Leeds United secured a vital 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at Elland Road, pulling nine points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his 10th league goal of the season to seal the win early in the second half. Forest managed a late consolation through debutant Lorenzo Lucca but remain six points above third-bottom West Ham.
Leeds United and Nottingham Forest entered their February 6, 2026, Premier League match at Elland Road level on 26 points, occupying the final two spots above the drop zone and six points ahead of West Ham. The game, kicking off at 20:00 GMT, carried huge implications in the relegation battle, with the loser facing anxiety over West Ham's visit to Burnley the next day.
Leeds, coming off a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal, made one change with Noah Okafor replacing the injured Anton Stach. Their lineup featured Karl Darlow in goal, defended by Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, and Gabriel Gudmundsson, with James Justin at left-back; midfielders Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, and Brenden Aaronson; and forwards Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Dan James was fit to start on the bench.
Nottingham Forest, held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace after Neco Williams' red card, debuted Stefan Ortega in goal due to Matz Sels' groin injury. Williams' suspension saw Zach Abbott at left-back, with Ola Aina, Lucas Morato, Strahinja Milenkovic, Ibrahim Sangare, Nicolas Dominguez, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Igor Jesus up front. New signings Luca Netz and Lorenzo Lucca were among the substitutes.
The match burst into life in the 26th minute when Ilia Gruev clipped a ball over the top for Bogle to slot home a low finish, giving Leeds the lead. Four minutes later, James Justin's shot was saved, but he squared the rebound for Okafor to sweep in the second goal. Forest threatened before half-time, with shots from Hudson-Odoi and Dominguez saved by Darlow, and a header from Jesus going wide.
Four minutes into the second half, more poor Forest defending allowed Gruev space; his effort was chested in by Calvert-Lewin for his 10th goal of the season. Gruev nearly added a fourth in a scramble. Lucca headed a consolation in the 86th minute from Omari Hutchinson's cross on his debut, but Leeds dominated. Forest's recent away form included wins at Liverpool, Wolves, West Ham, and Brentford, but they could not mount a comeback.
Leeds have now won their last three Premier League home games against Forest, dating back to 1996, 1999, and 2023. Calvert-Lewin has reached double figures in league goals only twice before this season.
