Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has been warned that Nottingham Forest have added motivation to claim a win in the Premier League clash between the two sides.
Daniel Farke has his work cut out to become the first Leeds manager since Don Revie to claim a victory at the City Ground.
Leeds last won an away game against Forest in 2017, when Gjanni Alioski was the hero. Farke desperately needs to end that run in what is a crucial clash in the Premier League relegation battle.
The Leeds boss has a late decision to make on the fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the striker faces a race to be fit for the game.
Now, former Forest defender Luke Chambers has warned that Leeds’ upcoming fixtures will inspire Sean Dyche’s Forest side, as they look to close the gap on the newly-promoted side.
Chris Wood applauds fans after Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nottingham Forest know Leeds United have a difficult run of upcoming fixtures
Speaking to TalkSport on the morning of the ninth of November, Chambers gave his verdict on the upcoming game between Leeds and Forest.
According to Chambers, the fact that Leeds have to face the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool in their next five games means Forest will sense an opportunity to make up ground in the relegation battle.
Asked if the game was a must-win for Forest, Chambers said: “You feel it has to be because I think they can close the gap potentially to two points if they beat them today.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
“And you talk about tricky runs, they’ve got Villa, Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool coming up.
“So if Forest can take points off Leeds today, Forest would like to think they can then nick a few points in the coming weeks because it would look unlikely that Leeds would be able to do the same.”
Daniel Farke celebrates after Leeds United beat Everton in the Premier League
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Leeds United could soon fall behind Daniel Farke’s target points total
With insiders suggesting Farke has five games to save his job at the club, the Leeds boss will be wishing his side had a kinder run of fixtures ahead of them.
Farke has repeatedly said Leeds would need to maintain a run rate of one point per game to stay in the top flight, which they are achieving as things stand, having taken 11 points from 10 games.
However, with a difficult run of fixtures to come, that could feasibly be 11 points from 15 games, given Leeds’ poor recent track record at Forest.
At that point, the pressure would be on the Leeds boss, as it is notoriously hard to make up ground in a relegation battle. Leeds really need a win against their relegation rivals to keep their points total ticking over.