Tactical Breakdown: How Leeds United controlled Nottingham Forest to reach the EFL Cup third round

While Daniel Farke made six changes from the side that started the Premier League opener, the tactical principles remained largely the same, with Leeds looking to control possession, press aggressively when the ball was lost and utilise the pace of Daniel James in transition.

The biggest difference was the increased control Leeds established after half-time.

Leeds were generally comfortable building from the back, with Ethan Ampadu dropping into deeper areas when necessary to help the Whites progress possession.

The positioning of James Justin and Daniel James was particularly important. With Justin able to push forward from the left side, James provided Leeds with an immediate outlet on the opposite flank.

The Welshman's pace caused Forest problems throughout the evening. His willingness to stay wide before attacking the space behind the defence gave Leeds an effective route forward and ultimately resulted in the opening goal.

That goal came from a moment of excellent transition. Leeds won the ball back in Forest territory before Sean Longstaff immediately looked forward, threading a pass through for James.

The winger's movement had taken him beyond the defensive line, allowing him to race into the box and calmly lift his finish over Matz Sels.

Leeds' ability to win possession in advanced areas was another encouraging aspect of the performance.

Rather than dropping into a deep defensive block, Farke's side frequently looked to engage Forest higher up the pitch. Longstaff, Ao Tanaka and Noah Okafor all contributed to Leeds' efforts to disrupt the hosts' build-up.

The pressure was not always rewarded with an immediate chance, but it helped Leeds maintain territory and prevented Forest from building sustained attacks.

It also created opportunities for quick transitions, with Leeds repeatedly looking to release James or Okafor into space once possession had been recovered.

Lukas Nmecha also played an important tactical role despite not finding the net in conventional fashion.

The German striker provided a physical presence up front but was also willing to drop away from the Forest centre-backs and link play. His clever movement helped create space for runners around him, particularly during Leeds' counter-attacks.

That was evident in the second half when Nmecha received possession before releasing Okafor into space. The Swiss forward was able to cut inside and get a shot away, narrowly missing the target.

Nmecha would eventually get his reward for his overall performance when he was involved in Leeds' second goal, helping scramble the ball over the line after Muharemović's flick-on.

Perhaps the most encouraging tactical element was how Leeds responded after taking the lead.

Rather than sitting excessively deep, Farke introduced Stach, Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson to provide fresh legs and retain an attacking threat.

The changes helped Leeds maintain their intensity while also giving them more options when Forest attempted to push forward.

James Trafford's interventions were also crucial, particularly his excellent save from Chris Wood and later stop to deny Nicolás Domínguez, but Leeds' defensive structure meant Forest struggled to create a consistent stream of chances.

Ultimately, the Whites combined a controlled possession game with dangerous transitions and disciplined defensive work to secure another victory at the City Ground.

It was not a completely dominant performance from start to finish, but Farke will have been pleased with the tactical maturity shown by a heavily rotated side.

Two wins in four days at the same stadium are an excellent start, and Leeds now have the opportunity to carry that momentum into the third round of the EFL Cup.