Leeds United 3-1 Nottingham Forest Player Ratings: Dominant Whites Secure Huge Victory

Leeds United’s dominance was reflected in the numbers long before the final whistle at Elland Road. The hosts controlled the majority of possession, won almost every midfield duel, and consistently outworked Nottingham Forest en route to a commanding 3-1 Premier League victory. The scoreline barely captured how one-sided this contest was.

What stood out most was Leeds’ authority in the middle of the park. They were first to second balls, moved possession with intent, and repeatedly pulled Forest out of shape. First-half goals from Jayden Bogle and Noah Okafor set the tone, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin added a third shortly after the restart to kill the game effectively.

Forest did enjoy a brief spell of pressure, but it came without cutting edge. Their finishing was wayward, and defensively they looked disorganised whenever Leeds raised the tempo.

Conceding three goals was damaging enough, but the ease with which Leeds United carved them open will be a major concern for the manager.

A late consolation goal was the only positive to take for Forest from an otherwise dismal afternoon, as Leeds cruised to a deserved win in front of a buoyant Elland Road crowd. Let's take a look at Sportsdunia's Leeds United Vs Nottingham Forest Player Ratings in the Premier League clash.

Key Takeaways

• Leeds controlled possession, won key duels, and dictated the tempo throughout.
• Strikes from Bogle and Okafor, followed by Calvert-Lewin after the break, effectively killed the contest.
• Disorganised defensively and toothless in attack, with only a late consolation to show for a poor display.

Leeds United Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Here's a look at the Leeds United Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Karl Darlow - 7.0: A pretty solid day at the office for Darlow. He made four saves, including a couple of crucial ones in the first half when Forest showed some fight. His distribution was decent, with a 77% pass accuracy. He commanded his box well and couldn't do much about the consolation goal. We noticed he was always alert and organizing his defence. A confident performance overall.

Defenders

Pascal Struijk - 7.0: Struijk was a rock at the back. He made a massive eight clearances and won the majority of his aerial duels. His passing was impressively accurate at 91%, helping Leeds build from the back. We saw him make a couple of key blocks when Forest were pressing. He was just composed and did his job without any fuss, a really reliable showing.

Joe Rodon - 6.0: A decent, if not spectacular, game from Rodon. He contributed with six clearances and was strong in his tackles, winning both he attempted. However, that one error that led to a shot blemishes his performance slightly. From our perspective, he looked solid for the most part but had a moment of lost concentration. Still, a key part of a winning defence.

James Justin - 8.5: What a performance from the full-back. He was a constant threat going forward, grabbing an assist and creating four chances, three of which were big ones. His crossing was on point all game. Defensively, he was also sound, winning eight of his eleven duels. He just looked full of energy and quality, running the flank with authority. A top-class display.

Midfielders

Jayden Bogle - 7.5: Got the ball rolling with the first goal, a well-taken finish. He was tidy in possession with a 91% pass accuracy and was defensively diligent, winning all four of his tackles. It felt like he was everywhere on the pitch. While he was a bit quiet after his goal, his contribution was vital for the early lead. A really effective performance.

Gabriel Gudmundsson - 7.0: A workhorse performance from Gudmundsson. He won an incredible ten duels and completed five dribbles, constantly driving his team forward. He was a real handful for the Forest defence. Sometimes his final ball was lacking, but his effort and desire were undeniable. He really set the tone with his tenacity and never stopped running.

Ethan Ampadu - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was so calm and composed in the heart of midfield, dictating the tempo of the game. He won seven of his eight duels, showing his dominance. His passing was crisp and intelligent, always keeping the play moving forward. From our viewpoint, he was the glue that held everything together for Leeds.

Ilia Gruev - 9.0: Absolutely phenomenal. Our man of the match, without a doubt. Two assists, four key passes, and a stunning 98% pass completion rate. He ran the show completely. Everything good for Leeds seemed to go through him. He was creative, intelligent, and his vision was on another level. A truly world-class performance that tore Nottingham Forest apart.

Forwards

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 7.0: He got his goal, which is what you want from your main striker. He was a physical presence, winning his aerial battles and causing problems. However, he also hit the woodwork and missed a big chance, so it could have been an even better day for him. We felt he did his job well, leading the line effectively.

