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.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad
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."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
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
Almost...
United break after the ball is won back in the Forest half. Gibbs-White goes for the shot but it’s deflected, which takes the sting out of the effort and Brice Samba is able to collect.
Chance for Ollie Norwood to deliver a free-kick into the box, but it comes to nothing.
Well played from Bash
He cuts out a dangerous cross from Brennan Johnson after Forest’s first attack with Sam Surridge lurking. A goal-saving intervention.
It’s loud
Another sell out and the home fans are right behind the Blades with every sniff of an attack. Forest yet to get out of their own half.
Good start for the home side
Some early signs of the front three linking up again, as they did to great effect last weekend.
Corner kick to the home side...
Sheffield United team news
No changes for Sheffield United.
Captain and top-scorer Billy Sharp misses out once again. He is here today, however, as is Oli McBurnie.
Hecky’s programme notes
‘Today is vital. The cliche is that you cannot win the game in the first half, but you can lose it and that has to be taken into account.
‘Personally I’m delighted we’re at home first. We have worked really hard on getting Bramall Lane back to where it should be, getting that connection with the fans and getting them to understand how important the role they have in what we are trying to achieve is.’
Billy Sharp fitness update
Here’s what Paul Heckingbottom said about Sharp’s progress from injury.
Paul Heckingbottom provides Billy Sharp injury update before Forest clash
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom remained tight-lipped over Billy Sharp’s fitness ahead of the Championship play-off semi-final first leg against Nottingham Forest.