Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds
Keylor Navas showed his class on his Nottingham Forest debut as he helped his new club to a 1-0 win over Leeds in a crunch battle at the bottom of the Premier League.
The three-time winner with was part of Forest’s recruitment drive in January, making an eye-catching loan switch from Paris Saint-Germain, and he produced a string of saves in the first half to keep United at bay.
Navas had already saved from Luis Sinisterra when Brennan Johnson’s 14th-minute goal put Forest ahead and then kept out Luke Ayling and Willy Gnonto to ensure the three points.
Forest took a while to get going but once they did they soon took the lead.
Morgan Gibbs-White sent in a free-kick from the right which went all the way through to Johnson at the far post and the Wales international lashed in a low drive from the edge of the area.
Despite having the advantage, Forest could not take control and Leeds pushed for an equaliser.
They created two big chances within the space of five minutes but Sinisterra blazed over from six yards, then Navas came to Forest’s rescue again with another good stop to thwart Ayling.
The 36-year-old goalkeeper was being worked hard and he made another save on the stroke of half-time to keep out Gnonto’s fierce shot.
Italy forward Gnonto was again causing trouble early in the second half but it was the hosts who had a chance to double their lead only for Neco Williams to fire over.
For all of Leeds’ possession they were not creating much and it was Forest who looked more dangerous.
A chance to make sure of the win for the home side fell to substitute Sam Surridge with 12 minutes remaining but he curled over from a good position inside the area after being fed by the influential Gibbs-White.
Nottingham Forest beat Everton to sign free agent Andre Ayew after closed transfer window
Leeds turned down chance to sign Manchester United outcast Axel Tuanzebe on deadline day
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