Premier League: Forest ride luck but earn crucial win
Sheffield United 1 - 3 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest took a big step towards Premier League survival by beating already-relegated Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored two goals and Ryan Yates added another to secure a vital three points for Forest.
Ben Brereton Diaz's penalty put the home side ahead in the first half before Hudson-Odoi's superb curling effort brought Forest level midway through the game. The Blades then responded well, but missed a host of first-half chances and were punished when Ryan Yates put the visitors ahead with a thumping effort six minutes after the break.
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Hudson-Odoi then made sure of the victory by cutting inside and bending the ball past Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham into the far corner, ensuring Forest's survival hopes remain in their own hands going into the last couple of weeks of the season.
The Blades want the season to end now
Sheffield United have set some unwanted records throughout this miserable Premier League season, but their latest was perhaps the most damning of all.
It has never happened before in a 38-game Premier League season where a side conceded 100 goals. Swindon Town managed to do it in the 1993-94 campaign when there were 42 games. The probability is high that the Blades will concede even more in their final two fixtures. You get the impression that most Sheffield United fans want the season to end now
Thomas Jones, a Sheffield United fan, said: "This was our season summed up in this one afternoon. Brereton DÃaz put us ahead from the spot but chance after chance went missing and we tried to make it 2-0. They all passed the Blades by. Cameron Archer, Gus Hamer and Brereton DÃaz all wasted glorious chances. It was always going to be a matter of time before Forest got back in the game. I just can't wait for the season to be over now."
This was the reaction of the Sheffield United boss after the match. The footage is from the Sheffield United YouTube account,
Forest fans went home happy
Kieron, a Forest fan, told us: "It wasn't always pretty, but we got the job done. Just one more now should seal survival despite everything that has been thrown at us this season. We are staying up. Hopefully!"
This was a view supported by Conor. He told us: "The scenes in the away when the third goal was scored was just that of pure joy, After the uncertainty and drama that preceded it. We are now on the cusp of survival in the Premier League. An amazing achievement for everyone at the club."
