following those much-needed three points for Karanka, Forest move up to seventh in the Championship table, four points behind rivals Derby County, who occupy the final playoff spot.
As for Leeds, they remain top of the Championship table, two points ahead of second-placed Norwich and four points ahead of third-placed Sheffield United – this despite losing back-to-back matches over the festive period.
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