Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United share the spoils to both stay mid-table in the Championship as Lewis Grabban cancels out Morgan Gibbs-White’s strike
- Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with Sheffield United on Tuesday evening
- United talisman, Sharp, set up Gibbs-White to strike a hammer blow
- Then Forest striker Lewis Grabban finished off after a breakaway away
- New Forest boss Steve Cooper can be proud of the start he has made
It was a night for the substitutes to set a tight contest alight just as a goalless draw beckoned.
First United talisman Billy Sharp set up Morgan Gibbs-White to strike a hammer blow. Then Forest striker Lewis Grabban finished off after a breakaway away to set up a thrilling end-to-end finale where both sides could have scored.
New Forest manager Steve Cooper can be rightly proud of the start he has made but there is devil in the detail.
New Forest manager Steve Cooper (above) can be rightly proud of the start he has made
That defeat was a 4-0 mauling by Fulham at the City Ground and flagged up a recurring issue of home form. Five losses in seven matches and a meagre six-goal haul before tonight suggests there is room for improvement.
On the flip side, since Chris Hughton was sacked in September, only leaders Bournemouth and Blackpool have picked up more points in the Championship so travelling is sorted.
Nottingham Forest (above) drew 1-1 with Sheffield United on Tuesday evening
Billy Sharp set up Morgan Gibbs-White (above) to score the first goal of the game
Sheffield United are just as much of a conundrum. Amazingly they were looking to put together two consecutive away wins for the first time since December 2019.
So perhaps it was no surprise that there was nothing to separate the teams 17th and 18 in the table and on the same number of points pre- kick-off.
Forest had marginally the better of the first half, thanks mainly to an inform Joe Lolley and a burgeoning right-side combo with Djed Spence. Lolley went close himself and both Lyle Taylor and Joe Worrall were just off-beam with headers.
Then Forest striker Lewis Grabban (above) finished off after a breakaway away
Sheffield United’s best moment was a shot from Jayden Bogle saved by Brice Samba’s feet.
The hunt for a goal brought top scorer Grabban off the bench for Taylor with the visitors seemingly content to shut up shop. Lolley had also departed by this stage.
Forest, increasingly frustrated, were convinced they should have had a penalty when Chris Basham and Spence came together in the area. Instead referee Leigh Doughty booked Spence, to the fury of the fans.