On a weekend when Manchester City beat Arsenal to make it highly likely that the title race will go right to the wire, the battle at the bottom saw two sides give themselves a great chance of securing safety before bums hit peak squeak. Leeds United and Nottingham Forest both recorded wins that might prove very important come May.
At this stage of the season, points on the board count for so much and getting a win can make a big difference to the table, not to mention morale. Things can take on a very different complexion after a victory, and supporters of Leeds and Forest will now be feeling confident that their teams can survive.
Leeds Beat Wolves with Ease
THREE GOALS. THREE POINTS. STUNNING. pic.twitter.com/8n2lFxlB6W
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 18, 2026
On Saturday, 18th April, Leeds hosted bottom club Wolves, in a fixture their fans had no doubt long earmarked as a great opportunity to take three points. Wolves, who have since had their relegation confirmed, have been awful all season. For a time, it even looked like they might be in danger of challenging for the unwanted record of earning the fewest points in a Premier League campaign.
Given just how good Daniel Farke’s men have been at home this term, they would have expected to take all three points. But coming into this fixture after deservedly beating their great rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford, confidence was through the roof, and they had great confidence that they could get the win.
The West Yorkshire side started brightly, and two goals in two minutes inside the first 20 minutes more or less put the game to bed. The away team battled on gamely and created some moments of panic in the Leeds box, but ultimately they were second best all over the park.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin won a penalty in stoppage time and stepped up to bang it home himself to make it 3-0. It was a fair score in a clash where Leeds amassed xG of 2.82 to just 0.57 for their opponents.
With Spurs playing later the same day, Forest in action on Sunday and West Ham playing on Monday night, the win gave the table a pleasing look as far as Leeds fans were concerned. It also piled the pressure on their relegation rivals.
The win moved Leeds to 39 points, historically enough to keep teams in the Premier League in most seasons and very probably enough already this term. It gave them a yawning nine-point advantage over Spurs, who came into the round of fixtures in 18th, while they were also seven points ahead of the Hammers and six clear of Forest. It is almost job done for Leeds, and they can focus on their upcoming FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
Forest Score Comeback Victory
Two BIG wins. ✊ pic.twitter.com/HEcIDOBGrL
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 20, 2026
After Spurs were denied a desperately needed win against Brighton thanks to a goal in the 95th minute (by former Leeds man Georginio Rutter), Forest hosted Burnley on Sunday afternoon, knowing a win would give them breathing space. Burnley have not been quite as terrible as Wolves this term, but their relegation will be confirmed soon enough, and Forest, buoyed by their progression to the semi-finals of the Europa League, would have been confident of taking all three points.
Their belief, though, must surely have been dented at least a little when they conceded the opening goal on the stroke of half-time. There were just five shots in a cagey first period, but Forest were easily the better side in the second 45, and while 4-1 flattered them, they definitely deserved the victory.
A hat-trick from Morgan Gibbs-White between the 62nd and 77th minutes turned the game on its head. Igor Tudor applied some gloss in the 98th minute, and the win means that Forest moved up to 36 points. They are currently 16th and sit five points clear of the drop, while also having a three-point lead over West Ham (as well as a significantly superior goal difference than the Hammers).
Four Becomes Two?
For a few weeks now, it has seemed that Wolves and Burnley would be joined by one of four sides in being relegated. However, with West Ham drawing against Crystal Palace on Monday night, after Spurs’ earlier stalemate, has four become two?
Farke and the staff at Leeds will be drilling it into their players that until they are mathematically safe, they have to keep battling. That said, the club have almost certainly got enough points already, and with form and momentum on their side, plus a home clash with Burnley to come, we cannot see them going down.
As for Forest, 36 points could already be enough, as we are of the opinion that Tottenham may only get another four points. There is a chance, of course, that Spurs can find some form, and that Vitor Pereira’s men get distracted by their Europa League exploits. But we do feel that Forest will survive, even though they have a very tricky-looking run-in.
It might be premature to suggest that it is going to come down to West Ham or Spurs, but that is certainly the most likely scenario. It was a bad weekend for both, but the Hammers seem to have more belief, and their form is better, so we have to predict that Tottenham will tumble down to the Championship.