VIDEO: 25 years ago today - Sheffield United fightback against Nottingham Forest sparks top flight survival bid

When Nottingham Forest rocked up at Bramall Lane on December 22, 1990, there was only expected to be one winner.
Brian Deane heads in the winner against Nottingham Forest on December 22, 1990.Brian Deane heads in the winner against Nottingham Forest on December 22, 1990.
Brian Deane heads in the winner against Nottingham Forest on December 22, 1990.

The Blades had incredibly failed to win all season - 16 games, with just four points from draws against Derby County, Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton.

Brian Clough's side, meanwhile, had been hovering around the top ten for much of the campaign, and featured a young Roy Keane in his breakthrough season at the City Ground.

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United went in front through Ian Bryson, after would-be Sheffield Wednesday keep Mark Crossley had spilled a Vinnie Jones throw in, but normal service resumed when Keane scored his first senior goal to equalise, immediately after the restart.

Stuart Pearce then put Forest in front and from there it was expected United would suffer their 13th defeat of the season.

However, Bryson again headed in from a Carl Bradshaw cross to equalise before Brian Deane capped an amazing turnaround to claim a victory which would spark an even less believable drive to stave off relegation.

United were rock bottom at that point and followed up the win over Forest with another against Luton Town on Boxing Day.

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There were a couple more blips with defeats to Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Man City, but the victory on December 22 had provided the team with the belief they needed to fight and stay in the First Division.

And starting on January 26, with a win over Derby and still bottom of the table, Dave Bassett's side went on an incredible nine-match unbeaten run (eight wins) that would see United safe from the drop by Easter, having once been odds on to be relegated.

They would eventually finish in 13th place, 12 points off the bottom two of Sunderland and Derby who went down.