Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Brennan Johnson and Jack Colback give Steve Cooper's side advantage
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Blades head into the clash off the back of three straight wins, while Forest ended the season with a draw after missing out on automatic promotion when they were beaten by AFC Bournemouth.
Luton and Huddersfield drew 1-1 in the other semi-final first-leg on Friday evening.
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Sheffield United have never been promoted via the play-off, despite reaching the end-of-season knockouts eight times.
But boss Paul Heckingbottom, who boasts a 100 per cent win record in the play-offs with three wins from three, said the past is ‘irrelevant’.
Speaking ahead of today’s match, he told the press: "I don't know why people read into it. It's different players, different staff, different opponent. The whole thing is different.
"It might add to the atmosphere and the crowd, for things they might think about, but not for us."
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Hide AdSteve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest are aiming to return to the Premier League for the first time since being relegated in 1999.
They have failed in three of their previous attempts at promotion via the play-offs.
It was Sheffield United who inflicted one of those failures on the Tricky Trees back in 2003 thanks to a memorable 4-3 win at Bramall Lane in the second leg.
Still, it mattered little as the Blades were thrashed 3-0 in the final by Wolves.
Both sides drew 1-1 in their two league meetings in the regular season this term.
Scroll down for team news, live updates and post-match reaction.
Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest LIVE
Key Events
- Blades host Steve Cooper’s Forest in first leg of Championship play-off semi-final at Bramall Lane
- Nottingham Forest make SEVEN changes. Blades name same side that beat Fulham 4-0.
- Both teams drew 1-1 in their two league meetings this term
- Return leg to be played at the City Ground on Tuesday
Another dangerous counter
Brennan Johnson is at the heart of the move (again). He goes for the shot on the break rather than opt to play the ball to a teammate and draws a save from Foderingham.
Forest player into the book
Their skipper Joe Worrall is rightly shown a yellow card fro halting a home attack by bringing down Iliman Ndiaye.
United’s front two are causing a headache for Forest’s defenders.
Another Robinson missile
The defender’s long throws have caused Forest problems in this first half.
Meanwhile, John Fleck goes into the book after diving in on Zinckernagel.
Stat attack
Just the one effort on target for United so far - Egan’s header off the line - compared to four for Forest, who have looked very dangerous on the counter attack.
Brennan Johnson in particular has been a threat.
Another Blades chance
Gibbs-White’s scooped pass over the top finds Ndiaye, but he can’t get the ball under control and the chance comes to nothing.
Then Fooderingham makes another smart stop at the other end to deny Surridge. This opening half hour is being played at breakneck speed.
Drinks break as Enda Stevens receives treatment. He looks to be OK.
More last-ditch defending from Bash
He disposses Surridge as the striker was about to make it 2-0. Then Foderingham saves another effort from a tight angle.
Off the line!
Another corner is delivered into the heart of the six-yard box, John Egan connects but striker Sam Surridge clears it off the line.
Best chance for the home side so far.
Back-to-back corners
Blades applying pressure on the Forest goal after the visitors enjoyed a spell after their goal.