Nottingham Forest 1-1 Sheffield United (EFL Championship) 02.11.21

In recent seasons under different regimes this might have been a game that Forest would lose by a single late goal but under Steve Cooper, the Reds have an inner-belief that they can get back into matches however ugly and although things didn’t go much their own way on a tough cold night against awkward opposition by the chilling River Trent, in the end, on a November night in Nottingham, Forest were happy, or at least content, to take another point and stretch their league run to just one defeat in nine.

It was Jack Colback who got the start to solve a conundrum in the left wing back position as on loan Max Lowe’s parent club came to town for this Tuesday night encounter with Lyle Taylor getting the nod upfront in replacing Lewis Grabban for Forest.

United included former Red, Ben Osborn and recent rumoured transfer target Rhian Brewster in their starting eleven. Billy Sharp once a fans favourite at the City Ground was on the bench for Slavisa Jokanovic’s men.

A cagey first half of few opportunities had Steve Cooper’s side shade the chances against the Blades, Joe Lolley shooting wide on twelve minutes before Lyle Taylor went close on 26, flicking James Garner’s corner wide of Robin Olsen’s posts.

On 37 minutes, Brennan Johnson intercepted a loose pass by United skipper John Egan before shooting a deflected shot straight at the goalkeeper and a couple of minutes before half time, Djed Spence ran into the box before his cross was blocked for a corner. The best of what was an average at generous 45 Trentside, the visitor’s dominant in possession with the Reds looking to counter on the break.

The early exchanges of the second half didn’t fear much better for creative opportunities either, a couple of bookings for Yates and Figueiredo in quick succession set the tone for a scrappy affair, United continuing to dominate possession with the Reds struggling to make real impact on their opponents defence, and on 78 minutes, Morgan Gibbs-White gave the away side the lead after good work by Billy Sharp brought on for Ben Osborn, but Forest quickly hit back inside five minutes, substitute Grabban almost got on the end of a Garner cross to level before finding the target moments later with seven minutes remaining in all. Brennan Johnson chipping into the striker to net his sixth goal of the season from close range.

Suddenly the game had kicked in to life, further chances for winners at both ends with Brewster testing Samba before Johnson again deflecting a shot at Olsen, time eventually running down on the late rally for a winner. Forest next host Preston North End on Saturday having back to back draws for the first time this season.

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Worrall, Figueiredo (Mighten 79), McKenna, Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback, Johnson, Taylor (Grabban 63), Lolley (Zinckernagel 57).

Sheffield United: Olsen, Bogle, Egan, Basham, Stevens, Fleck, Norwood, Osborn (Sharp 76), Gibbs-White, Brewster, Mousset (Ndiaye 65).

Venue: City Ground (25,238)

*Main image @NFFC Brennan Johnson tussles with United’s John Egan.