Nottingham Forest saw their unbeaten league record come to an end as Leeds avenged last season's 7-3 defeat.

El Hadji Diouf frequently caused problems for the visitors and his cross fell for Luciano Becchio to score his seventh goal of the campaign.

Diouf then threaded a pass through for Becchio and though he dallied, Dominic Poleon swept in his first senior goal.

Forest had rarely threatened but pulled one back when Dexter Blackstock headed in following Greg Halford's long throw.

After Becchio's opener, Diouf, equally effective on the wing or up front, shot weakly after collecting a Poleon lay-off but 19-year-old Poleon, in his first start for Leeds, stroked in from 12 yards.

Leeds, seeking to avoid a third successive league defeat, could have been out of sight at the break, but Becchio blazed over from six yards.

Indeed the home side found themselves under pressure as keeper Paddy Kenny lost Halford's throw in the sun, which allowed Blackstock to reduce the deficit.

Leeds v Nottingham Forest

The teams have now played 86 competitive matches and this win edges Leeds ahead 29-28, with 29 matches drawn.

The visitors pursued the long throw tactic and Kenny needed to scramble to tip another Halford set piece over the bar.

In the closing stages Kenny was called into action again, sprawling across his line to keep out a curling effort from Lewis McGugan.

Forest peppered the Leeds defence with crosses but even with the addition of six minutes of stoppage time they could not find an equaliser as both teams finished the afternoon in mid-table on 10 points.

Victory for Leeds came on the same day owner Ken Bates announced he is in advanced talks with a 'banking institution' over a proposed investment in the club.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Leeds United

  • 01 Kenny
  • 02 Peltier (Varney - 66' )
  • 03 Drury
  • 04 Lees Booked
  • 05 Pearce Booked
  • 08 Austin
  • 18 Tonge
  • 25 Byram
  • 10 Becchio (Gray - 89' )
  • 21 Diouf Booked
  • 26 Poleon (White - 65' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Ashdown
  • 06 Kisnorbo
  • 11 Varney
  • 14 White
  • 17 Brown
  • 27 Payne
  • 20 Gray

Nottingham Forest

  • 01 Camp
  • 03 Harding
  • 05 Collins
  • 15 Halford
  • 26 Ayala
  • 04 Gillett
  • 06 Moussi (McGugan - 46' )
  • 11 Reid (Lansbury - 46' )
  • 21 Coppinger (Sharp - 83' )
  • 19 Cox Booked
  • 23 Blackstock

Substitutes

  • 31 Evtimov
  • 18 Moloney
  • 08 Cohen
  • 10 McGugan
  • 22 Lansbury
  • 28 Majewski
  • 24 Sharp
Ref: D'Urso
Att: 24,292

Match Stats

Shots

10 16

On target

5 8

Corners

9 7

Fouls

15 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:02 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +5:36 Booking

Booking El-Hadji Diouf is cautioned.

90:00 +5:22

El-Hadji Diouf is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Dan Harding.

90:00 +4:58

Short corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the right by-line.

90:00 +3:04

Rodolph Austin takes the free kick.

90:00 +3:04 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Simon Cox for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aidan White by Simon Cox.

88:53 Substitution

Substitution Luciano Becchio leaves the field to be replaced by Andy Gray.

87:50

Short corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf.

86:50

Short corner worked by El-Hadji Diouf.

85:33

Luke Varney fouled by Henri Lansbury, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Drury restarts play with the free kick.

82:18 Substitution

Substitution Billy Sharp is brought on as a substitute for James Coppinger.

81:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Henri Lansbury by Michael Tonge. Direct free kick taken by Lee Camp.

80:32

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Lewis McGugan from the left by-line, clearance by Luciano Becchio.

78:51

Lewis McGugan fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

78:51 Booking

Booking Tom Lees is booked.

78:43

Tom Lees challenges Dexter Blackstock unfairly and gives away a free kick.

77:03

Michael Tonge concedes a free kick for a foul on Daniel Ayala. Lewis McGugan produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

75:31

The offside flag is raised against Simon Cox. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.

74:52

Luciano Becchio gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Collins. Lee Camp takes the free kick.

74:20

Lewis McGugan takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Tom Lees.

73:49

Lewis McGugan takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.

72:49

Rodolph Austin produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

70:30

The referee blows for offside. Patrick Kenny restarts play with the free kick.

69:43

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by El-Hadji Diouf, Rodolph Austin takes a shot. Lee Camp makes a save.

67:26

Short corner worked by Lewis McGugan.

68:43

Corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf, Lewis McGugan manages to make a clearance.

67:44

Daniel Ayala produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio by Simon Gillett. Free kick taken by El-Hadji Diouf.

67:26

Luciano Becchio takes a short corner.

67:12

Simon Cox takes a shot. Save made by Patrick Kenny.

65:24 Substitution

Substitution Luke Varney joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lee Peltier.

