Leeds boost survival hopes with comfortable victory over Nottingham Forest

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season as Leeds beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 to climb nine points clear of the relegation zone.

The free summer signing from Everton, whose thumping first-half header hit the crossbar, chested home Leeds’ third goal soon after the restart after quickfire goals from Jayden Bogle and Noah Okafor had put them in control at half-time.

Forest substitute Lorenzo Lucca marked his debut for the club by heading home a late consolation as they slipped to their 13th league defeat of the season.

Leeds remain 16th in the table – level on points with Crystal Palace and Tottenham – but crucially opened up a nine-point cushion between themselves and third-bottom West Ham, who play at fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday.

Forest, who stayed 17th, six points above the Hammers, had won their previous two games on the road and created several early chances.

But Leeds never looked back after taking a 26th-minute lead, roared on by their fans to a fifth win of the season under the Elland Road floodlights and their sixth at home in total.

Daniel Farke’s side went straight on the offensive from kick-off, with Forest defender Zach Abbott, making his full top-flight debut, slicing Gabriel Gudmundsson’s low cross narrowly over the crossbar.

The visitors carried a threat on the break though and after comfortably holding Callum Hudson-Odoi’s low shot, Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow produced a superb save to keep out Nicolas Dominguez’s effort.

Igor Jesus headed just wide soon after as Forest grew into the game before Calvert-Lewin’s towering header crashed down off the underside of the crossbar.

Leeds then seized full control with two goals in four minutes just before the half-hour mark.