Leeds hoping for first win in three attempts at City Ground

The last time Leeds United won at Nottingham Forest, it was a resounding 4-0 victory in November 2011. Robert Snodgrass, Jonny Howson, Luciano Becchio and Adam Clayton all scored.

Since then, the West Yorkshire outfit haven’t beaten one of their biggest rivals and, as a result, are 7/2 with Coral to take all three points.

Italian centre back Giuseppe Bellusci faces a late fitness test for the Whites, with head coach Neil Redfearn set to run the rule over him.

“He’s going to be touch and go again. He’s not a million miles away but it’s not an injury we can push,” the Leeds boss said.

“If he comes back too early and does his hamstring badly then we’ll be talking about five or six weeks out. We’re not going to risk it.”

Leeds have lost their last two matches since beating then top of the league Derby, though Redfearn will be boosted by an in-form and confident Alex Mowatt after he won the Championship Young Player of the Month award for November. The former Barnsley manager has said he wants to continue giving youth a chance at Elland Road.

“It is vital to get the balance right,” Redfearn revealed. “All the players have different perceptions and ideas for how the game should be played, but they all offer something that hopefully will make our club great for years to come.

“If you look at the average age of our side at the moment, it is 23 and that is really young. It is going to get better, and the better it goes, the more confident players will be and the more successful the team will become.”

Top scorer Mirko Antenucci is 11/4 to net anytime for the visitors, while fellow striker Souleymane Doukara is also 11/4 in the same market.

Forest, meanwhile, haven’t won in their last three matches, though are odds-on at 8/11 to record a victory on their home patch. Top scorer Britt Assombalonga is 7/2 to break the deadlock, while Michail Antonio is a 6/1 shot to do the same.