Carlton Palmer offers prediction for Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United play-off clash | OneFootball

Two huge teams will face off for the final time this season this evening as Nottingham Forest take on Sheffield United at the City Ground in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final.

The first leg on Saturday afternoon at Bramall Lane was a pulsating affair, with the first half of the contest in particular being end-to-end, but it looked as though Steve Cooper’s side would take the tie back to Nottingham with a two-goal cushion.

Goals either side of half-time from Jack Colback and Brennan Johnson looked to have the Tricky Trees in a comfortable lead – only for Sander Berge to halve the Blades’ deficit in second half stoppage time.

Quiz: 24 facts every Nottingham Forest supporter should know about their club – Can you score full marks?

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What year were Forest founded?

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It is set to be a sell-out crowd at the City Ground to witness two sides try and secure a Wembley date with Huddersfield Town in less than two weeks time, and it could realistically go either way with nothing much in it whatsoever.

One man who is backing Forest to get the job done though is Carlton Palmer, with the former England international – who had a short playing stint with the Reds in 1999 and was a household name at United’s rivals Sheffield Wednesday – telling Football League World that he thinks Cooper’s men can expose the Blades.

“Although Forest didn’t put the game to bed (in the first leg), my feeling is that back at the City Ground, when Sheffield United eventually have to open up, my feeling is Forest will catch them on the break and will go through,” Palmer said.

Realistically, Forest could have been out of sight from the first leg if they’d had just taken their chances.

Sheffield United looked very sloppy at the back and basically gifted Cooper’s side a couple of goals, and they cannot afford to be that charitable once again.

United were clearly missing a cutting edge up-front, and there will be hope that talisman Billy Sharp can at least play some part in proceedings.

But if Forest attack in the way they did at Bramall Lane, then the Blades’ defence could be in for a very rough night against the likes of Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence.