Nottingham Forest got their first goal and produced their best football of the season but came away without a point after a late goal gave Leeds all three.
There were only two shots on target for both sides in the first half but Leeds put one of theirs away and they always looked the more dangerous side going forward
It was a different Forest side that came out for the second half and they were on level terms in under five minutes. They dominated much of the half but Leeds stole three points with a goal two minutes from time.
It was a fast, furious start from both sides with Forest having the first real chance of the game in the fifth minute. KrisCommons fired the ball into the box from the left towards Grant Holt. He was unable to get on the end of it, but the ball was only cleared as far as James Perch whose effort was blocked on the six-yard line.
This started a good spell by Forest who made the Leeds defence look in disarray. But when Luke Chambers crossed the ball from a tight angle right on front of goal, nobody was there to put it away.
In the intense heat the game calmed down from the frantic start and became more of a midfield battle, until Leeds took the lead with their first real chance of the game in the 17th minute.
Jermaine Beckford and Tresor Kandol combined well to create the chance and Kandol fired from 20 yards across Paul Smith and the ball went in off the far post.
Smith had to tip the ball over the post when Alan Thompson swung the ball in and David Prutton ran in to divert the ball towards goal. The Forest keeper reacted well to make the save and give Leeds third corner in a succession.
Forest's possession was good throughout the half but Leeds always looked the more dangerous on the break, while the final pass always seemed to let the home side down.
Forest made a great break in stoppage time but it was cut short when the referee stopped play for Sebastien Carole to get treatment, even though the player had already got up and was in the other half of the pitch.
The half time boos from the crowd were for the referee and not for the Forest players who may have been behind but did well in limiting Leeds to the one goal.
Forest started the second half well with Grant Holt nodding down from Julian Bennett's cross but it was easy for the Leeds keeper to gather up.
And when Grant Holt gave Sammy Clingan the ball he sent it across the penalty area towards KrisCommons but he couldn't get on the end of it and Holt had not made the run into the box to support him.
But it was only a couple of minutes later when Forest got the equalizer when they were awarded a free kick after Clingan was brought down by Thompson. Commons shot from the right, some 35 yards out and the ball was deflected in off Thompson.
And they came close to a second when Clingan made a good breakand fed the ball to Chambers. His cross found James Perch who got a touch on the ball at the near post and it went just wide.
As Forest continued to push forward a long-range shot from Commons went flying just wide of the far post.
And then a beautifully nodded down ball by Holt looked sure to create a goal but Commons' shot from just six yards out was blocked by Rui Marques.
There was loud applause from the home crowd when Nathan Tyson made a substitute appearance, coming on for Agogo with 15 minutes to go.
But Leeds followed this with their best period of the half until, five minutes from time, Tyson used his pace to beat Marques, got away down the right and squared the ball to substitute Felix Bastians who turned and shot just wide of the post.
After Forest dominated most of the half it was Leeds who got the winner with two minutes remaining. Carole got past Lennon, his shot bounced past Chambers to Beckford who stabbed the ball into the roof of the net.
Nottingham Forest: Smith, Chambers, Morgan, Wilson, Bennett, Perch, Lennon, Clingan, Commons(Bastians 79min,) Holt, Agogo(Tyson 74min)
Subs not used: Roberts, Sinclair, Thornhill
Bookings: Bennett 42min
Scorer: Commons 50min
Leeds Utd: Ankergren, Richardson, Douglas, Marques, Heath, Prutton(Flo 62min), Thompson (C)(Howson 85min), Beckford(v 90min), Carole, Kandol, Clapham
Subs not used: Bayly, Gardner
Bookings: Thompson 49min, Beckford 80min
Scorer: Kandol 17min, Beckford 89min
Referee: K D Hill
Attendance: 25,237 awat attn: 3,483
