Javi Gracia was delighted with the performance of his Leeds United side as they secured a vital 2-1 win over fellow relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest at a raucous Elland Road. The Whites had to come from behind after Forest took the lead through a Joe Lolley strike in the first half, but two second-half goals from Patrick Bamford and Ezgjan Alioski secured the three points for Leeds.
Gracia was pleased with the performance of his side, saying: “It was a good performance and a very good result. We had to work hard to get the win, but I am very proud of the team and the way they kept fighting until the end.”
The win was a huge boost for Leeds, who had been on a poor run of form in recent weeks. They had gone four games without a win prior to the Forest game and had slipped down to 17th in the table. The victory moves them up to 14th, just two points above the relegation zone.
Gracia was keen to stress that there is still work to be done if Leeds are to avoid relegation this season: “We have to keep working hard and continue to improve if we are to stay up. We have some tough games coming up, but I am confident that we can get the results we need.”
The win was also a welcome boost for the Elland Road faithful, who had been vocal in their support throughout the game. The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, and Gracia was quick to praise the fans for their support: “The fans were fantastic today and really drove us on. I am sure they will be behind us again in our next game.”
Leeds will be looking to build on this victory when they face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday 8 April. Fans can watch highlights of the game on Match of the Day on Wednesday 5 April at 22:40 BST on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app. This is available to UK users only.