Sheffield United break down 10-man Nottingham Forest to keep pressure on in Championship promotion race

The Sheffield United players celebrate after Mark Duffy's opening goal against Nottingham Forest
The Sheffield United players celebrate after Mark Duffy's opening goal against Nottingham Forest Credit: ACTION IMAGES

Sheffield United 2 Nottingham Forest 0

United secured the win they desperately desired to keep the pressure on  rivals Leeds in the race for automatic promotion, although it came with a  measure of controversy after Nottingham Forest had centre back Yohan  Benalouane sent off shortly before Mark Duffy grabbed the breakthrough goal. 

In real time, referee Andrew Madley looked to have made the correct  decision to show the red card to the Tunisian defender for bringing down  David McGoldrick four yards outside the box in a central position, denying  the United striker a clear goalscoring opportunity. 

Yet TV replays of the incident two minutes into the second half suggested  that whatever the defender’s intentions were, there may have been little,  if any, actual contact between McGoldrick with Benalouane’s outstretched  leg, which disappointed Forest manager Martin O’Neill, who needs something  to go for him with his return to the City Ground so far failing to conjure  much in the way of magic from his team. The Irishman has won only five of  his 16 matches in charge so far. 

“I thought the red card was pretty harsh and there is no doubt it changed  the game,” O’Neill said. “Setting aside the argument that Yohan didn’t  touch their player - and some angles on the replay suggest that - I felt  Molla Wague was in a position to cover.” 

Perhaps not surprisingly, United manager Chris Wilder felt the issue was  much more clear cut. “It was typical David McGoldrick making a positive run  and he he has been denied a goalscoring opportunity,” he said. “To my mind  the referee has made the right call. 

“It was easier for us when Forest went down to 10, but there was a bit more swagger in our game today. 

Duffy curls home the opener for Sheffield United
Duffy curls home the opener for Sheffield United Credit: GETTY IMAGES

"I thought the goal was coming before the red card. We set up the game in  the first half and I thought we'd win it in the second.” 

United took advantage of the extra man almost immediately. Although the  free kick Benalouane conceded came to nothing, a couple of minutes later  Duffy collected the ball on the left side and found time to set himself for  a lovely, curling right-foot shot into the far corner of the net, with even  Forest’s giant goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon unable to keep it out. 

This followed a goalless first half in which the home side had been forced  to play long balls in an attempt to find a way round a stubborn Forest.  Forest, who had Jack Colback booked for alleged simulation after appealing  for a penalty against Duffy in the first half, probably produced their most  positive football after they had gone behind. 

But the result - a fourth straight defeat for O’Neill’s team - was  confirmed with five minutes left as the home side grabbed the second goal  to ensure no repeat of the slip-up in the last match here, when they went  into a collective shell in an attempt to defend a one-goal lead against  Millwall, only to concede a stoppage-time equaliser, thereby handing the  initiative to Leeds in the race for the second automatic promotion place  behind Norwich. 

It was a typical United goal, with left wing-back Enda Stevens making a  lung-bursting 70-yard run to keep pace with McGoldrick on another run  through the middle, then taking the lay-off and stroking the ball beyond  the reach of Pantilimon with a fine finish. 

                                                                                                    

Full time: Sheffield Utd 2 Nottingham Forest 0          

A frustrating first half for Sheffield United gave way to a swashbuckling second, and they have the win they needed to return to the top two! Leeds play Wigan in about half an hour, and will expect to leapfrog back above the Blades. Still, a bird in hand and all that...

90+1 min - Sheffield Utd 2 Nottingham Forest 0         

There will be four added minutes of highly unnecessary Sheffield United overlapping runs.

90 min - Sheffield Utd 2 Nottingham Forest 0        

Still United aren't satisfied. They've been superb in this second half, although the man advantage in the sunshine has certainly helped that. They have a corner now, which they take short, presumably out of mercy.

GOAL!  Sheffield Utd 2 (Stevens, 85 min) Nottingham Forest 0

That's the vital three points wrapped up! United's commitment of numbers forward is finally rewarded with a second goal, as Enda Stevens busts a lung to keep up with McGoldrick before rifling the ball into the bottom-right corner! Job done. Over to you, Leeds.

82 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0               

Forest's turn to apply some pressure late on. Sub Arvin Appiah makes an impact straight away, winning a free kick, but Lolley's delivery is poor.

78 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0              

George Baldock goes into the book for fouling Colback wide on the left. Lolley lays the ball off for Matty Cash to shoot....and it flies almost comically high and wide.

