Nottingham Forest welcome Sheffield United to the City Ground in the second leg of their 2021-22 Championship Play-Off semi-final.
With a 2-1 lead from the first leg, Forest know that victory or a draw would safely see them advance to the Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium.
Sheffield United meanwhile must win to stand any chance of progressing to Wembley, although a victory by a one-goal margin would level the tie on aggregate and force extra-time plus possibly penalties.
Team News
Forest have no fresh injury concerns to report following the first leg although Keinan Davis could be available to start, having made a surprise substitute appearance at Bramall Lane.
Ryan Yates (shoulder) is a minor doubt but Max Lowe (groin) and Lewis Grabban (hamstring) remain absent.
Sheffield Utd could welcome Billy Sharp back into contention if he is declared match-fit after missing their last three matches with a calf injury.
Jack O’Connell, Charlie Goode, Jayden Bogle (all knee), Oli McBurnie (foot), David McGoldrick (thigh) and Rhian Brewster (hamstring) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in two of three previous Play-Off meetings against Sheffield United (W1, D1, L1).
- Sheffield Utd drew their only previous away Play-Off meeting at the City Ground against Forest 1-1 in May 2003.
- Forest have lost the only previous play-off semi-final tie on aggregate where they had won the first leg – having won 2-0 at Yeovil in May 2007 but lost second leg 5-2 at home to lose 5-4 on aggregate.
- Steve Cooper’s Forest have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four matches.
- John Fleck has been yellow carded in each of Sheffield Utd’s last two away matches.
Prediction
Having defensively weathered strong pressure from Sheffield Utd in the first leg, Forest were impressive in how they maturely played a physical attacking game complete with patience and clinical finishing.
The only negative to their strong performance was that they poorly marked a late corner which has offered the Blades some hope, which is possibly the worst thing that Forest could of done given their poor Play-Off form.
Sheffield Utd though need to ensure that their defence is more focused after sluggish defending at times were twice punished in the first leg, amidst several wasted final touches despite looking strong on attack whilst Wes Foderingham did well to limit their loss with great saves.
Now if Forest continue to play like they did in the first leg but more clinical and Sheffield Utd improve their game, I think we will have a strong game on our hands and a draw would be a fair result unless the visitors score first then anything could happen.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Sheffield United
Result: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Sheffield United (Tie finished 3-3 on aggregate with Forest winning 3-2 on penalties!!)
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