For our Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest prediction, we're opting for a 1-0 home victory for the Blades in this play off first leg encounter.
Sheffield United play host to Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final having won their final three games of the regular season. Although Forest finished five points in front of the Blades, the visitors lost some momentum during the concluding week as they narrowly missed out on automatic promotion.
Sheffield United secured their place in the play-offs by winning their final three matches of the Championship regular season, culminating in a 4-0 thrashing of champions Fulham on the final day. That victory over the Cottagers extended what is already an impressive home record for the Blades, as they have only lost one of their last 15 Championship matches at Bramall Lane.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side also boast a strong home record in recent meetings with Nottingham Forest, as they are unbeaten in eight clashes with the Tricky Trees in south Yorkshire, a run that dates back to April 2004.
Sheffield United were languishing 17th in the Sky Bet Championship, closer to the relegation zone than the play-off places. It was an inconceivable scenario for a side that had been playing Premier League football for two seasons prior and such mediocrity cost Slavisa Jokanovic his job. But since Paul Heckingbottom took the reins they have undergone a great reversal, winning 15 of their final 28 fixtures to blast their way up the table.
Sheffield United have seen just one of their last five matches go over 2.5 goals with their average goals per game in that period sitting at a lowly 1.2. Nottingham Forest’s recent record isn’t much higher. Three of their last five league games have come up south of the 2.5 mark. Their average in that period sits at 2.2 goals. The last four head to head meetings have all been under 2.5 too.
For our Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest prediction, we're opting for under 2.5 goals.