75 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0             

Still only a goal in it, but Forest are running out of the few options they had before going down to 10 men. Baldock clips a cross in from the right, but it's an easy one for Pantilimon.

71 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0            

The Forest fans take the opportunity for a few olés as their side enjoys a brief spell of possession in the Sheffield United half. 

68 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0           

 Forest try to respond, but Joe Lolley's volley (sounds nice, that) flies high and wide.

65 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0          

United are a whirl of industry and movement - Martin Cranie pops up on the right wing now - and Pantilimon has to tip over a cross-shot from Duffy. The playmaker is at the heart of everything now, and he earns a corner just as Bramall Lane starts getting impatient for a cross. Forest survive this one.

62 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0         

A United corner is headed away only as far as Norwood, who tries to volley it back...and wide.

60 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0        

On comes Grabban for the visitors, and Murphy makes way.

57 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0       

Lewis Grabban is about to be introduced by Forest. Sheffield United going for the jugular now, but an almost calamitous slip from Dean Henderson almost lets Forest right back in it! He hoofs clear.

54 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0      

SAVE! United pour forward, Madine flicks the ball out to Duffy, and his low cross is poked goalward by McGoldrick, only for Pantilimon to stick out a telescopic limb and turn the ball round the post!

53 min - Sheffield Utd 1 Nottingham Forest 0     

GOAL! Sheffield Utd 1 (Duffy, 51 min) Nottingham Forest 0

Deadlock broken! Just as Forest were regathering and regrouping, Mark Duffy controls the ball on the left side of the box, looks up, steadies himself, and plants a beauty of a shot beyond the grasp of Pantilimon and into the top corner! United lead.

50 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0                     

And should they be down to nine? The already-booked Colback holds back McGoldrick, very deliberately, out on the left and gets his final warning. Forest bring on Alexander Milosevic for Pele to shore things up at the back.

49 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0                    

The free kick is rolled to the left foot of John Fleck but, despite a little deflection, Pantilimon remains right behind it. Should be a fascinating last 40 minutes from here...

RED CARD! 

McGoldrick suddenly has space to run at the Forset defence, takes the ball round Yohan Benalouane on the edge of the box, and is taken down! He looked about to shoot, and that made up referee Andy Madley's mind. Forest down to 10 men!

46 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0                   

We go again. No changes to either side at the break.

Half-time: Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0

Enda Stevens gets to the byline and almost teases an own goal out of the retreating Yacob, and that's the final meaningful act of a simmering, but certainly not boiling, first half.

Chris Wilder will give his tactical head a scratch for the next 15, and may well decide that the aerial assault isn't the way forward. They need a goal.

45+3 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0                  

Yellow card for Martin Cranie as he crashes into a tackle on Matty Cash - and his own teammate George Baldock - and that's a free kick for Forest, which the be-capped Henderson comes out to claim.

45+1 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0                 

Four added minutes in this first half. Norwood half-volleys one from 25 yards but Pantilimon gets to it with ease.

44 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0                

McGoldrick goes tumbling on the edge of the box after Sam Byram pulls him down and United have a free kick in a very promising spot to the left. Byram is booked. They try a clever one to release Fleck to the byline, but Forest are wise to it.

41 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0               

The first half huffs and puffs to a close, which McGoldrick and Madine still taking it in turns to leap fruitlessly for Sheffield United's long balls.

38 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0              

Forest have emerged from the defensive cocoon a little, but still haven't posed much of a threat to Dean Henderson and his defence.

34 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0             

Still United come, and still the crosses rain in, but Forest are still clinging on. At the other end, their very own Big Man Up Front, Daryl Murphy, lashes a left-foot shot wide of the post.

32 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0            

Chance! Another deep cross from Stevens, and McGoldrick meets it with a looping header but - even with Madine lurking at the post - it bounces just wide of the Forest goal!

29 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0           

McGoldrick shoots wildly over from 25 yards, as the United pressure moves from "building" to "concerted", if not quite "relentless".

26 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0          

What a cross! Lovely build-up from United, and Stevens whips in a beauty of a ball from the left touchline, but Madine just can't quite get there in time between his two markers. He applauds the idea, though, and rightly so.

23 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0         

There's a delay for Enda Stevens to get a head injury patched up, before Norwood can finally deliver from the left...but his curled ball evades everyone on its way through. Goal kick.

21 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0        

Neither keeper has had to exert himself in the opening quarter of this game, but it's not really been a midfield dogfight either. United have another set-piece with which to search for the head of Madine...

