David O'Leary's Leeds side cemented their place in the club's history books
alongside the legendary greats of Don Revie's team - but not without a scare
from rock-bottom Nottingham Forest.
United have now won seven successive top flight games, a feat not achieved in
one season since Revie's all-conquering outfit were victorious in their first
seven matches of their title-winning 1973-74 season.
Leeds are now just three more wins away from beating the all-time record of
nine set 68 years ago - but that will be of little concern to O'Leary.
More importantly, they are now out on their own in fourth place - which brings
with it European football next season - 10 points clear of West Ham.
For Forest, the only way is down, all hope of salvation having been blown out
of the water by three clinical finishes from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ian Harte
and Alan Smith.
The defeat was compounded by the injury-time sending-off of former Leeds hero
Carlton Palmer, booked twice within the space of a few minutes for two tackles
on Lee Bowyer.
It was the second time in successive seasons Palmer had seen red at Elland
Road as he was also given his marching orders while with Southampton last
February.
But by then, the result was known, it was just the performance which left a
great deal to be desired from O'Leary's young team.
It was hard to say whether the minds of the Leeds players were still on
holiday following their two-week break or if they had been frazzled by the
surprising early April heat, but it was not the United which had won their
previous six games.
Even Forest looked surprised during those opening exchanges. The weight of
their now expected relegation hung heavy on their shoulders and they perhaps
feared an onslaught like that which destroyed east Midlands neighbours Derby two
weeks ago.
But it never materialised as United looked more like chumps than Champions'
League chasers, and this allowed Ron Atkinson's side to grow in confidence.
Admittedly, O'Leary was without the suspended David Batty and Alfie Haaland,
but the quality players on show have all played their part in the club's
remarkable run to date.
Passes went astray and nobody seemed capable of simply putting their foot on
the ball, but such is the depths to which Forest have plumbed, they were unable
to take advantage.
O'Leary will be hoping this was nothing more than a blip as his side approach
the end of season horizon, and with matches against Manchester United, Arsenal
and Chelsea all looming.
But if Leeds perform against any of those title-chasing trio the way they did
for the majority of this match against relegation-bound Forest, then they can
expect to be chewed up and spat out.
Save for Hasselbaink's 17th of the season - and arguably the best of his bunch
this term - the first-half was instantly forgettable.
Stale Stensaas, on-loan from Rangers, flashed an angled drive across Nigel
Martyn and inches beyond the left-hand post after a one-two with Andy Johnson on
the edge of the area in the 11th minute.
United's teenage star Smith, back in the side after a one-match ban, clipped
the base of the post after a surging run just before the half-hour.
But it took Dutch international Hasselbaink to inject some much-needed life
into a listless, lethargic afternoon with a sublime 43rd-minute solo strike.
The forward used his power and pace to leave Johnson and Steve Chettle in his
wake, and after a quick look up at goal, picked his spot with an 18-yard
right-foot rocket which flew into Mark Crossley's top right-hand corner.
That should have been the queue for Leeds to put their foot on the gas and
leave Forest trailing in their wake, but even first gear was proving hard to
find.
Forest's hard work, which they are capable of despite their perilous position,
eventually paid off in the 53rd minute with a quality finish from Alan Rogers.
Dougie Freedman's backheel set up Rogers to rifle his third of the season past
Martyn with a rising half-volley, which also gave Forest new heart.
But within seven minutes Leeds were back in front when former Scotland
international Richard Gough brought down Hasselbaink 25 yards from goal.
Hasselbaink has been deadly in recent weeks from dead-ball situations, but
this time Harte stepped up to brilliantly curl his left-foot shot beyond
Crossley.
Substitute Neil Shipperley headed narrowly over the bar late on, and it was
the closest Forest came to another equaliser before Smith sealed the win in the
83rd minute.
Harte's far post corner was knocked back into the six-yard box by Jonathon
Woodgate, with Smith on hand to volley home his seventh of the season.
Teams
Leeds: Martyn, Woodgate, Radebe, Wetherall, Harte, Bowyer,
Hopkin, Ribeiro, Smith, Hasselbaink, Kewell (Jones 89).
Subs Not Used: Wijnhard, Granville, Halle, Robinson.
Goals: Hasselbaink 43, Harte 60, Smith 84.
Nottm Forest: Crossley, Gough, Chettle, Edwards,
Stensaas (Porfirio 81), Johnson, Palmer, Bonalair, Rogers,
Harewood, Freedman (Shipperley 66).
Subs Not Used: Woan, Allou, Beasant.
Sent Off: Palmer (90).
Booked: Gough, Palmer, Bonalair, Porfirio.
Goals: Rogers 53.
Att: 39,645.
Ref: P Alcock (Halstead).
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