Jeff Stelling predicts Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest result for Sky Sports
Jeff Stelling has predicted Leeds United to record their first Premier League victory in three months when they face Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
The 4-3 win over Bournemouth prior to the World Cup on 5 November is the last time Jesse Marsch got three points in the league, leaving the club hovering close to the relegation zone.
But after strengthening considerably in the January transfer window they head to the City Ground on Sunday (5 February) looking to pull away from the bottom three.
Stelling expects them to get a win over Steve Cooper’s side, having gone for a 2-1 result to the visitors in his Super6 predictions for Sky Sports.
During January Leeds United signed Max Wober from Red Bull Salzburg, broke the club transfer record to bring in Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim, and then brought in Weston McKennie on a loan-to-buy deal from Juventus, with Diogo Monteiro added to the under-21s.
Start
Marsch has been under some pressure in recent weeks thanks to the record in the league, although he has now reached the fifth round of the FA Cup.
If he doesn’t start to pile up some wins after the January arrivals then that pressure will mount significantly, even if the fact various players in the past two transfer windows appear to be specifically geared towards him suggests the hierarchy wants to stick with him.
Forest were struggling earlier in the season but are currently three points ahead of the Whites, albeit having played a game more.
They have continued to recruit extensively themselves so it won’t be a straight forward proposition to get the win, and it will take the different units within the United side having a good performance at the same time to do so.
In the 0-0 draw with Brentford on 22 January the defence was solid for once after the addition of Wober, but the attack failed to impress, having reversed the usual roles from so often this campaign.
Back to back meetings with old rivals Manchester United follow the Forest match so three points to go into that double-header would be helpful.
In other Leeds United news, attitude concerns were reportedly involved in the deadline day collapse of a target’s move.