Leeds United had plenty of heroes to praise as they secured an emphatic 3-1 victory over fellow relegation candidates, Nottingham Forest.
Under the Elland Road lights, Leeds United delivered a brilliant performance, defeating Nottingham Forest to kick off an important February.
Leeds were relentless from the first whistle. After Jayden Bogle’s clever opener, the second goal was sheer persistence. Brenden Aaronson drove forward, James Justin saw his initial effort blocked, but the defender reacted quickest to scoop the rebound into a dangerous area. There, arriving with perfect timing, was Noah Okafor to thump home from close range, unleashing a roar of celebration from the home crowd.
His second-half link-up play was equally intelligent, nearly creating another for Dominic Calvert-Lewin before the striker found his own ingenious finish.
Stuart Dallas full of praise for Noah Okafor
Following the match, Okafor’s strike was praised by Stuart Dallas. Sharing his thoughts about Okafor’s moment, Dallas said, “It’s huge for him personally to score, you can see what it means to him in his face.”
The goal was Okafor’s first since October, when he scored against Tottenham in United’s 2-1 defeat at Elland Road.
Dallas acknowledged this goal drought, but hopes his performance against Forest would be the catalyst for an impressive backend to Okafor’s first Premier League campaign.
“He’s had a tough season so far; he definitely has quality, and he’s shown that throughout the season, but he just hasn’t shown it enough. Hopefully, this is what will kickstart him for the rest of the season.”
Data suggests Noah Okafor was outstanding against Forest
Okafor’s performance against Forest was arguably the most impressive of his Leeds career so far.
In what was his first start since the Whites’ 1-0 win over Fulham in January, Okafor certainly had a point to prove upon his reintroduction to the starting XI, and the data suggests he was exceptional.
| Stat | Noah Okafor |
|---|---|
| Shots | 3 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Big Chances Missed | 1 |
| Progressive Carries | 3 |
| Duels Won | 6 |
If Okafor can continue to find the back of the net on a more regular basis, the Swiss winger will ease the goalscoring burden on Calvert-Lewin, which would be ideal for Leeds, especially if the striker were to pick up an injury between now and the end of the season.
