As we headed to Nottingham Forest today, there was a poignancy before the game as we had the Last Post & minute’s silence for Remembrance Sunday showing respect to our fallen soldiers. We also had a two-minute silence in Wetherspoons which was impeccably observed. There was also recognition of the Forest fans caught up in the recent train atrocity. There have been some spectacular shows on the terraces and the one at Sunderland was amazing. As for the game, we needed points and Leeds to fight for them. Sadly, we now know that once again, we failed to get anything out of the game and at the moment it feels like the writing is on the wall for us. I’ll probably feel different in the morning once I’ve slept on things, but there is that feel of inevitability about things once again. Our downfall was not keeping our lead for more than a couple of minutes as that let Forest back into the game.

Team: Perri, Ampadu, Rodon, Longstaff, Okafor, Gudmundsson, Aaronson, Bogle, Stach, Nmecha, Bijol.

Subs: Piroe for Longstaff (74), James for Aaronson (74), Calvert-Lewin for Nmecha (74), Struijk for Bijol (82), Harrison for Gudmundsson (82). 

Subs not used: Darlow, Tanaka, Gruev, Justin.

Leeds lost the game 3-1 with Nmecha scoring the Leeds goal on 13 minutes.

Attendance: 30,708 with 3,048 Leeds fans.

Referee: Jarred Gillett

Booked: Longstaff



Perri made a great double save to deny Forest an early lead, but his heroics weren’t needed as we were given a free kick for offside. A great move with Okafor, then Aaronson saw Leeds get off to a great start with an early goal from Nmecha. Just as we thought things were looking up, Forest got straight back into the game with an equaliser. Perri saved the initial cross/shot but the rebound was stuck into the net by an unmarked player. As I looked back at the replays, it is quite frightening how many of our players were in the middle of the goal area, but they still had a player unmarked with one more in another good position. The score stayed on equal terms as we went in at half time. 

The second half saw Leeds attacking towards our fans, but then their man ran down the wing, put a cross into the middle and once again had a free header to take the lead. Before this, Nmecha had taken a knock and gone down twice but he was kept on the pitch so we thought subs should have been made then. We had our best chance since our goal once we had made our first subs with a great shot from James saved by their keeper, but the rebound went wide. It meant we were chasing the game instead of being proactive. Whilst there was always a chance to get back into the game, they got a third. Harrison clipped their player’s heels in the area, and they were awarded a penalty sending Perri the wrong way. On the opposite side of the pitch there was an act of desperation as our players tried to get the ball off them but failed miserably. With our second defeat in a week, our failure to get any points from the games, means we are too close for comfort to the bottom of the table for me. With another international break before our next game at home to Villa, and players away with their countries, I hope we don’t have any new injuries going forward.

Thanks to all those fans who got their Bremner badges today. All those I have had are now spoken for or sold so I will be making a further list before ordering some more. I’m meeting quite a few of you at the Villa game already but if there are any others who have their name on the original list, hopefully I can meet up at the Villa game too. I will go to the Holbeck Club first, then to the Peacock. In the Kop I go to the front of the North East corner about 20 minutes before kick-off, before going to the front near the West Stand as the teams come out. After the game I always go to Billy’s statue first so there are a few options there, just let me know.

See you there – LUFC – Marching on Together!