FT: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leeds

1. Hapless defending leads to Forest goal
2. Byram low strike from 20 yards
3. Burke hits Leeds post late on

And with that I bid you farewell.

It has been a pleasure.

Enjoy the rest of your evening - perhaps listen to 606 on BBC Radio 5 live now? It should be a cracker.

Leeds edge into the top half - seven points adrift of the play-off places.

Nottingham Forest are only a point behind and there is plenty to play for in both in 2016.

What is Steve Evans doing?

The Leeds boss performs some bizarre hand gestures in front of the away fans.

He seems happy with the display - as do the visiting fans. A point helps nobody though.

FULL-TIME

Luke Murphy crosses and Liam Cooper heads over. 

Points shared.

Free-kick to Leeds just outside the penalty area on the left. The final chance...

Luke Murphy drives over the bar for Leeds. The last chance?

The ball is swung into the Nottingham Forest box but Scot Wootton's header is cleared.

Corner Leeds...

HITS THE WOODWORK

Oliver Burke could not be closer to winning it.

The Forest substitute slams a shot from 20 yards past goalkeeper Marco Silvestri and against the inside of the post.

Three minutes added time.

A point does no one any good.

Let's have a winner...

Jamie Ward tries to oblige for Forest but curls wide.

Leeds are producing their own catalogue of howling misses in these final minutes.

This time, Mirco Antenucci does well to find Chris Wood inside the penalty area but he misses his kick and the chance is gone.

What a miss!

You have to score.

Mirco Antenucci should be the hero. Scott Wooten drives to the bye line and pulls the ball back to Leeds' Italian just yards from goal..

Somehow the substitute side foots the ball horribly wide from in front of goal.

SUBSTITUTION

Nottingham Forest make their final change.

Winger Oliver Burke comes on for midfielder David Vaughan.

"The fastest thing on two legs" says Tim Flowers on BBC Radio 5 live.

Leeds fancy this.

They have three strikers on the pitch and are piling forward.

Nottingham Forest could yet catch them on the break mind...

'Who's going to nick it?'

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Blackburn goalkeeper Tim Flowers: "Something had got to give! It had become a basketball match and Leeds find a way through. What a strike that is, smashed hard and low. Who's going to nick it now?"

I was saying?

Souleymane Doukara does well on the left, cuts inside and feeds Sam Byram.

The midfielder takes a touch and fires a fierce low strike from 20 yards into the bottom corner.

Fine shot. Game on.

GOAL - Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leeds

Again Leeds pile on the pressure but again it comes to nothing.

The visitors have yet to have a shot on target.

SUBSTITUTION

Another attacking substitution from Leeds.

Forward Mirco Antenucci replaces midfielder Stuart Dallas. It hasn't been his day.

A fine beard being sported by both.

At the other end, Forest look dangerous. Jamie Ward cuts inside and hits a ferocious strike from 25 yards that is tipped over by goalkeeper Marco Silvestri.

From the resulting corner, Matt Mills - who else - heads goal wards but the ball is cleared after a scramble.

Leeds continue to have plenty of the play and continue to lack ideas in the final third.

PENALTY APPEAL

Giuseppe Belusci may have got away with one there.

Nelson Oliveira tumbles under the challenge of the Leeds defender in the penalty area.

No penalty given and, looking at the replays, rightly so as he just touches the ball away.

YELLOW CARD

Handbags.

Giuseppe Bellusci comes barging into Henri Lansbury with his chest, after the Forest man stopped goalkeeper Marco Silvestri playing the ball quickly by holding onto him.

Both booked.

Massive chance for Nottingham Forest as Nelson Oliveira breaks through the middle of the pitch with a cheeky nutmeg.

Four on three for the hosts but the pass is hopeless and the chance is gone.

Matt Mills meanwhile continues to head everything away that comes in his direction.

Leeds are looking to go more direct.

Plenty of balls being chucked into the penalty area, with Wood and Doukara in attack, none paying off at the moment.

Former Leeds striker Alan Smith is watching on - with a dashing handlebar mustache. (kind of)

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SUBSTITUTION

Here come the changes.

Ryan Mendes replaced by Jamie Ward for Nottingham Forest on the flank.

Leeds throw on big striker Souleymane Doukara to replace midfielder Lewis Cook. Two up top for the visitors - they are going for it.

Into the last half an hour.

Can Leeds get back into this?

Stuart Dallas heads weakly wide at the far post for the visitors. Goalkeeper Dorus de Vries has yet to be tested.

That's ambitious.

Ben Osborn attempts a volley from about 40 yards and gets lucky as it deflects over for a corner.

From the resulting Henri Lansbury delivery, Matt Mills rises to head goalwards but it is blocked on the line.

