Nottingham Forest recovered from a slow start to thrash Leeds United thanks to a spirited second-half comeback at the City Ground.

Leeds made a bright start and were ahead after 12 minutes through Paul Green, who made no mistake from close range after brave work from Luciano Becchio and El-Hadji Diouf.

Leeds controlled possession in the opening half hour but could not extend their early advantage.

The home side made them pay from the penalty spot two minutes before the break after Tom Lees fouled Billy Sharp in the box.

Sharp made no mistake with a confident penalty to Paddy Kenny's left to bring Forest level at the interval.

Forest took the lead ten minutes into the second half through Sharp, who reacted quickest to a flick from Dexter Blackstock before rounding Kenny and finishing neatly.

Leeds went 3-1 down just two minutes later when Rudolph Austin turned into his own net after Elliot Ward kept a corner alive at the far post.

The game was over as a contest on the hour when Blackstock aimed a powerful into the top corner, giving a hapless Kenny no chance.

Leeds tried to respond and scored a consolation in stoppage time when substitutes Ross McCormack and Davide Somma combined on the counter.

Somma put a volley wide from close range moments later to bring a disappointing afternoon to an end for Neil Warnock's men.