After seeing his Leeds United side end a long run without a win at the City Ground manager Daniel Farke was full of praise for the way the players started the new Premier League season.

The Whites had not won at Nottingham Forest since 1971, but came away with all three points thanks to Anton Stach's late free-kick.

It was a nip and tuck game against opponents looking to impress their new boss Oliver Glasner and looked set to end goalless until Stach stepped up to fire home his angled free-kick from just outside the box two minutes from time.

Farke was understandably delighted to get the win, but admitted it had been a close contest.

Anton Stach was Leeds United's match winner against Nottingham Forest.

placeholder image — Anton Stach was Leeds United's match winner against Nottingham Forest.

He said: "There can't be a better way to start the new season, the first game and a first three points, especially away at a very, very difficult ground in a very competitive tight game.

“Also a first clean sheet under our belts with several new signings on the pitch so it couldn't be much better.

"It was a tight game, it was a game of different periods, we started perhaps on the front foot and then Nottingham had a good period and then in the second half of the first half and the game went on.

"I think both teams had situations and periods when they put pressure on the opponent, both teams defended well so out of the game there weren't too many situations.

James Trafford kept a clean sheet on his competitive debut for Leeds United at the City Ground.

“But in the transition moments and of course the set pieces they were always dangerous and I think the reason that we won this game was that we defended in the end each and every situation really well and also when it was necessary to block the strike or to disturb the header.

“On the other hand we had the moment of brilliance from Anton Stach who then converted one set piece situation obviously with a brilliant strike and the decisive goal.

"I think it was a very, very tight game and also it could have gone into the other direction but I am happy and delighted that we could convert our almost flawless pre season into a perfect game day and it's a very important three points for us."

Leeds had indeed impressed in their pre-season games, but the proof of where they were at was always going to come in what was a tricky opening fixture.

They went with the side that started the warm-up game against Augsburg, but were unable to make the flying start they did to that game and it was Forest who had the first chance with Igor Jesus' header having to be well saved by new United keeper James Trafford after he met Ola Aina’s long throw.

Aina was fortunate not to be sent-off for a dangerous lunge on James Justin when he was just booked and Leeds then enjoyed a better spell.

They thought they had scored on 25 minutes when a flowing move saw Brenden Aaronson put Jayden Bogle away down the right and his low cross was turned in by another of the newcomers, Harry Wilson.

But the free transfer from Fulham was offside and frustratingly Dominic Calvert-Lewin was ready to pounce behind him and he was onside.

The home team's biggest threat was proving to be from set pieces and following a corner they came within inches of breaking the deadlock with Nikola Milenkovic's header hitting the post.

United did not manage a shot on target in the first half, but they improved this tally after the break, first when Aaronson forced Matz Sels into his first save with a shot from the edge of the box after cutting in from the left.

Stach gave warning of what was to come with a great free-kick effort from a difficult angle that curled just wide.

At the other end former Leeds striker Chris Wood had a good chance when set free down the middle only to drag his shot wide from just outside the box.

But it was the Whites threatening again when a lovely cross from substitute Noah Okafor was met by new defender Tarik Muharemovic, but his header was well saved by Sels.

The winner was looking hard to find until Stach won the free-kick from which he found the back of the net as he caught Sels out at his near post.

Nottingham Forest 0

Leeds United 1

(Stach 88)

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Premier League

Attendance: 30,739

Forest: Sels 7; Cunha 7, Milenkovic 7, Murillo 7 (90+3 Kalimuendo); Aina 8 (74 Netz 6), McAtee 6 (74 Schlager 6), Sangare 6, Williams 6; Ndoye 6 (62 Wood 6), Gibbs-White 6; Jesus 7.

Leeds: Trafford 7; Rodon 7, Bijol 7, Muharemovic 8; Bogle 7, Ampadu 7, Stach 7, Justin 7; Wilson 7 (66 Okafor 6), Aaronson 7 (82 Longstaff); Calvert-Lewin 6.

Referee: Rob Jones 6