The Nottingham Forest fans are trying to lift their side.

Leeds are on top again and looking dangerous.

Chris Wood - that is shocking.

The Leeds man is sent through on goal by Lewis Cook's pass but, with the ball sitting up invitingly, he lashes a volley horribly wide.

And that is being generous. Awful - but a chance.

Leeds pack the box for another corner...

Stuart Dallas delivers from the left - after a bit of handbags is dealt with in the penalty area - and Sam Byram's stooping header drifts wide.

Steve Evans is an animated man right now.

Leeds boss Steve Evans is beginning to get a little bit angry...

He vents his frustration at the officials - claiming they aren't getting any of the decisions.

Mind you, he has recently said it is harder for Leeds because they are a big club...

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Blackburn goalkeeper Tim Flowers: "Better from Leeds. They put two crosses in quickly and on both occasion they had four bodies in the penalty area."

Leeds again having plenty of the ball.

A succession of crosses being sent in towards the big Chris Wood. None reach him though.

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Great question Neil... I'm not sure Sly Stallone would cost much as a goalkeeper. Although he might have stopped Leeds' opener.

It's Nelson Oliveira who addresses the ball.

He gives goalkeeper Marco Silvestri the eyes but smashes his strike well over.

Waste. Hit the target Nelson...

Great chance for Nottingham Forest.

Nelson Oliveira has his shirt pulled just a couple of yards outside the penalty area.

Step forward David Vaughan?

KICK-OFF

No, it's okay.

Leeds are out at last. Mind games maybe from boss Steve Evans.

We are under way.

Nottingham Forest are out on the pitch, standing around, kicking a few balls about.

No sign of Leeds... perhaps they've given up? 

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Leeds are no mugs at the moment, they need a couple of goals to keep this run going though..

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Leeds have had more of the ball, more shots and more corners...

They are losing though.

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Big call that Simon...

HALF-TIME

Nottingham Forest on their way to five straight home wins...

Leeds saw enough of the ball to believe they can change that.

One minute of injury time signalled.

Another poor delivery as Stuart Dallas's corner is collected by Dorus de Vries.

A late chance for Leeds to level? Corner...

Chris O'Grady loops a header well wide from the resulting corner.

Plenty of excitement in the first half but, bar the goal - which Marco Silvestri royally messed up - neither goalkeeper has had to do very much at all.

Now it's Leeds' turn to  break.

Stuart Dallas bursts into the penalty area but he is robbed.

Forest immediately break and force a corner.

Here Forest go again...

Nelson Oliveira breaks, switches plays to Chris O'Grady and his cross from the right is cleared.

The hosts are piling men forward when they get the chance.

Another swift break from Nottingham Forest.

One minute, Leeds have a corner, the next the hosts are almost in.

Ryan Mendes overhits a pass to the marauding Eric Lichaj and the chance is gone.

Leeds may have more of the ball but Forest look more dangerous.

Get Involved

I did say the Championship Barcelona James... maybe I was pushing it though...

Nottingham Forest's Matt Mills always looks like a solid unit at the heart of a defence.

His older brother wasn't bad either - well he wasn't when he played for Stratton Red Eagles in the Swindon and District League back in the early 1990's.

His younger brother, Joseph, plays for Oldham by the way.

Nelson Oliveira is causing Leeds problems.

This time he switches to the left, beats his man with pace, but runs the ball out of play.

Leeds don't deserve to be behind, but they are.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Blackburn goalkeeper Tim Flowers: "Forest are happy to sit back like an away side and let Leeds have possession. They are playing on the counter attack and switching the ball out wide really well."

Forest are playing like the away team here.

They seem happy to allow Leeds have all the possession, before trying to hit them on the break.

Nelson Oliveira again bursts forward on the break, cuts inside, but drags a shot wide.

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I'm not sure Steve Evans will buy that excuse...

Leeds United are like the Championship Barcelona in possession. Sadly, for them, at the minute they are more like Bognor Regis FC with their final product.

So many wayward crosses...

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Nottingham Forest are on the march...

Good response from the visitors as Luke Murphy has a fierce 20-yard shot blocked.

You need to make the most of your dominance though...

'A gift!"

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Blackburn goalkeeper Tim Flowers: "The first ball Forest have got in behind but it's a mistake from Giuseppe Bellusci, he missed his clearance. The goalkeeper had gambled on it and it's a gift for Forest!"

Simply awful defending

Talk about being against the run of play.

It has been all Leeds. Then one pump forward by Matt Mills, sends Nelson Oliveira racing through on goal.

