Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest 1-3: Callum Hudson-Odoi boosts visitors’ survival hopes

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored twice as Nottingham Forest took a big step towards Premier League survival by beating already relegated Sheffield United.

Ben Brereton Diaz’s penalty put the hosts ahead at Bramall Lane before Hudson-Odoi’s superb curling effort put Forest in front midway through the first half.

The Blades responded well but missed a number of first-half chances and were punished when Ryan Yates put the visitors ahead with a powerful effort six minutes after the break.

Hudson-Odoi then secured a vital three points for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side when he cut inside and curled the ball past Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham into the far corner.

It was the 100th Premier League goal conceded by Sheffield United this season, equaling the record set by Swindon Town in 1993-94.

A frustrating day for the hosts was compounded when Anel Ahmedhodzic was sent off for a second bookable offense seconds before the final whistle.

With just two games remaining, Forest are now three points clear of Luton Town in 18th and have a significantly better goal difference than Rob Edwards’ side.

Forest ride their luck but get a crucial win

Given the position Forest were in before this game, winning was all that mattered and having secured victory they will not care that they were clear second in the first 45 minutes.

Forest could have been in front less than two minutes later when Chris Wood was left unmarked but volleyed home from Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross.

However, Sheffield United soon had the upper hand and after being brought down by a sliding Gonzalo Montiel in the box, Brereton Diaz got back to his feet and powered home a shot from the spot.

Hudson-Odoi stroked a bouncing ball into the net from the corner of the penalty area 10 minutes later, but given the Blades barrage that followed, it was a wonder how Forest stayed level at the break.

Brereton Diaz and Cameron Archer both spurned very presentable chances and Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels was called into action time and time again.

Wood hit the crossbar with a header late in the half to remind the visitors of the threat and, shortly after the break, with United’s players calling for a foul on Murillo at a free-kick, Anthony Elanga put the ball away. back across goal, Willy Boly nodded and Yates smashed it.

Although the hosts still looked dangerous at times, the goal seemed to settle Forest down and Hudson-Odoi clipped the bar with what became a practice effort for the almost identical shot he fired in shortly afterwards.

They could have made the win even more emphatic in the final 25 minutes, but three goals proved to be more than enough. It took some luck, and while the job is far from done, Forest kept their fate in their own hands.

Four points from the last two games will be all but certain, but if results go their way, safety could be achieved next weekend when they host Chelsea.

Tons of junk for the Blades

Even after a first-half performance that should give Sheffield United encouragement heading into the summer, the afternoon ended on an unwelcome record – or at least part of it.

It’s been that kind of season for the Blades.

With two games remaining, it would be a shock if they don’t take Swindon’s goalscoring record.

What’s more, even if they manage to manage two clean sheets, their 100 goals conceded will have come in four fewer games as Swindon took their century over the course of a 42-game season.

Having a defense that has now conceded at least two goals in 10 consecutive league games didn’t help, but it was their unleashing at the other end that was arguably more costly against Forest.

In the 15 minutes between Forest equalizing and Wood hitting the bar, Chris Wilder’s side had three very good chances to get back in front, but a combination of poor finishing and poor decision-making left them all begging.

It could have slipped out of sight but instead a lack of quality in both boxes has them pondering their 26th league defeat of the campaign.