Brenden Aaronson - 6.5: A very busy but slightly frustrating performance. He was a menace, drawing six fouls from the opposition and always looking to run at defenders. But his final product wasn't quite there. He lost the ball quite a bit and didn't create as much as he would have liked before being substituted. A lot of effort, but little end result.

Noah Okafor - 7.5: Scored a crucial second goal and was a livewire throughout his time on the pitch. He was a constant threat with his pace and dribbling, taking three shots and always looking dangerous. He did get a yellow card for a silly foul, which was the only negative. He looked confident and was a nightmare for the Forest backline to handle.

Manager

D. Farke - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. Leeds looked organised, motivated, and played with a clear identity. The team's attacking intent from the start overwhelmed Forest. His decision to give Gruev a central role was a masterstroke. A near-perfect day for the manager whose team looked a class above.

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs Leeds United

Let's take a look at the Nottingham Forest Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Stefan Ortega - 5.5: A difficult day for the keeper. He conceded three goals and only made two saves. His distribution was also poor, with a pass accuracy of just 52%. While he wasn't directly at fault for all the goals, you expect your keeper to command his area better. He just looked a bit shaky and didn't inspire much confidence.

Defenders

Morato - 6.0: He made a few important clearances and tackles but was part of a defence that was breached three times. He looked overwhelmed by the pace and movement of the Leeds attack. He battled hard, winning four of his seven duels, but it wasn't enough. A tough afternoon against a very slick attacking unit.

Nikola Milenković - 6.0: Similar to his defensive partner, Milenković had his hands full. He made six clearances which shows how much pressure Forest were under. He was solid enough in his individual duels but as a unit, the defence was not organised. It felt like he was constantly putting out fires rather than preventing them.

Ola Aina - 5.5: A really poor performance from Aina. He lost possession a staggering 17 times and looked off the pace both defensively and offensively. He was caught out of position on several occasions. We expected much more from a player of his experience. It just wasn't his day.

Zach Abbott - 5.0: A day to forget for the young defender. He struggled immensely, losing five of his ten duels and looking exposed throughout the game. He lost possession 17 times and was partly at fault for some of the chaos in the box. It was a tough learning experience for him against a top-quality attack.

Midfielders

Ibrahim Sangaré - 6.0: He was busy in midfield and made a few tackles, but his impact was minimal. He picked up a yellow card and committed three fouls, showing some frustration. He just couldn't get a foothold in the game as the Leeds midfield completely overran him. A lot of running but not much substance.

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 6.0: A very quiet game for him. He had one shot on target early on but faded completely after that. With only 26 touches before being substituted, he just couldn't get involved. From our perspective, he looked isolated out wide and couldn't influence the match at all. Disappointing.

Elliot Anderson - 6.5: One of the few Forest players who tried to make things happen. He created three chances and was always looking to be positive on the ball. However, the downside was losing possession 22 times, which is far too high. He showed fight and creativity, but it was often a lone battle.

Morgan Gibbs-White - 7.0: The captain showed glimpses of his quality, creating three chances before he was substituted. He was one of the brighter sparks for Forest in a difficult first hour. It was surprising to see him taken off, as he looked like one of the few who could unlock the Leeds defence. A decent but short-lived outing.

Nicolás Domínguez - 5.5: He was completely anonymous in midfield. He was dribbled past five times and won only one of his seven duels. It was no surprise to see him hooked early in the second half. He just couldn't cope with the intensity of the Leeds press. A very poor showing.

Forwards

Igor Jesus - 6.0: He was starved of service and had a thankless task up front. He had a header saved but otherwise struggled to get into the game. He lost seven of his eleven duels and was eventually substituted after just 54 minutes. It's hard to be too critical when your team is being so thoroughly outplayed.

Manager

S. Dyche - 5.0: His team looked second-best in every department. The defensive structure was nonexistent, and they were completely overrun in midfield. His substitutions didn't significantly alter the flow of the game, although one did manage to score a consolation goal. Overall, a tactical mismatch and a very poor day at the office for the gaffer.

Man of the Match

Ilia Gruev was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Zach Abbott had a difficult game for Nottingham Forest in the Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest EPL clash.