Leeds defender Giuseppe Bellusci misjudges the flight as he misses the ball, goalkeeper Marco Silvestri manically races out of goal, and Oliveira rounds him and slides home.

Cool finish but the Benny Hill music should accompany that Leeds defending.

Getty Images

GOAL - Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds

PENALTY APPEAL

On your bike Sam Byram.

The Leeds midfielder bursts into the penalty area, ghosts past Matt Mills, and then inexplicably goes down.

No touch, no sense and no penalty.

Byram gets a deserved yellow card. Even Steve Evans didn't argue against that one.

Getty Images

Now Leeds' turn to whip in a corner...

Stuart Dallas floats in a delivery, Chris Wood - totally unmarked - rises and heads goal wards but Eric Lichaj clears off the line for Forest. 

It wasn't as dramatic as it sounds though, he could have put the kettle on before clearing that.

First corner of the match and it goes to Forest. Can they take advantage?

Nope, the towering Matt Mills wins the header but he is penalised for holding. Harsh.

This is keep ball stuff from Leeds so far.

Patient, tidy, passing as Nottingham Forest chase shadows. Only the Stuart Dallas shot to show for it so far.

Extravagant stuff from Nelson Oliveira. Rubbish, but extravagant.

The Forest winger tries an audacious backheel, gets it wrong and the ball is out of touch.

Not much else happening.

'Evans has done a good job'

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Blackburn goalkeeper Tim Flowers: "Steve Evans has done a good job everywhere he has been and this is his biggest job. Leeds are set up in a 4-1-4-1 formation and it's very expansive. Both full-backs are getting forwards whenever they can."

One thing is for sure if this match gets tasty - the two managers will not be staying quiet,

Steve Evans v Dougie Freedman? That is an exchange you want to see...

Leeds still enjoying most of the ball.

Leeds, sporting their all yellow kit, have started well.

Lewis Cook finds Stuart Dallas just outside the penalty area and he strikes a shot inches wide of the far post.

There is a lot of space down the flanks for the visitors.

KICK-OFF

Here we go then.

A brilliant atmosphere as Leeds kick off.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Blackburn goalkeeper Tim Flowers: Dougie Freedman is doing very well, stats don't lie and they look as though they are on the up. There is nothing in this game at all.

You can listen to BBC Radio 5 live on this on this page.

The teams are out.

27,500 expected in the City Ground and there is already a cracking atmosphere.

Great effort from a big away contingent.

Good Evans?

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Since April 2014, Leeds United have had six managers...

In ex-Rotherham boss Steve Evans have they finally found the right man?

Going into the festive period, Leeds would sit 6th in a league table based on results since October 19th, the date he took charge.

He's no Dave Hockaday granted, but...

BBC Radio 5 Live

Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman on BBC Radio 5 live on the transfer embargo: They are the cards we have been dealt. No point in whinging about that. I feel very confident this group of players can deal with setbacks.

The window stays closed

The January sales may be about to open but, for Forest boss Dougie Freedman, it will be business as usual.

The club have been under a transfer embargo since December 2014 and have just had it extended until the end of the season for exceeding Financial Fair Play limits of permitted maximum losses of £6m.

No throwing the cash around at the City Ground...

Get Involved

Thought so... (see 16:14)

Send all your thoughts on today's match to #bbcfootball.

Play-off push?

Both Forest and Leeds are not flying in the Championship table this season - but don't rule out a play-off push yet.

Leeds, currently in 13th, would move to within five points of the top six with a win, while 15th-placed Forest are only a point behind the Whites.

The division could not be tighter.

Nice touch from Nottingham Forest to welcome the thousands of away fans expected at the City Ground.

A Leeds United legend (fair?) has spoken...

Team news

Leeds boss Steve Evans names an unchanged side from the team who beat Preston a week ago.

Team news

Nottingham Forest are without left-back Daniel Pinillos,, with the Spaniard out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage.

Chris Cohen is still not fit after his third cruciate injury so Eric Lichaj fills in.

BBC coverage

BBC Radio 5 Live

How can you follow this match?

You can follow live coverage, including text, images, analysis and best of social media online on this page.

Plus you also listen to live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and online.

Hello.

Had enough of turkey, mince pies and Christmas pudding? Yep, me too.

Luckily there is some football for you to look forward to.

Nottingham Forest and Leeds may not be pulling up any trees in the Championship, but these two have a fine pedigree.

This is a big one.

Getty Images

One has won the European Cup twice, the First Division once and the FA Cup twice.  

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The other has lifted the top-flight title in England three times, the FA Cup once and reached two finals in major European competition.

Neither have been in the Premier League for more than 10 years now - it has been 16 years since both were in there.

Time for that run to end? They've got some work to do.