Karanka gets a spark

Clarke and Ezgjan Alioski put the league leaders 2-1 up.

But with Karanka’s future looking bleaker by the second his side ended their five-match winless run as Colback, Daryl Murphy and Ben Osborn turned the game around with three goals in seven minutes Forest fans sang the manager’s name all afternoon and he said: “I don’t have a doubt the players are playing for me. I have felt the support from the fans since I arrived.

“Our comeback in this match has been amazing.”

Karanka’s men stunned Leeds with their early goal as Adam Forshaw’s sloppy back-pass allowed Colback to pounce.

There was a huge let-off for the home side in the 18th minute when Jack Robinson somehow avoided a red card when he hauled down Jack Harrison just outside the box.

Phillips was then given his marching orders for an awful studs-up lunge on Adlene Guedioura in the 42nd minute.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, half-time substitute Clarke fired in an equaliser before Pontus Jansson’s header teed up Alioski to put Leeds ahead in the 64th minute.

It was looking grim for Karanka but the momentum swung back when Colback fired in his second in the 69th minute.

Fragile

Jansson then turned villain as he missed a header, allowing Murphy to make it 3-2.

And the City Ground was rocking when Osborn cut inside to finish brilliantly in the 76th minute.

Bielsa said: “Factors were against us. We had to play a man down and we were a little bit fragile in defence.

“The fact we dare to play, sometimes it has negative aspects but we have a style.

“It’s obvious it wasn’t a necessary foul from Kalvin but the intention wasn’t to hurt the opponent.”