Leeds United star Ao Tanaka and Daniel Farke

Ao Tanaka and Daniel FarkeImago

Ao Tanaka wows as Daniel Farke favourite lets him down: Leeds player ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Assistant Editor AUTHORITY Senior editor responsible for daily news flow, sub-hub management, and maintaining editorial standards across the site network. FOCUS Editorial oversight, newsroom workflow, and verified reporting. THE BRIEF Former Leeds United correspondent Mark has risen through the ranks at Breaking Media Limited to manage the network’s daily output. He works between the reporters and the experts to ensure the data and the news are applied correctly to every story.

Published on:

25 Aug 2026, 8:52 pm

Leeds United returned to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening, this time for the Carabao Cup.

Daniel Farke and the Whites were back at the City Ground on 25 August, days after their 1-0 win in the Premier League.

That opened the season with a bang, and they repeated the trick even better just three days later, winning 2-0.

Sean Longstaff and Dan James both had chances to put Leeds ahead, as a rotated side dominated early on.

It was the midfielder who laid the ball off for James to open the scoring in the second half, as he kept his cool.

James Justin then tapped home after a goalmouth scramble to put the Whites into the third round of the cup.

Ao Tanaka everywhere

The Japan international has been made to settle for a place on the bench in pre-season and the opening weekend.

Tanaka was given his chance alongside Ethan Ampadu in midfield, and was sensational at the City Ground.

That was shown perfectly in one first half minute, where he dispossessed Arnaud Kalimuendo twice, before running the entire length of the pitch and volleying a loose ball over.

It would have been a sensational goal, but his work between the lines was perfect for Farke in a changed side.

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Sean Longstaff wastes opportunity already

It was a completely different story for Longstaff.

The former Newcastle man was brilliant in pre-season, scoring more than once, but he couldn't replicate it here.

Played in an advanced midfield role, he was given the perfect chance from a Dan James cut-back.

With the entire goal to aim for, Longstaff stumbled and could only hit it straight at Mats Selz.

If he was trying to persuade Farke for more minutes in the Premier League, he's going to need to do more to take the spot of Anton Stach, even despite the glowing words from his manager.

He did get an assist by putting it on a plate for James, but he'll need to do way more with his chances to get in consistently.

MOT Leeds News rated the players out of 10 below...

James Trafford - 8

Dan James - 7

Joe Rodon - 7

Nico Elvedi - 8

Tarik Muharemovic - 7

James Justin - 7

Ao Tanaka - 9

Ethan Ampadu - 7

Sean Longstaff - 4

Noah Okafor - 7