Nottingham Forest 0 ​

Leeds United         2 (James 50, Justin 75)

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25th August 2026. Carabao Cup Round 2.

24,542.

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We’re only two games into the season, but with two wins, two clean sheets and three goals, it’s hard not to be optimistic about the season already!

Leeds made six changes from the side that started against Forest on Saturday, and yet, looking through the XI tonight, most fans were nodding in approval; it still looked like a strong Leeds side. Forest made five changes, and they, too, looked set to go strong for this one.

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It was no surprise, therefore, that the first half ended as it did on Saturday, goalless, but Leeds had more of an edge this time and fashioned three big chances. Sean Longstaff should have done better but scuffed a close-range effort straight at Sels from a right-wing pass from Dan James on the byline, and an audacious back heel by Nmecha from another James pass, after collecting the rebound from his own shot, went just wide. Maybe a more orthodox attempt might have been more successful. At the other end, Forest had their chances too. Aina almost caught out Trafford with what was probably a mishit cross, but Trafford’s reflexes were superb to readjust and parry the effort away. Aina hit a volley well over from the edge of the box, and Chris Wood latched onto a pass after Longstaff gave the ball away in his own half, but Joe Rodon raced to rescue that one, just sliding in to nick the ball away before Wood could shoot. An even first half overall, but the better chances were being created by Leeds.

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But Leeds edged ahead five minutes after the break and Forest will be kicking themselves. A loose header back towards their own goal from a clearance down the right found Longstaff, and this time he spotted Dan James had gone behind his marker and into the box. Dan took his time setting himself but just got his shot away before a tackle came in and the ball nestled inside the far post. In the end, it was a sublime finish.

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We then got another slice of that big transfer fee paid back when James Trafford denied Chris Wood. Kalimuendo slid the ball across, and Wood hit it well first time and low, but Trafford seemed to read where it was going, and somehow, at full stretch, he dived to push that one away. Leeds were still pushing forward though, and Noah Okafor should have hit the target as he was played in by Nmecha, jinked inside and curled a ball just over the angle of bar and post.

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The game was settled in the 75th minute, and it was another success coming from an Ampadu long-throw. He probably didn’t mean it to go so high into the box and that might have caused the confusion but the players at the front post jumped and missed it, a Forest head nodded it on the bounce, Tarik M headed it back and then chaos ensued at the back post as Sels and a defender got in each other’s way while Nmecha and Justin scrabbled to get the ball over the line. Eventually it was some cool thinking from Justin to lift it over all the bodies.

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So, through to the next round we go, and overall it was a comfortable win, even with those six ‘fringe’ players on the pitch to begin with. Farke did boost his line-up with four of the starters from Saturday before the second goal, and then DCL got the final ten minutes or so as well.

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I thought Sean Longstaff struggled a bit tonight; the nice pass for the DJ goal, but otherwise he was a bit loose. Ao Tanaka didn’t impress tonight either; too often he is getting caught on the ball and, for whatever reason, he’s nowhere near his best at the moment either. Lukas did what Lukas does, making a nuisance of himself, but he made that poor choice for his back heel. Dan James has got rave reviews for his performance. I thought he did well, was often in the game and took his goal well, but I still felt he was nowhere near the player we know he can be, although remembering he was playing an unusual sort of part wing-back role tonight. Noah Okafor was lively and could have scored from that curling shot, but the star of the new players for me was Nico Elvedi, who looks like another very classy centre back. In fact, as they were on Saturday, the whole defence looked rock solid, and on the couple of occasions where we were undone, Trafford was there to show just how good he is. I reckon our defence is going to be the talk of the media this season – although let's not get too carried away until we’ve seen how Brentford do against us on Sunday, as they are scoring for fun at the moment!

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So far so good! I’m tempted to say it’s all very un-Leeds-like! A home draw please in the next round!

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