Leeds Lost in the Woods, as Forest Score Seven

Neil Warnock will be suffering something of a football hangover, today, after seeing his Leeds United team humiliated at home to Nottingham Forest, in one of the highest-scoring matches of recent months.

Ten goals were scored at Elland Road on Tuesday evening, as Leeds succumbed to a 3-7 defeat to the visiting Forest. The result was the first time in history that United have conceded seven at home, with their highest away loss standing at 8-1 to Stoke in 1934. Those looking at the Championship betting will have been astonished.

Leeds no longer look particularly dangerous with regard to grabbing a play-off spot, standing in tenth position, four points adrift of Hull City in ninth, and five points short of the nearest play-off place.

Add in the fact that Leeds have played one more game than six of the teams above them in the Championship, and United have a hill to climb if they hope to challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

Leeds took the lead courtesy of an early penalty from Robert Snodgrass, but Forest’s resident Frenchman, Adlene Guedioura, soon cancelled the advantage, collecting Notts’ first after eight minutes of play.

Garath McCleary added Forest’s second just before half-time. The score at the break was a balmy 2-1 in Notts’ favour.

Whatever Steve Cotterill said to the Tricky Trees at half-time galvanised Forest to “unbelievable”, to quote the manager himself, performance in the second half. Notts’ Dexter Blackstock opening the scoring shortly after the whistle.

Goals from United’s Luciano Becchio and Michael Brown gave the home team hope as the hour mark approached, dragging the tie to 3-3. McCleary then scored an incredible three in 15 minutes, to shut Leeds out of the fixture. It was a major upset of the Championship betting odds.

Blackstock added to Leeds’ misery by scoring his second, and Forest’s seventh, nine minutes from the end of regulation time.

“I’m quite embarrassed about the result”, Warnock said. “I’ve learnt probably more tonight than I have in the other games.” The manager added that Notts’ fourth strike was “terrible – it was a Sunday League goal”.