Leeds United vs. Nottingham Forest score, stats, talking points as Dyche hands Ortega debut in Premier League relegation six-pointer

ELLAND ROAD, LEEDS — Leeds United and Nottingham Forest clash in a huge game in the battle for Premier League survival.

The two sides are level on 26 points in 16th and 17th position. They also have an identical minus-11 goal difference, with Leeds one place higher by virtue of goals scored.

West Ham are six points further back in the final relegation spot with 14 matches remaining, meaning any winner here would put potentially decisive daylight between themselves and the drop zone.

Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega came straight into the Forest line-up following his move from Manchester City, with Mats Sels out injured, while highly rated teenager Zach Abbott made a first Premier League start in front of him at centre-back.

Noah Okafor replaced the injured Anton Stach in Leeds' only change.

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Leeds vs. Nottingham Forest live score

Venue: Elland Road, Leeds (UK)
Referee: Peter Bankes

Leeds vs. Nottingham Forest talking points, analysis

Match highlights will appear here during the match, with the main talking points and analysis unpacked after fulltime.

Leeds vs. Nottingham Forest lineups, team news

Noah Okafor replaced the injured Anton Stach in Leeds' only change.

Justin James started in defence after passing a late fitness test on a toe injury. 

Hamstring injury victims Dan James and Jaka Bijol were back among the substitutes alongside Lukas Nmecha.

Leeds starting XI (3-4-2-1 right to left): Darlow (GK) — Justin, Rodon, Struijk — Bogle, Gruev, Ampadu, Gudmundsson — Aaronson, Okafor — Calvert-Lewin

Leeds subs: Perri (GK), James, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Bijol, Tanaka, Bornauw, Gnonto

Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega came straight into the Forest line-up following his move from Manchester City, with Mats Sels out injured.

Highly rated teenager Zach Abbott made a first Premier League start in front of Ortega at centre-back.

Forest starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ortega (GK) — Aina, Abbott, Milenkovic, Morato — Sangare, Anderson —Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Dominguez — Igor Jesus

Forest subs: Gunn (GK), Awoniyi, Ndoye, Lucca, Hutchinson, Yates, Cunha, McAtee, Netz

Next games for Leeds vs. Nottingham Forest

Leeds travel to London on Tuesday night to face Chelsea, a team they beat 3-1 in December to launch their mid-season resurgence.

Forest have a chance to get vital points on the board when they host bottom-of-the-table Wolves.