Leeds United extend City Ground dominance with Carabao Cup win

Leeds United have booked their spot in the Carabao Cup third round following a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The result represents a significant institutional feat for the Yorkshire club, who have now won at this specific venue twice in 72 hours. This achievement follows their Premier League triumph at the same ground on Saturday, a performance that had not been replicated by Leeds since 1972 prior to the weekend.

The match, part of the 2026-27 English Football League campaign, saw both sides enter the contest with limited rest between fixtures. Despite this, Leeds manager Daniel Farke’s side demonstrated tactical resilience, securing a clean sheet against a Nottingham Forest team that had recently concluded their pre-season preparations with a victory against Brest.

Second-half goals from Dan James and James Justin were decisive in securing the progression for Leeds. James opened the scoring five minutes after the restart, clipping the ball home after a pass from Sean Longstaff. The goal was the culmination of a rapid counter-attack that followed a wayward header from Ola Aina.

The second goal, with 15 minutes remaining, was less elegant but equally effective. A bundled effort by Lucas Nmecha was blocked on the line by Williams, allowing James Justin to place the ball into the net. This clinical finish sealed the victory for the visitors, who had previously shown defensive composure in the first half.

Defensive interventions were pivotal in maintaining Leeds’ clean sheet. James Trafford produced a crucial save in the 10th minute to deny Ola Aina, while Matz Sels denied Dan James with a low effort in the first half. Leeds defender Joe Rodon also made a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Chris Wood, illustrating the defensive structure that underpinned the result.

For Nottingham Forest, the defeat adds to a challenging start under new manager Oliver Glasner. While the team showed early promise, the result highlights the need for immediate reinforcement. Glasner has agreed a £50m deal for Chelsea striker Liam Delap, a move intended to bolster the squad as they navigate the early stages of the new campaign.