18 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0       

Forest's Jack Colback goes down too easily in the box, and is booked, and it's his fifteenth of the season. What's more, he now gets a three-game ban, and his season is over! 

17 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0      

Madine remains the outlet for United, but he's not quite clicking with McGoldrick - thanks in part to Molla Wague's close attention - with the home side enjoying most of the possession. 

14 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0     

McGoldrick tries a bicycle kick in the box - with Forest's Pele watching on - but completely fluffs it, to a smattering of waaaeeeeeeyyyy from both home and away fans.

11 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0    

Joe Lolley springs down the right to win a corner for Forest, and takes it himself, but McGoldrick is stationed at the near post for United to clear. At the other end, Madine is penalised for holding down his marker as an inviting cross loops in. Not a breathless start here, but lively enough.

8 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0   

Gary Madine plucks the ball out of the air but is chopped down by a veteran of midfield chopping-down, Claudio Yacob, who I guarantee will accept a booking with little complaint within the next 82 minutes.

5 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0  

Bramall Lane roars as United win their first couple of corners. Norwood whips in the second towards the back post and the hulking figure of Gary Madine, but it's just overcooked.

3 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0 

David McGoldrick is bundled over and United take the free kick quickly, which means Oliver Norwood has the space to advance and shoot from 30 yards, but he can't trouble Costel Pantilimon in the Forest goal.

1 min - Sheffield Utd 0 Nottingham Forest 0

Forest, in their change colours of gold, get the game going, and immediately win a throw-in on the right, which Matty Cash launches in, but United are secure early doors.

Wilder's words

We are not going to moan and groan about injuries. Now these players have a chance to play a part. When the line gets closer, it’s natural there will be some tightening up. The players have earned the right to be here.

We are three points behind [Leeds], nobody has been promoted or crowned champions. There are pressure games right up and down the country and we are involved in a big game. Let’s stick it back at people who think we are done and dusted.

Singing like a Canary

The situation today is like this: if Sheffield United lose, and Norwich win, the boys in yellow will officially be promoted. So this seems like a good moment to point you towards John Percy's special report on the Norwich success story.

Farke-Ball, as it is known, is a fluid 4-3-3 and could not be further away from the high-octane, pressing styles of other German managers such as Jurgen Klopp and David Wagner. 

It is an approach arguably more reminiscent of Pep Guardiola, with the belief that players will only develop under a certain style. It is perhaps no surprise Farke was a prolific striker in his early years at Lippstadt.

Norwich have won 11 of their last 15 games, with only one defeat in the Championship this year.

“In order to be successful, everything has to come together,” says Farke, 42. “Last season when I signed the club was in a very difficult situation. We sold some of our best players because of the financial pressure and it is not easy.

Retro Corner

This fixture instantly led me to Google where I found reminded me of these two meeting in the play-off semi-finals in 2003 when, after a 1-1 draw at the City Ground, they knocked seven bells out of each other at Bramall Lane:

A two-goal lead thrown away, two own goals, extra time, a creaking 37-year-old Des Walker...and it was the Blades who emerged from all of that unscathed. Only to be thumped in the final by Wolves.

Team news!

Sheffield United make four changes, forced in part by the hamstrung Billy Sharp and Chris Basham...

....while Forest line up thus:

Greetings from the land of the sleeping giants

Norwich, Leeds, Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa.

All one-time (or, indeed, many-time) Premier League sides whose itch to get back amongst it has reached varying degrees of bearability, and who now jostle for promotion position in the Championship.

Throw in Bristol City, whose hometown is the biggest in the country yet to "enjoy" Premier League football. Then there's Middlesbrough. Derby. Y'know...Hull

There's arguably never been a better time to be a Championship club, and yet the gravitational pull of the Premier League's broadcasting riches persists.

This lunchtime, Sheffield United begin the final, final kick for home. And you could just about call the top flight "home" for the Blades, who last graced it in 2006/07, only to be relegated on the final day. Neil Warnock's lot didn't go quietly either - suing relegation survivors West Ham for their Carlos Tevez irregularities - but that sent them spiralling towards the third tier, where they spent six seasons licking their wounds.

But now. Sean Bean's beloved United are four wins, and one Leeds slip, away from the big time again. Chris Wilder, who took them up from League One with 100 points in 2016/17, and then found them a mid-table foothold last season, has worked his magic for 42 games.

No.43 is at Bramall Lane this lunchtime, with Nottingham Forest the visitors. Team news is next...

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