Big match verdict: Richard Sutcliffe on how Leeds United overcame Nottingham Forest

The Kiwi’s second-half strike set Garry Monk’s men on their way to a victory over Nottingham Forest that saw third place in the table reclaimed from Reading.

It also underlined Wood’s importance to United’s promotion push, not least because his nearest challenger – for want of a better word – in the race for the Elland Road golden boot award has just five goals.

Clearly if Leeds are to end their absence from the Premier League after 13 years then keeping their star striker fit and in form is crucial.

Mind, as the 24,838 fans headed home after seeing United claim a sixth straight home win, it was the United player who sits second in that scoring chart whose name was on everyone’s lips.

Souleymane Doukara’s fifth goal of the season was, quite simply, stunning. As a clearing header from Forest flew the Frenchman’s way a couple of yards outside the penalty area, there was no hint of what was to come.

Doukara, though, had a plan and, a second or so later, the ball was flying unerringly into the top corner of Stephen Henderson’s net via a quite exquisite volley.

It took another second or so for the sheer audacity of what the crowd had just witnessed sink in. And then came a huge cheer that was later matched in volume when Doukara’s magnificent effort was replayed on the big screen. The three points were sealed there and then, as a Forest side who had impressed so much in the first half realised there was no way back.

Up to those goals from United’s two top scorers, the night had looked like being best remembered for Pontus Jansson making his 22nd appearance of the season to trigger the clause in the loan deal that allows Leeds to make the deal permanent.

For the opening 45 minutes, Jansson and Kyle Bartley were given a tough time by a well-drilled Forest side.

Having taken control of midfield thanks to the polish and poise of David Vaughan, the visitors were the better side.

Britt Assombalonga came closest to rewarding that enterprise with a goal, the striker latching on to a floated pass from Eric Lichaj before thrashing a shot goalwards that Robert Green did brilliantly to tip over the crossbar.

Assombalonga also had another sight of goal just before the half-hour when found by Ben Osborn but his shot flew wide.

Osborn was equally culpable in letting Leeds off the hook a couple of minutes later when a poor first touch meant Matty Cash’s reverse pass went to waste.

These let-offs would prove key as United, who failed to force Henderson into a save during the first half, improved on the restart.

Monk’s men had much more of a purpose and the pressure had started to build on Forest before Wood broke the deadlock on 55 minutes.

A floated corner from Pablo Hernandez was the catalyst for the breakthrough, Bartley rising high above a scrum of bodies to power a header goalwards that was blocked. Wood, reacting quicker than anyone else, latched on to the rebound and fired in from close range.

The stoppage-time equaliser against Fulham in August that had been followed by his ear cupping celebration seemed a long time ago as the Gelderd End rose to acclaim Wood becoming the first Leeds striker since Ross McCormack to reach the 20-goal mark.

Back when Wood was taking flack off the boo boys, Doukara’s own time at Elland Road seemed to be running out.

The Frenchman had struggled since arriving during the first summer of Massimo Cellino’s reign and it would be November before Monk named him in the starting line-up. Since then, though, Doukara has enjoyed a revival in fortunes and his volley means his name joins Tony Yeboah in the ranks of thunderbolt goals scored at Elland Road.

Leeds United: Green; Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi; O’Kane (Vieira 75), Bridcutt; Roofe, Hernandez (Mowatt 80), Dallas (Doukara 71); Wood. Unused substitutes: Silvestri, Antonsson, Phillips, Coyle.

Nottingham Forest: Henderson; Lichaj, Hobbs (Lam 57), Fox, Pinillos; Mancienne, Vaughan; Cash, Osborn, Ward (Bendtner 67); Assombalonga (Brereton 76). Unused substitutes: Stojkovic, Pereira, Carayol, Worrall.

Referee: T Harrington (Cleveland).