Play-off first leg draw vs Sheff Utd
On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 2003 Forest draw with Sheffield United in the play-off first leg.
Nottingham Forest began their First Division play-off semi-final against Sheffield United with a tense 1-1 draw at the City Ground.
The first leg carried the pressure of a club trying to reach the Premier League through the narrowest route. Forest were at home, backed by a crowd that knew the tie could not be won outright in one afternoon, but could easily be damaged by one mistake.
David Johnson gave Forest the lead in the second half, latching onto a deflected pass from Andy Reid and finishing past the goalkeeper. The advantage did not last long, with Sheffield United equalising from the penalty spot soon afterwards.
There was more frustration late on when Michael Dawson was sent off, ruling him out of the second leg at Bramall Lane. Forest left the City Ground still alive in the tie, but the 1-1 scoreline carried a warning: the harder part of the play-off battle was still to come.
The warning proved justified. Sheffield United won a dramatic second leg 4-3 after extra time at Bramall Lane, taking the semi-final 5-4 on aggregate and ending Forest’s promotion hopes.
Sources
BBC Sport; 11v11; ESPN
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