- Forest fight back again to earn point
- Two late goals as Grabban cancels out Gibbs-White opener
Steve Cooper made two changes from the draw at QPR, with the goalscorer Jack Colback filling in at left wing back for the ineligible Blades’ loanee Max Lowe and Lyle Taylor replacing Lewis Grabban up front alongside Brennan Johnson as Forest maintained the same shape despite the change of personnel.
The Blades started with former Reds favourite Ben Osborn playing on the left of an attacking three behind Lys Mousset, with three further former Reds on the bench in Jack Robinson, David McGoldrick and Billy Sharp.
Forest’s first attack came just after a minute as Taylor held the ball up well on halfway and Ryan Yates’ through ball nearly found Joe Lolley on the left but the experienced Chris Basham intercepted.
It was The Blades who had most of the possession in the opening exchanges, but after 12 minutes Lolley slipped John Fleck’s challenge in his own half and ran deep into Blades territory before striking a powerful shot wide from 22 yards.
More good work by Lolley then released Djed Spence down the right and the ‘Boro loanee beat John Egan to reach the byline but his cross was cleared by the Blades. Midway through the first half, the same combination forced the Reds first corner of the evening and, from Garner’s flag kick, Taylor failed to get a clean connection on the six yard box and his effort went wide of Robin Olsen’s left post.
On the half hour mark, Brennan Johnson skilfully beat the former Derby man Jayden Bogle in the Reds half and accelerated deep into Blades territory but was unable to deliver the cross.
John Egan’s pass was then intercepted by Johnson but his shot was blocked and Olsen gathered.
Blades were continuing to dominate possession but did not force Brice Samba into action until the 37th minute when Bogle’s shot was saved by Samba’s legs after a slip by James Garner.
Shortly afterwards Oliver Norwood was the first man in referee Leigh Doughty’s notebook, before Rhian Brewster fired over Samba’s crossbar when a cross found him in space on the far post.
Just before the break, Spence beat both Stevens and Osborn down the right to force a Reds corner and the pressure continued when Yates forced another flag kick shortly afterwards.
Lys Mousset then became the second Blades man to go into the book for fouling James Garner.
Then Johnson wriggled away on the left to force another corner and from Garner’s delivery, Joe Worrall glanced a header just wide of the far post with the closest effort of the first half.
Half-time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Sheffield United
Ryan Yates was the first Forest man booked on the night for a pull back on John Fleck five minutes into the second half and Tobias Figueiredo followed shortly afterwards for holding back Lys Mousset as he threatened to break on halfway.
It had been a cagey opening to the second period and, just before the hour mark, Steve Cooper made his first substitution of the evening as Philip Zinckernagel replaced Joe Lolley.
After a short spell of Reds’ possession, Yates’ cross-field ball found Johnson on the left but his dangerous cross from inside the box was blocked at the near post.
Lewis Grabban then replaced Lyle Taylor as the match neared the three-quarter mark with neither team yet to force a really clear opening. Joe Worrall took responsibility to carry the ball from deep but Grabban’s cross was overhit with three Reds players in the box.
With 20 minutes left, Brennan Johnson beat John Fleck in the box and then went over under a challenge from Chris Basham but, much to the disapproval of the home crowd, the young Welshman was controversially booked for simulation by Leigh Doughty.
Billy Sharp replaced Ben Osborn with the former Forest Academy graduate receiving a warm round of applause from The City Ground faithful as he departed.
And Sharp’s first touch was decisive as his low left wing cross was side-footed home by Morgan Gibbs-White from six yards.
Alex Mighten immediately replaced Figueiredo and James Garner’s right wing cross was nearly turned home by Grabban at the near post as Forest looked to respond.
But the Forest equaliser came with seven minutes to go when Johnson’s cross from the left found Grabban who initially failed to control but then reacted quickest to flick the ball past Robin Olsen.
Forest were now pressing for the winner but Sheffield United then counter attacked and Rhian Brewster’s effort was well saved by Samba low down.
Zinckernagel’s shot was then blocked for a corner at the other end and Forest forced successive corners.
As the game entered five minutes of injury time, Zinckernagel failed to connect with his head from a deep Jack Colback cross and, as the Blades countered, Joe Worrall was booked for fouling Billy Sharp.
Both teams took the point to remain with identical records this season, with The Reds moving up to 16th place.
Full-time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Sheffield United
MATCH STATISTICS
Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Brice Samba; Scott McKenna, Tobias Figueiredo (Alex Mighten 78’), Joe Worrall (c); Djed Spence, James Garner, Ryan Yates, Jack Colback; Joe Lolley (Philip Zinckernagel 57’); Brennan Johnson, Lyle Taylor (Lewis Grabban 63’)
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath (gk), Gaetan Bong, Braian Ojeda, Joao Carvalho
Goals: Grabban (83’)
Bookings: Yates (51’), Figueiredo (53’), Johnson (69’), Worrall (90+1’)
Sheffield United (4-2-3-1): Robin Olsen; Jayden Bogle, Chris Basham, John Egan, Enda Stevens; Oliver Norwood, John Fleck (Conor Hourihane 89’); Rhian Brewster, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ben Osborn (Billy Sharp 77’); Lys Mousset (Iliman Ndiaye 65’)
Substitutes not used: Wes Foderingham, George Baldock, David McGoldrick, Jack Robinson
Goals: Gibbs-White (78’)
Bookings: Brewster (38’), Mousset (45’)
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Attendance: 25,238 including 1,972 Sheffield United supporters
Possession: 43%-57%
Shots: 10-6
Shots on target: 1-3
Corners: 6-4