FT Leeds United 2 Nottingham Forest 1

Luciano Becchio and 19-year-old Dominic Poleon struck in the first half at Elland Road to help United recover from successive losses and inflict a first defeat of the season on Forest.

Visiting manager Sean O’Driscoll reacted to a woeful first-half display by throwing on substitutes Henri Lansbury and Lewis McGugan immediately after the break but Forest were unable to break Leeds, despite Dexter Blackstock’s goal on the hour.

The striker converted a soft effort, rising to head home Greg Halford’s throw as goalkeeper Paddy Kenny attempted to punch the ball with no defender tracking Blackstock.

Forest almost snatched an equaliser eight minutes later as another Halford throw-in caused havoc in United’s box and a stabbed effort from James Coppinger brought a lively save from Kenny.

Kenny reacted brilliantly again to keep out a strike from McGugan with Forest throwing players forward, and McGugan came within inches of scoring in the 80th minute when he free-kick curled wide but Leeds held out under heavy pressure.