West Ham with clear path as Leeds beat Forest 3-1.
Leeds United produced a performance that screamed we are staying in the Premier League, humiliating fellow relegation rivals Nottingham Forest with a thumping victory at Elland Road.
So convincing was Daniel Farke’s side that, with a healthy nine-point advantage over West Ham United and several favourable home fixtures coming up, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to describe Leeds as relegation candidates.
The result means that should the Hammers defeat Burnley FC in tomorrow’s Premier League clash, West Ham would move to within just three points of Forest — whose goal difference took a knock this evening.
Sean Dyche’s Forest side face Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek, a game they may well fancy, all things being equal. But their display against Leeds will have shaken Forest supporters to the core, as a makeshift defence was breached time and again.
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Leeds Too Far Gone — Forest Now the Real Target
In many respects, tonight’s result was the worst possible outcome for West Ham, who still have Leeds to play on the final day of the season.
Realistically, Leeds now look far too strong to surrender such a commanding lead and would likely get the better of Nuno Espírito Santo’s side given their potency from wide areas.
Which means West Ham now appear to be chasing Forest instead — and it’s worth remembering they’re still juggling European commitments.
That said, it all starts with victory at Burnley tomorrow.
Fail to win that, and the task ahead will start to look impossible.