Forest 1 v 1 Sheffield United


All told this was probably a fair result from a game that won't live long in the memory.
Sheffield United came with a game plan to stop Forest paying football and it worked, often leaving Forest resorting to passing the ball across the back line with no options further forward.
Sheffield United had taken the lead early when Cresswell headed them in font. It was all rather simple truth be told, and again shows Forests lack of ability to defend high balls in (think Millwall).
Any time McGugan, in a rich vein of form received the ball he would quickly have 2-3 players close him down which nullified Forest. Resorting to either keeping possession further back of throwing the ball forward, to a defence which lapped this kind of attack up all day, fans were increasingly becoming frustrated. Its testimony to the way Forest have played this season that the fans were irked by the lack of a killer ball and a distinct lack of cutting edge up front.
Blades should probably have gone in 2 up, Daniel Bogdanovich (once linked with Forest, got through one on one when Moussi dallied and got caught out. Camp saved and Morgan had also tracked backed to cover and make what should have been an easier effort into a miss.
In the second half the game changed when Moussi went off and Adebola came on. Moussi had been disappointing, so losing him to put an extra striker on didn't change the midfield too much. Adebola was an instant change of tactic. He offered a much more direct route and cause the Blades no end of trouble. He won nearly every header that was asked of him, and made a nuisance of himself, with Bartley fracturing his cheekbone when the two clashed.
The goal came on 69 minutes. McKenna receiving the ball quite far out, instead of passing sideways or backwards, as was usually happening all game he pushed it on forward and shot. The keeper got a hand to it, but was only enough to take the sting off the shot as it still dropped in the net for Forest to be level.
In the later stages it looked to be Forest who were more likely to score. Using the direct approach of Adebola they cause no end of problems, but no real cutting edge chances.

The game ended 1-1, a result both sets of fans will surely feel worthy.

Forest team
1. Camp
3. Bertrand
4. Chambers
5. Morgan
7. Anderson
8. McGugan
15. Cohen
16. Gunter
18. McKenna
19. Moussi
23. Blackstock

subs: Darlow, Wilson, McCleary, McGoldrick, Adebola, Majewski, Tyson

Stats
Possesion
54% - 46%

Attempts on target
4-3

Attempts Off Target
3-2

Corners
4-3


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