64:36 Substitution

Substitution Aidan White joins the action as a substitute, replacing Dominic Poleon.

61:42

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Lewis McGugan from the left by-line to the near post, Luciano Becchio makes a clearance.

60:24

The referee gives a free kick against Henri Lansbury for handball. Patrick Kenny takes the indirect free kick.

59:20

The assist for the goal came from Greg Halford.

59:20 Goal scored

Goal - Dexter Blackstock - Leeds 2 - 1 Nott'm For Dexter Blackstock finds the net with a headed goal from close range. Leeds 2-1 Nottm Forest.

58:30

Dominic Poleon is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Camp.

57:19

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luciano Becchio on Greg Halford. Direct free kick taken by Danny Collins.

55:39

Greg Halford takes has a header from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

54:43

Foul by Lee Peltier on Simon Cox, free kick awarded. Lewis McGugan produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

54:11

Unfair challenge on Simon Cox by Michael Tonge results in a free kick. Danny Collins restarts play with the free kick.

53:31

Foul by Henri Lansbury on Rodolph Austin, free kick awarded. Rodolph Austin delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Greg Halford makes a clearance.

49:54

Lewis McGugan takes a shot. Save made by Patrick Kenny.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Lewis McGugan on for Guy Moussi.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Henri Lansbury replaces Andy Reid.

45:00 +1:57 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

43:47

Shot from close range by Luciano Becchio clears the bar.

42:07

Unfair challenge on Adam Drury by Andy Reid results in a free kick. El-Hadji Diouf produces a cross, Samuel Byram produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

41:14

El-Hadji Diouf takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Andy Reid manages to make a clearance.

40:27

James Coppinger has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.

38:55

The referee blows for offside against El-Hadji Diouf. Lee Camp takes the free kick.

37:51

Adam Drury challenges Dexter Blackstock unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Ayala restarts play with the free kick.

36:15

Unfair challenge on Daniel Ayala by Luciano Becchio results in a free kick. Lee Camp takes the direct free kick.

33:17

Simon Gillett concedes a free kick for a foul on El-Hadji Diouf. The ball is sent over by El-Hadji Diouf, Header by Luciano Becchio from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

31:04

Jason Pearce challenges Dexter Blackstock unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Andy Reid from right channel.

30:32

The official flags Luciano Becchio offside. Lee Camp takes the free kick.

28:10

Andy Reid has an effort direct from the free kick.

28:10 Booking

Booking Jason Pearce is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

28:05

Unfair challenge on Simon Cox by Jason Pearce results in a free kick.

27:35

Luciano Becchio is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Camp.

26:14

Shot from a long way out by Andy Reid goes wide of the left-hand upright.

25:58

Rodolph Austin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Reid. Andy Reid takes the free kick.

24:58

Assist on the goal came from Luciano Becchio.

24:58 Goal scored

Goal - Dominic Poleon - Leeds 2 - 0 Nott'm For Goal scored by Dominic Poleon from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Leeds 2-0 Nottm Forest.

23:22

Luciano Becchio challenges Guy Moussi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Camp takes the direct free kick.

20:57

Header on goal by Simon Cox from just inside the area goes over the goal.

19:57

Simon Cox is adjudged to have handled the ball. Patrick Kenny takes the direct free kick.

17:43

Lee Peltier challenges Dexter Blackstock unfairly and gives away a free kick. Simon Gillett restarts play with the free kick.

13:47

Assist on the goal came from Michael Tonge.

13:47 Goal scored

Goal - Luciano Becchio - Leeds 1 - 0 Nott'm For Luciano Becchio grabs a goal from inside the penalty area high into the middle of the goal. Leeds 1-0 Nottm Forest.

13:02

Outswinging corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the right by-line, clearance by Dexter Blackstock.

11:05

Inswinging corner taken by Andy Reid from the right by-line, Foul by Dexter Blackstock on Patrick Kenny, free kick awarded. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.

10:50

Simon Cox takes a shot. Jason Pearce gets a block in.

10:18

The referee blows for offside against Dexter Blackstock. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

9:39

El-Hadji Diouf concedes a free kick for a foul on Greg Halford. Free kick taken by Greg Halford.

8:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Greg Halford on Luciano Becchio. Rodolph Austin fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

7:49

Guy Moussi has an effort at goal from a long way out that goes wide left.

6:41

Short corner taken by Andy Reid, clearance by Jason Pearce.

6:08

Corner taken by Andy Reid from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Tom Lees.

4:45

Corner from the right by-line taken by El-Hadji Diouf, Headed effort from inside the area by Tom Lees misses to the right of the goal.

4:07

Dexter Blackstock challenges Samuel Byram unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tom Lees.

3:10

Simon Cox takes a shot. Patrick Kenny makes a save.

1:33

Rodolph Austin takes a shot. Save made by Lee Camp.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association