Sheff United 1-3 Nottingham Forest: Visitors secure victory towards PL survival

Nottingham Forest finally had a helping hand from VAR as they took a big step towards Premier League safety against hapless Sheffield United.

Forest hearts were in their mouths when Ryan Yates volleyed home early in the second half, as VAR checked for a foul by Murillo on Ben Brereton-Diaz.

Yet the goal stood, Forest led 2-1 and made the points safe when Callum Hudson-Odoi claimed his second of the match – as Blades became the first team to concede 100 goals in a 38-game league season.

Hudson-Odoi also scored a beauty in the first half to cancel out Brereton-Diaz’s opener from the penalty spot and to make matters worse for the home side, Anel Ahmedhodzic was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time as his team were booed off.

Forest have been furious with VAR all season and were charged with misconduct for the explosive post on X that followed the defeat by Everton last month, when they believed they were denied three penalties.

But they were all smiles here and victory over Chelsea next weekend will all but secure safety.

Chris Wood had missed a series of good chances in Forest’s recent games and he was off target instantly here, volleying Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross wide when unmarked 12 yards out.

The home side took heart from that let-off and were ahead before the 20-minute mark. Players had struggled to keep their footing during the early stages of the half so when Gonzalo Montiel did not control his slide and upended Brereton-Diaz, a penalty was inevitable.

The forward slammed in his kick confidently as the home fans crowed ‘You’re going down with United’.

Murillo then produced a superb last-ditch challenge on Cameron Archer to keep the deficit to one and just before the half-hour mark, Hudson-Odoi equalised