BBC pundit: Something special is happening at Leeds, Forest were tortured
By Alex Stevens
High flying Leeds are on the verge of achieving “something special”, according to a BBC journalist who covers the club’s matches.
Broadcaster Adam Pope was blown away by the quality of the team’s performance on Tuesday night after they beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Elland Road.
Second-half goals from Chris Wood and Souleymane Doukara sealed the points for Garry Monk’s side and lifted them back to third in the Championship table.
Leading scorer Wood maintained his brilliant run of form with his sixth goal in four matches, and 20th of what is becoming a remarkable season, when he broke the deadlock early in the second half with a clinical volleyed finish.
Second-half substitute Souleymane Doukara then stunned Elland Road with a goal of the season contender after 70 minutes when he nearly took the roof off the net with a staggering Tony Yeboah-esque volley from outside the box.
Pope felt visitors Forest, who had matched Leeds in the first half, were ultimately undone by the relentlessness and calibre of the home side’s play, something that is becoming a common theme this season.
“I am literally flabbergasted, still, from that goal. Leeds are relentless in pursuing their play right now. Forest are being tortured here. What Monk has done… The confidence in this team is special,” said Pope on BBC Radio Leeds, as quoted by the BBC Leeds live blog of the match.
“How many times have we said something very special is happening here? And when was the last time we were able to say this for so long, week in, week out? We said it at times under Brian McDermott but this is something else.”
Leeds made three changes to the side that lost 3-2 to Barnsley at the weekend with Pontus Jansson, Eunan O’Kane and Stuart Dallas replacing Lewie Coyle, Ronaldo Vieira and Souleymane Doukara.
It paid dividends as the Yorkshire giants secured their 16th win from 28 Championship matches this season.
It enabled Monk’s side to get back to winning ways after their weekend defeat to Barnsley, and means they are back within seven points of second-tier leaders Newcastle.
In other Leeds news, there has been a finale in a major deal after a £7million bid was tabled.
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