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15 May, 2003

Play off hopes ended by Sheffield Utd

On this day in 2003 Forest lose the Division One play-off semi-final to Sheffield United.

Cup runs and campaigns

Reached final / semi-final / quarter-final
Goal scorer, David Johnson, pictured 2010.
Goal scorer, David Johnson, pictured 2010. Image: Jonesy702 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nottingham Forest’s hopes of reaching the Division One play-off final ended in a dramatic 4-3 extra-time defeat away to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

The semi-final had been level after the first leg at the City Ground, and Forest appeared to take control of the tie in the second leg. David Johnson opened the scoring after a defensive error, and Andy Reid doubled the lead with a volley to put Forest 2-0 up on the night.

Goal scorer, David Johnson, pictured 2010.
Goal scorer, David Johnson, pictured 2010. Image: Jonesy702 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The advantage slipped away in painful fashion. Sheffield United forced the match into extra time, and a Des Walker own goal became one of the decisive moments of the tie. A late own goal at the other end gave Forest brief hope, but it was not enough to rescue the semi-final.

The final whistle confirmed a 4-3 defeat on the night and a 5-4 aggregate loss. Forest’s promotion hopes were over after one of the most painful and dramatic play-off nights in the club’s modern history.

Play Off Highlights

Sources

BBC Sport; Soccerbase; 11v11

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
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Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
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Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
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Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
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Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
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Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
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Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
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Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
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Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
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Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
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Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
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Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
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Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
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Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
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Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Aston Villa
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Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Sunderland
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Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
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Arsenal 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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