FOREST ON Ameobi blazes promotion trail.. as Leeds

SAMMY AMEOBI and Tyler Walker blew the race to the Premier League wide open.

The Nottingham Forest duo fired Sabri Lamouchi’s side to within two points of the top as the pack closed in on the Championship’s long-time frontrunners.

Ameobi’s 31st-minute goal gave Forest a precious first-half advantage – and a hard-fought victory was wrapped up in the dying seconds when Walker tapped into an empty net.

This triumph left Lamouchi’s men within two points of leaders West Brom – as fellow pacesetters Leeds appear to be imploding. The top seven clubs in the division are now separated by just six points and, with one-third of the campaign to go, it is now anyone’s guess who will take those coveted two automatic promotion slots.

But Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites are showing signs of a crisis of confidence after a riproaring first half of the campaign.

And questions will again be asked of Bielsa’s No.1 Kiko Casilla (right) after he was embarrassed by Ameobi.

The first goal in such a tight encounter was always going to be crucial and the 33-year-old was at fault as Forest struck the initial blow.

The Spaniard anticipated Ameobi would fire the ball across him and was left flummoxed as it beat him inside the near post.

It was an error that came just a week after Casilla’s gaffe against Wigan when he was blamed for the Latics scoring the only goal direct from a corner.

Despite their dismal run, Leeds have continued with their all-action policy – and paid for it when, in typically cavalier fashion, they broke out from deep inside their own half.

Joe Lolley won the ball after the visitors lost control and fed Ameobi out on the left. He exchanged passes w right-back Yuri Ribeiro and bore do on goal.

Ameobi had options in the area chose to take on the shot himself reaped rich reward for his gamble.

Eight minutes into the second Forest came within a whisker of add to their lead.

Lolley produced a lung-burst 50-yard run on the right, dart between two defenders as he ente the area.

A desperate late lunge robbed Forest man of the ball, but it rolle the feet of Lewis Grabban.

The striker feigned to shoot and b an opponent and keeper Casilla over in anticipation of the finish.

Grabban did take the opportunit