Nuno Espirito Santo’s team approaches the game at Bramall Lane with significant importance attached to it, considering it as their most crucial fixture of the season in the Premier League.
Forest are currently positioned just one point above Luton Town in 18th place, with only three matches left. A victory for Luton Town against Everton on Friday would push Forest down into the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Burnley, currently in 19th place, have closed the gap to just two points behind Nuno’s side. This sets up a tense finale, especially since Forest will face Burnley on the last day of the season.
Given this context, Forest travel to Yorkshire with the aim of breaking a streak of four winless matches and potentially creating some distance between themselves and the bottom three teams.
Nottingham Forest keen to end 20-year streak
Despite Forest’s primary focus on the upcoming game, they also have a chance to break a streak dating back to the 2003-04 season.
Since that season, Forest hasn’t achieved a league double over the Blades, when both teams were in the old Division One. In the first encounter at the City Ground, Marlon Harewood’s two goals led Forest to a 3-1 victory. In the return fixture at Bramall Lane, Marlon King and Gareth Taylor secured a 2-1 win for Forest.
However, it’s worth mentioning that Sheffield United did triumph 3-0 at the City Ground in the FA Cup fourth round of that same season.
The reverse fixture for this campaign occurred in mid-August, with Taiwo Awoniyi putting Forest ahead before Chris Wood scored an 89th-minute winner for Sheffield United, after Gustavo Hamer had earlier equalized for Forest.
History not in Sheffield United’s favour
Sheffield United have only managed one victory in their last nine encounters against Forest, with that lone win occurring at Bramall Lane in April 2019, resulting in a 2-0 scoreline.
On the other hand, Forest are currently unbeaten in their last five matches against Sheffield United. However, Sheffield United has maintained an undefeated streak in their last four top-flight home games against Forest.
Despite this, Chris Wilder’s team has struggled to secure victories at home, going eight Premier League matches without a win at their home ground. Additionally, they are nearing a record for the most home goals conceded in a top-flight campaign, being just five goals shy of the 56 conceded by Aston Villa in 1935-36.
Chris Wilder is also keen on preventing Sheffield United from conceding at least twice in 10 consecutive Premier League games, a feat achieved by only three teams in the history of the division.
