Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United – Betting Review
Betting Analysis
Looking at the 1×2 market first. As outlined in the preview, Forest continued their improved form which was based on strong displays at the City Ground, now unbeaten in seven league outings. They won @ 2.70, although a draw would have been equally fair in truth.
Moving onto the Asian handicap market. Nottingham Forest -0 won @ 1.91 and their backers were comfortable once ahead, mostly on the basis they would never have lost their stake. However, it must be said they were extremely lucky to be ahead after being peppered in the first period, before and after their goal.
Looking at The Under/Over betting last of all, which is set at 2.5. As mentioned in the preview, I expected a tight game that would be fiercely competitive. These kinds of games normally end up with low scoring and although that happened, fair to say that only New Forest signing keeper Navas’s great keeping meant it stayed 1-0. Under 2.5 @ 1.90 was the preference and winning selection on this marker
Match Summary
Nottingham Forest rode significant Leeds pressure in the first half but made their well-taken early goal stand in the end, holding on for a vital 1-0 narrow win.
Leeds dominated the first period but missed their chances before and after falling behind to Johnson’s well-placed shot on 19 minutes. The Northern club peppered the Forest goal but new signing Keylor Navas stood big and kept his new team ahead.
The second period was much more comfortable for the home side, they defended better and saw out the win thanks to a solid 2nd 45 minutes. Leeds for their part didn’t have the same creativity after the first half and slumped badly to the costly defeat, fair scores would be 1-1 and 1-0, in that order.
Nottingham won however thanks to Brennan Johnson’s first-half wonder strike in a classic relegation six-pointer. The three points see them move six points clear of their opponents who now only have goal difference to thank as they hover above the bottom three. That goal differential didn’t save their manager Marsch however, who was fired on Monday morning.
Keylor Navas had become Forest’s 29th signing since promotion on deadline day, and he more or less won his team the points. His saves were put to the test inside the opening five minutes as Sinisterra forced a smart save.
Leeds dictated the opening part of the game and it looked only a matter of time before the 0-1, but fitting of their season so far, they went behind against the run of play.
Pascal Struijk failed to deal with a cross and the clearance fell at the feet of in-form forward Johnson, who made no mistake in volleying powerfully past Illan Meslier for 1-0, a goal that somehow managed to be the only goal of the match.
Steve Cooper appeared unhappy going into the break as he knew his side didn’t merit the lead. He made a double substitution in an attempt to gain some control, a move which worked based on a tighter 2nd half where Leeds ran out of ideas.
Leeds was toothless in attack in absence of top scorer Rodrigo, and the host looked more likely on breaks to make it 2-0 than losing their lead.
Sam Surridge missed a clear chance to seal it late on for Nottingham, curling wide of the goal on a break. The host didn’t need it though thanks to a solid and defensive second-half showing, holding on to preserve a seven-match unbeaten run at the City Ground.
