Leeds United boosted their hopes of Premier League survival with a dominant 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on Friday night. The win moves Leeds nine points clear of the relegation zone, while Forest could be dangerously close to the drop depending on other weekend results.

The match was a crucial "relegation six-pointer," with both teams starting the game level on 26 points. Leeds, spurred on by a vibrant home crowd, took the lead in the 26th minute through Jayden Bogle. Moments earlier, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had struck the crossbar, but Bogle continued his run and coolly slotted home Ilia Gruev's lofted pass.

Leeds quickly doubled their advantage, with Noah Okafor scoring in the 30th minute. After Forest's debutant goalkeeper Stefan Ortega saved an initial shot, Okafor was on hand to steer the ball home, ending a 16-game goal drought. The Elland Road crowd erupted as Leeds seized control of the match.

Early in the second half, Dominic Calvert-Lewin extended Leeds' lead to 3-0 in the 48th minute. He cleverly chested the ball down to find the bottom corner of the net.

Nottingham Forest, struggling to find a foothold in the game, managed to pull a goal back in the 86th minute through another debutant, Lorenzo Lucca. Lucca headed home from Omari Hutchinson's cross. However, it proved to be a mere consolation as Leeds comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure the victory.

Leeds had 14 shots in the match, with 5 on target, compared to Forest's 12 shots and 4 on target. Leeds also enjoyed more possession, with 57% compared to Forest's 43%.

Leeds' manager Daniel Farke's tactical switch to a 3-5-2 formation in late November has proved to be season-defining. This system allows Calvert-Lewin to lead the line effectively, with Brenden Aaronson finding space to create chances.

Forest manager Sean Dyche acknowledged his team's poor performance, citing the absence of key players due to suspension and injury as contributing factors. They missed the suspended Neco Williams and injured players like Matz Sels and Murillo.

The win was Leeds' first in five matches. They are now level on points with Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. Forest's defeat was their first in five matches, leaving them in a precarious position above the relegation zone.