MOT View: Former Leeds man hands Whites massive promotion boost with Friday masterclass
Millwall forward Matt Smith handed Leeds United a massive boost in their bid for automatic promotion to the Premier League on Friday evening.
The former Whites man scored a first-half hattrick for the Lions as they eased past Nottingham Forest by three goals to nil.
That result has left Forest eight points behind the Whites in a week that they could have been three points behind if results had gone their way.
A win against Huddersfield Town on Saturday could see Leeds extend their gap to fourth up to 11 points. Marcelo Bielsa’s men will have to chance to watch Fulham in the lunchtime kick-off as they travel to Bristol City.
Lee Johnson’s men are in dreadful form and desperately need a win for their own playoff hopes, and they could do the Whites a massive favour.
Smith handed his former side a big boost on Friday, and a Bristol win followed by three points at Elland Road could see Leeds eight points clear of the play-offs on Saturday night.
Leeds fans revelled in the misfortunes of Nottingham Forest on Friday with Smith scoring a rather fortunate hattrick. Even at 3-0 down at half-time, you never know what could have happened given the Lions’ collapse at Elland Road only a month ago.
The 30-year-old was phenomenal up top, winning 15 aerial duels for the away side according to WhoScored – an incredible number which proves Forest couldn’t deal with him.
He celebrated well knowing his goals put his side two points outside of the playoffs, but the real winners could be Leeds after that Friday night masterclass.
In other Leeds United news, Danny Cowley has questioned the fitness of Whites mainstay ahead of Saturday clash