Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United betting tips: Forest favourites despite late goal
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Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United betting tips, odds and preview
A late goal at Bramall Lane means both teams still have a realistic chance of getting to Wembley as we study the odds and pick out some Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United betting tips.
Forest had one foot in the Championship play-off final when they went 2-0 up in the first leg but United pulled one back in injury time to limit the damage.
The second leg takes place at the City Ground on Tuesday night with a 7.45pm kick-off and is live on Sky Sports.
Forest on fire
Forest have been the team of the season in the Championship ever since Steve Cooper took over and it was clear to see why in the first leg.
Few could begrudge Forest joining Fulham and Bournemouth in the Premier League having recovered from picking up just one point from their first seven matches.
Forest opened the scoring in the 10th minute courtesy of Jack Colback’s rebound effort with their first foray into the opposition half.
The Reds could have been further in front but for Wes Foderingham in the Blades net, who denied clear-cut efforts from Sam Surridge and Brennan Johnson to keep the score at 1-0 going into the break.
In contrast, Forest attacks were few and far between in the second period but Joe Lolley capitalised on a defensive error to help Johnson make it two but Blades halved the deficit in stoppage time thanks to a header from Sander Berge.
Morning, Reds 🎯
🌳🔴 #NFFC pic.twitter.com/VwY1wgTwSh
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) May 16, 2022
Cooper said: “We could have kept a clean sheet, we could have had more goals but this is football, this is the play-offs.
“I loved our first-half performance, we were dominant and I am really impressed and have been with our mentality and approach to the game.
“We’ve created more chances than the one goal. We got the second and it is disappointing to concede at the end but that’s the tension and the randomness of the play-offs so I’m really pleased.
“To come to a place like this and take the lead into the home tie of the second leg is nothing to be disappointed or negative about.”
Forest’s only home defeat in 2022 was against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals and their two most recent games at the City Ground were 4-0 and 5-1 thrashings of West Brom and Swansea respectively.
Another win and over 2.5 goals is worth considering for Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United betting tips at 29/10, while the hosts are 18/5 to win by more than one goal.
Johnson is the 7/2 favourite to open the scoring while Surridge is 11/5 to be on target again after netting four goals in his last two home games.
Late boost for Blades
A two-goal deficit would surely have left United with too much to do in the second leg so the Blades were understandably relieved when Berge nodded into an empty net after goalkeeper Brice Samba failed to deal with a corner.
The South Yorkshire side are still the 4/1 underdogs to go through and are 12/5 for the win in 90 minutes which they must achieve to have any chance.
They have failed to beat Forest in three attempts this season though and had gone six away games without a win before beating QPR last month.
"Changed the whole complexion. The whole feeling. It'll be a totally different game away from home."
Paul Heckingbottom's Forest reaction. pic.twitter.com/4raGgQ1GbC
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) May 14, 2022
United boss Paul Heckingbottom said: “It’s half-time, there’s still loads to go but I think you could see the body language of everyone, connected with Forest more, we’re not going to come off the pitch happy that we got beat but it certainly changed the mood. Hopefully it proves to be a pivotal moment.
“I thought we started well, there was still good moments in the first half but every time we lost the ball they were a threat on the counter.
“We had to be better second half, which we were but we couldn’t break them down, they defended the box very well but one goal then would change the tie, it didn’t happen so we have to take the one we got at the end.”
United have the fewest away wins and have scored the fewest goals on their travels of the four teams in the Championship play-offs.
They have no choice but to chase the game but with so many of their forwards ruled out through injury, staying in the game and setting up a nervy finish may be their best hope.
A drawn first half at 10/11 is an option for Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United betting tips while the visitors are 11/8 to get the first goal which would turn up the tension on the banks of the Trent and Berge is 10/1 to get it.
Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United team news
Keinan Davis is pushing for a return to Forest’s starting line-up, having featured for the final 13 minutes of the first leg after shrugging off a hamstring strain.
Forest have no new injury concerns, with Ryan Yates passed fit despite suffering another knock to his injured shoulder.
Lewis Grabban and Max Lowe are sidelined until the end of the season with hamstring and groin injuries respectively.
Sheffield United are still unsure on the fitness of striker Billy Sharp heading into the game. The 36-year-old has only played 20 minutes since the start of April after suffering a calf injury.
Defender George Baldock returned to action having played 20 minutes in the first leg and could feature again.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
